Brief Answer:
Blood patch

Detailed Answer:
Good afternoon. I'd like to answer your question with what turns out to be a rather straight forward answer which I would've imagined your doctor would've also told you about since it's pretty standard fare.

If there is a spinal fluid leak from a injection site that has not entirely sealed itself then, the first thing to do is make the diagnosis. This is generally done on clinical grounds first and can include anything from an obvious accumulation of spinal fluid at the base of the spine or near wherever the spinal needle penetrated or even a more common symptom which is usually very apparent to patients in a fairly short period of time after the leak starts to occur would be intense headaches that resolve almost immediately upon lying done on one's back and then, start again almost instantly when assuming the upright posture.

Less dramatic symptoms but still as bothersome could be blurring of the vision when changing positions, feeling a bit clouded in the mind when standing or sitting for any length of time or feeling nauseous and/or vomiting mostly when in different positions.

If you don't have any of these symptoms then, a spinal leak of any consequence is unlikely.

Next, you need an MRI...doesn't have to be with contrast at all.....a standard set of images should immediately be appparent to either the radiologist or knowledgeable neurologist as to the presence of SPINAL FLUID surrounding the covering of the brain called the MENINGES. It's a beautiful encompassing sight on a radiograph because:

1. It's just so easy to see and cannot be mistaken for anything else.
2. The fix is almost immediately known when that type of image is seen.

Finally, after having determined that in fact, a leak is occurring and it's already been more than a few days or 1 week at the most and symptoms are not resolving or getting worse then, a referral to your friendly neighborhood anethesiologist....OR intrepid neurologist (if they like these procedures...most send to radiology these days) is made for a procedure called a BLOOD PATCH.

Sounds like a BICYCLE TIRE patch because essentially...it's the same concept but the inner tube in this case becomes the spinal covering or meninges and the patch material turns out to be a large syringe of the patient's own blood. There should be as much of a localization as possible as to where exactly the leak is coming from which would be radiology's job.....and then, the anesthesiologist will know where along the axis they will need to inject the blood which when placed forms a nice natural bandaid that coagulates and plugs up the hole so that now healing can occur.

Takes about 30 minutes to accomplish once all the other information is known.

BTW, if headaches or blurred vision occurring upon postural changes were occurring before the blood patch is applied...then, the fix will produce relief almost as quickly as it takes for the nurse to clean the patient up after the doctor is done have them rest for just a few minutes to give the blood a chance to clot...about 15-30 minutes and then, stand up.....you'll be amazed at the results. Of course, if you're not having those types of symptoms nor any of the others I mentioned....I would be very hesitant to do anything quite this invasive without solid proof that a leak is actually occurring.

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This query has utilized a total of 18 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.

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