Pressure and CSF Leak

I went snowboarding in 2006 and I slipped backwards -- experienced a whiplash followed by a closed trauma on the back of my head. I immediately sat down on the snow while I held on to my head due to the pain. Moments later I was leaking a lot of CSF through my nose. This was a first. It finally stopped about half an hour later.

Every year after that event, I've been experiences csf leakage about 1-2x/year whenever I tilt my head to the right. Last year, I believed I leaked at least 3x and it started again yesterday. Also last year, I started to get frequent and severe headaches (perhaps it may be due to school since it was my last year as an undergraduate).

Last Monday (02/14/2011) I got my lower right wisdom tooth pulled out. It was pretty scary and I was shaky after the dental surgery was done. Three days later (Thursday, 02/17/2011) I started to experience pressure near my temples, forehead, frontal lobe, behind the eyes, etc. Whenever I tilt my head back, the pressure goes in that direction. I feel the most pressure in an upright position. Since there, the same constant pressure is still there. It doesn't hurt me but it is annoying. four days later (Friday, 02/18/2011), I did a right-ward head tilt and my csf leaked immediately. Yesterday (Saturday, 02/19/2011), it leaked within 5 seconds upon tilting my head to the right and not as much as. I didn't let it leak all the way, just until I actually felt it.

I don't know if the closed head trauma is the cause of having my csf leak then having head pressure, or if it is just a coincidence. Having frequent headaches also run in my dad's side. I need medical help but I cannot afford it. I want to know if anyone is experiencing this and if there are possible diagnoses I can read more about. Thanks so much!

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
Please consult a neurologist and an ENT surgeon and a MRI of nasal sinuses and brain should be done. There appears to be damage either to cribriform plate or some fistula has formed on the right side. Take care!