4 ms·

Had a spinal leak after a spinal tap. So too little fluid. It’s a very unique pain. Severe pain at top of head unless laying flat. I spent an entire week lay

Had a spinal leak after a spinal tap. So too little fluid. It’s a very unique pain. Severe pain at top of head unless laying flat. I spent an entire week laying flat on a couch with a happy cat sitting on my chest. Initial treatment was an IV of caffeine. Then they they had to patch the hole.

DrScump 5y ago
>Initial treatment was an IV of caffeine. For you, or for the cat?
- rsyring 5y ago
  HA!...thank you for that! :)
tsol 5y ago
I've heard not having enough CSF is supposed to be one of the most painful headaches there are. How bad was it?
- treeman79 5y ago
  Fine if I was flat. A step below severe kidney stone otherwise. So not quite suicidal, but close. It was only tolerable Because I could lay flat and the pain would quickly resolve. If I laid flat for three or four hours I could stand up for about five minutes before the symptoms hit again. Not sure how strong the leak was. I suppose it could have been worse.
  - tsol 5y ago
    Interesting. Fascinating how you can go a lifetime without noticing CSF but one thing goes wrong and suddenly you can't even stand up. Good to hear you got better
xvedejas 5y ago
I'm going through this right now. 3 trips to the ER to get a diagnosis, since it just happened spontaneously. Two months so far laying flat 20+ hours a day. I haven't been able to see a neurologist yet about it (I have an appointment scheduled soon now). For me, the headache is usually nearer the bottom of my head, but it tends to move around with different posture.
- tempestn 5y ago
  This random stranger hopes you get to see the neurologist and hopefully get it resolved soon!
mitjam 5y ago
Had the same also after a tap, went away after 5 months without a patch. Only things that helped was laying flat and coffein (less so than laying flat). A hard part of it was thinking it might never go away. Doctors told me to wait 6 months before trying a patch and they said it only works sometimes.
- treeman79 5y ago
  Ouch. Mine offered the next day. I waited a week before going back and getting one.

DrScump 5y ago

>Initial treatment was an IV of caffeine. For you, or for the cat?

rsyring 5y ago
HA!...thank you for that! :)

tsol 5y ago

I've heard not having enough CSF is supposed to be one of the most painful headaches there are. How bad was it?

treeman79 5y ago
Fine if I was flat. A step below severe kidney stone otherwise. So not quite suicidal, but close. It was only tolerable Because I could lay flat and the pain would quickly resolve. If I laid flat for three or four hours I could stand up for about five minutes before the symptoms hit again. Not sure how strong the leak was. I suppose it could have been worse.
- tsol 5y ago
  Interesting. Fascinating how you can go a lifetime without noticing CSF but one thing goes wrong and suddenly you can't even stand up. Good to hear you got better

xvedejas 5y ago

I'm going through this right now. 3 trips to the ER to get a diagnosis, since it just happened spontaneously. Two months so far laying flat 20+ hours a day. I haven't been able to see a neurologist yet about it (I have an appointment scheduled soon now). For me, the headache is usually nearer the bottom of my head, but it tends to move around with different posture.

tempestn 5y ago
This random stranger hopes you get to see the neurologist and hopefully get it resolved soon!

mitjam 5y ago

Had the same also after a tap, went away after 5 months without a patch. Only things that helped was laying flat and coffein (less so than laying flat). A hard part of it was thinking it might never go away. Doctors told me to wait 6 months before trying a patch and they said it only works sometimes.

treeman79 5y ago
Ouch. Mine offered the next day. I waited a week before going back and getting one.