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What Causes Dizziness, Nausea And Headaches After Spinal Tap Procedure?
Question: had a spinal tap friday .. got spinal headache next day.. the following night i got a blood patch it failed.. im now in the hospital medicine around the clock.. can u die from a csf leak.. im freaking out this will never go away.. im dizzy, nauseous, n headache.. im thinking the worst bc my blood patch didn't work. they did a cat scan came back normal.. they did a brain mri waiting on those results.. could i get meningitis from this.. im seriously freaking out.. please help
Brief Answer:
Not meningitis.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern, I am sorry you still aren't feeling well even after the blood patch.
I do not think you should be worried about meningitis. While there is a theoretical risk for meningitis after a spinal tap, it is very low under 1%. I do not think it is your case as meningitis would have manifested other signs such as fever, seizures, altered mental status etc. Your symptoms do seem typical of a post lumbar puncture headache and you do not have to go and look for other causes (remember that anxiety in itself may trigger tension type headache). The MRI should provide more reassurance in that regard anyway.
As for how long it will go on, most patients (about three quarters) it does resolve within a week, but there are some cases where it can persist longer. Blood patch is usually effective, but not at 100%. Efficacy of a first blood patch is about 85-90%. A second blood patch may be tried if the first is not effective, it increases success rates to 90-95%.
When still not effective another step which might be considered is epidural injection of fibrin glue, a formulation used in order to create a fibrin clot when a persistent leakage is observed on MRI. Hopefully it will resolve and no further steps will be necessary.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Not meningitis.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern, I am sorry you still aren't feeling well even after the blood patch.
I do not think you should be worried about meningitis. While there is a theoretical risk for meningitis after a spinal tap, it is very low under 1%. I do not think it is your case as meningitis would have manifested other signs such as fever, seizures, altered mental status etc. Your symptoms do seem typical of a post lumbar puncture headache and you do not have to go and look for other causes (remember that anxiety in itself may trigger tension type headache). The MRI should provide more reassurance in that regard anyway.
As for how long it will go on, most patients (about three quarters) it does resolve within a week, but there are some cases where it can persist longer. Blood patch is usually effective, but not at 100%. Efficacy of a first blood patch is about 85-90%. A second blood patch may be tried if the first is not effective, it increases success rates to 90-95%.
When still not effective another step which might be considered is epidural injection of fibrin glue, a formulation used in order to create a fibrin clot when a persistent leakage is observed on MRI. Hopefully it will resolve and no further steps will be necessary.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Mri of brain came back negative they just told me.. I just don't wanna die from this.. what if the leak doesn't stop can i get permanent brain damage?
Brief Answer:
No risk of death of brain damage.
Detailed Answer:
That is very good news. You should feel much more serene now, I do not see why would you be thinking about death really, that will certainly not be the case.
MRI would have shown if there was a leakage, certainly if a major one, so you have every reason to be optimistic. So the chances of the leakage persisting are very low. You wouldn't get permanent brain damage from it anyway, while the headache is understandably affecting you, it isn't a question of an ongoing brain damage going on.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
No risk of death of brain damage.
Detailed Answer:
That is very good news. You should feel much more serene now, I do not see why would you be thinking about death really, that will certainly not be the case.
MRI would have shown if there was a leakage, certainly if a major one, so you have every reason to be optimistic. So the chances of the leakage persisting are very low. You wouldn't get permanent brain damage from it anyway, while the headache is understandably affecting you, it isn't a question of an ongoing brain damage going on.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
the doctors are discussing options of what they are going to do.. I think they don't want to do a second patch.. today my neck is so stiff, shoulders, down to my mid back.. feel like I can't lift my head.. still dizzy, n nausea, n headache.. im really concerned.. should be getting better not worse
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Hello again! I am sorry you still are not feeling well.
I still do not think you should be alarmed though, not about threatening issues such as meningitis, not as long as there is no fever or altered mental status and the MRI is normal (of course it might be useful if you could upload the report, but a properly conducted MRI does evidence both signs of low intracranial pressure from fluid leakage as well as signs indicative of infection such as meningitis).
Remember that as I said before anxiety itself may cause tension type headache and dizziness (I see that you've had dizziness in the past as well from your other questions). So try to relax as your doctors seem to be pretty thorough by conducting CT and MRI as well as the blood patch.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Hello again! I am sorry you still are not feeling well.
I still do not think you should be alarmed though, not about threatening issues such as meningitis, not as long as there is no fever or altered mental status and the MRI is normal (of course it might be useful if you could upload the report, but a properly conducted MRI does evidence both signs of low intracranial pressure from fluid leakage as well as signs indicative of infection such as meningitis).
Remember that as I said before anxiety itself may cause tension type headache and dizziness (I see that you've had dizziness in the past as well from your other questions). So try to relax as your doctors seem to be pretty thorough by conducting CT and MRI as well as the blood patch.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I got the 2nd patch it seem ed to work this time.. im scared to move though i don't want it to come undone.. can that happen?? im just so excited it worked that im scared to do the wrong thing..
