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For the past two years my mother, now 90, has been having delusions and hallucinations. After visiting several doctors and one behavioral hospital stay we found a neurologist that deals with dementia. Even he seemed to shake his head but ordered and EEG can CAT scan which came back normal. Now they want to do a lumbar puncture. After researching this procedure, I am concerned about putting my 90 year old mother thru this. She has major back problems and this procedure seems invasive for someone her age and level of frailty. Anyone have experience with this procedure on an elderly person?

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No. I would never allow this. Old retired RN here. Lumbar punctures show acute illnesses, acute trauma. Often there are no good answers to diagnosing dementia with exactitude until autopsy. Can you ask this MD what it is he is looking for, what he hopes to find, what the possibly findings that would make any difference might be? At some point/some age there is little point to having painful procedures.
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This was what my Mom wanted done. BUT...no surgeon would do it because it amounted to suicide by surgery.

i am surprised that any would be recommending this to you for her. I would also be quite suspicious... get a second opinion (not from someone in her doctors practice)
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