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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Spinal and Blood Patch - Two Months Later
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Spinal and Blood Patch - Two Months Later
by wbwmom, Nov 24, 2002 12:00AM
I had foot surgery in September with a spinal. I felt fine immediately after awakening, but vomited on the way home. For the next three days I had severe headaches and nausea. The doctor attributed the nausea to the pain meds, but I stopped taking them after a day and a half, and was still vomiting.
I had a blood patch, which stopped both the headaches and vomiting. But two months later, I'm still feeling nauseous. The nausea is fairly mild, but I didn't feel like this prior to the surgery. I also occastionally feel light-headed, but it's not severe. I called the surgeon's office after a month, expecting them to say "give it more time," but they said to see my family doctor.
Family doctor did blood work (okay), and referred to gastro and ENT. Gastro doctor thought it might be GERD, even though I don't have heartburn. I've been on a strict GERD diet for a week and a half, and feel no differently. ENT says all looks fine, but he thought this might be from the spinal.
Could this be from the spinal? If so, does it mean I still have a leak? How long should I expect to feel this way and is there anything I can do to speed up recovery?
Thank you.
I had a blood patch, which stopped both the headaches and vomiting. But two months later, I'm still feeling nauseous. The nausea is fairly mild, but I didn't feel like this prior to the surgery. I also occastionally feel light-headed, but it's not severe. I called the surgeon's office after a month, expecting them to say "give it more time," but they said to see my family doctor.
Family doctor did blood work (okay), and referred to gastro and ENT. Gastro doctor thought it might be GERD, even though I don't have heartburn. I've been on a strict GERD diet for a week and a half, and feel no differently. ENT says all looks fine, but he thought this might be from the spinal.
Could this be from the spinal? If so, does it mean I still have a leak? How long should I expect to feel this way and is there anything I can do to speed up recovery?
Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Nov 25, 2002 12:00AM
It's possible that you could still have a spinal leak, especially if the nausea/headache is positional (worse when standing compared to lying flat) and has persisted since the spinal, without going away for a while and coming back. A neurological consultation may help to figure out if it is a leak or if there's something else going on. Further evaluation for a spinal leak includes a spinal tap to look at the pressure of the spinal fluid with the intention of a second blood patch if it's low. MRI with dye can also show changes if there's a chronic leak. In the meantime, take it easy. ALthough there's no definitive data regarding the benefit of lying down, use common sense and stay away from contact sports and other activites that could potentially exacerbate the problem with risk of back injury. Hard to say if and when it will get better as we don't know exactly what the problem is. Start with the neurologist and you may consider going back for a second blood patch if they can check the pressure, too, to help diagnose the presence of a persistent leak. Good luck.