Brief Answer:
Should be fine now
Detailed Answer:
I am really glad you're feeling better. While the second blood patch does have a 5% possibility of not working it shouldn't be influenced by movement, not after the first few hours. Coagulation process is well finished by then, movement mediated by the joints doesn't influence the cord surface. So if it has worked, if the "patch" is established on the leak, it should be successfully finished. So if you wish you can move freely now.
Wishing you good health.
Should be fine now
Detailed Answer:
I am really glad you're feeling better. While the second blood patch does have a 5% possibility of not working it shouldn't be influenced by movement, not after the first few hours. Coagulation process is well finished by then, movement mediated by the joints doesn't influence the cord surface. So if it has worked, if the "patch" is established on the leak, it should be successfully finished. So if you wish you can move freely now.
Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
im home from hospital.. no pain in the head anymore but it's a Strange feeling like there's a headache in the background trying to come thru. im still dizzy, n nauseous though.. there still feels like there's pressure in my head but it's not pain.. is this stuff normal n will heal with time??
Brief Answer:
Is possible.
Detailed Answer:
Some mild symptoms may persist for some time. Remember that even if the blood patch works perfectly it stops the leakage from now on, but there may be needed a couple of days to completely replace the leaked fluid and restore previous balance. So I am not surprised about that, if blood patch indeed sealed the leak should heal in time.
I hope to have been of help.
Is possible.
Detailed Answer:
Some mild symptoms may persist for some time. Remember that even if the blood patch works perfectly it stops the leakage from now on, but there may be needed a couple of days to completely replace the leaked fluid and restore previous balance. So I am not surprised about that, if blood patch indeed sealed the leak should heal in time.
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
am i getting sick or is this the blood patch? my throat is hurting, nose burns when I breathe in, n have flem.. is this just bad luck and im getting sick or does this have anything with the blood patch..
Brief Answer:
Not related to blood patch.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again! Sorry the troubles are not over for you. However I assure you that those symptoms have nothing to do with the blood patch. Neither are they related the spinal tap in any way.
From that description would say more likely a simple upper airways infection. Try to stay well hydrated, often when a simple viral infection no additional treatment is needed.
Hope you feel better soon.
Not related to blood patch.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again! Sorry the troubles are not over for you. However I assure you that those symptoms have nothing to do with the blood patch. Neither are they related the spinal tap in any way.
From that description would say more likely a simple upper airways infection. Try to stay well hydrated, often when a simple viral infection no additional treatment is needed.
Hope you feel better soon.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
im having pressure in sinus area, ear full XXXXXXX pressure going down my neck into shoulders on the left side.. n throbbing pain coming n going behind my right eye.. im nervous the pressure is from the procedure.. n could be an issue.. having some neck stiffiness too.. I can't tell what's from the blood patch n what's not
Brief Answer:
Not due to blood patch.
Detailed Answer:
If you mean that you fear that the symptoms are due to the blood patch then again the answer is no, they are not due to the blood patch, rest assured about that.
At most one could consider the possibility of patch not working and there being leakage, but these symptoms do not seem like they were previously. You do not mention headache which goes away upon lying down and reappears upon sitting if I understand you correctly. So do not seem like reoccurrence of leakage.
An upper airway infection like sinusitis on the other hand would justify them. So some nasal decongestants should be taken for the moment.
Wish you all the best.
Not due to blood patch.
Detailed Answer:
If you mean that you fear that the symptoms are due to the blood patch then again the answer is no, they are not due to the blood patch, rest assured about that.
At most one could consider the possibility of patch not working and there being leakage, but these symptoms do not seem like they were previously. You do not mention headache which goes away upon lying down and reappears upon sitting if I understand you correctly. So do not seem like reoccurrence of leakage.
An upper airway infection like sinusitis on the other hand would justify them. So some nasal decongestants should be taken for the moment.
Wish you all the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
when am i in clear for the spinal headache not to come back. I get alot of anxiety over stuff like this i worry everyday i wake up that it's gonna come back.. I had it done thursday
Brief Answer:
Should be clear now.
Detailed Answer:
I would say you are clear now, the sealing process as I told you the other day happens in the first few hours.
I am sorry if my previous answer made you think otherwise, I didn't mean to say that you were still under risk, only that the worst that could happen would be the patch not working, meaning that there weren't any side effects to fear about.
Let me know if you have other questions.
Should be clear now.
Detailed Answer:
I would say you are clear now, the sealing process as I told you the other day happens in the first few hours.
I am sorry if my previous answer made you think otherwise, I didn't mean to say that you were still under risk, only that the worst that could happen would be the patch not working, meaning that there weren't any side effects to fear about.
Let me know if you have other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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