Single most likely diagnosis:
- Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) with referred pain: This is the most common complication of lumbar puncture, and while it typically presents with a headache, it can also cause referred pain or numbness and tingling in the arms due to the decrease in cerebrospinal fluid pressure.
Other Likely diagnoses:
- Traumatic nerve injury: Direct injury to nerves during the procedure can cause numbness and tingling.
- Epidural or spinal hematoma: Although rare, bleeding into the epidural or spinal space can compress nerves, leading to numbness and tingling.
- Chemical meningitis: Introduction of blood or other substances into the cerebrospinal fluid during the lumbar puncture can cause inflammation and irritation of the nerves.
Do Not Miss diagnoses:
- Spinal epidural abscess: An infection in the epidural space can cause severe neurological deficits, including numbness and tingling, and is a medical emergency.
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage: Bleeding into the subarachnoid space can cause sudden, severe symptoms, including numbness and tingling, and requires immediate medical attention.
Rare diagnoses:
- Arachnoiditis: Inflammation of the arachnoid membrane can cause numbness, tingling, and other neurological symptoms, but is relatively rare as a complication of lumbar puncture.
- Nerve root avulsion: Severe traction on the nerve roots during the procedure can cause avulsion, leading to numbness and tingling, but this is extremely rare.