Complications Post-lumbar puncture headache Bleeding into the epidural space (spinal hematoma) Lower back discomfort or pain that may radiate to the posterior legs (self-limited) Epidermoid tumor, occurs years after lumbar puncture; risk is increased if the spinal needle is inserted or withdrawn with the stylet absent (rare) Brain herniation (rare) Cortical blindness (rare) Cervical spinal cord infarction (rare) Transient or permanent deafness (rare) Iatrogenic infection (rare) Transient nausea and / or tinnitus Headache develops after lumbar puncture in about 10% of patients, usually hours to a day or two afterward, and can be severe.