LP headache! Should I go to ER.

HI All,

I had an lumbar puncture done 3 days ago on Wednesday to test for MS.  Everything was fine except for a bit of back pain afterwards.  The next morning I got the absolute worst headache that is only better when I lay down. I called the hospital where I had it done, and a nurse told me that it couldn't be a leak because they used a small needle.  It has persisted for the past 3 days (along with a ton of pressure in my head/ears that feels like I'm on an airplane) and I've been drinking tons of caffeine to no avail.  I emailed my neuro (he did not do the LP) and he told me to go to the ER and have the bloodpatch done.

Is this procedure painful?  The headache has persisted and has not gotten any better.  It only subsides when I'm laying on my back.  What should I do?  Luckily I've been off work but I need to get back to work on Monday and I can't function this way.

Thanks!

Maria

[SarahL2491]

I'm not buying the "size of the needle" theory.........but yes, at least call them and ask if you should come in

[HVAC]

I would get the blood patch.

Alex

[Twinsmom06]

Go to the ER! I had my LP a couple weeks ago and I was on my back for nearly 30 hours and I felt fine...then the next day mine hit! The patch won't feel good...but it is so worth it to be able to function again! Don't suffer:( I actually had to have two patches after giving birth to my twins...ugh. I should have known I wouldn't do well with the LP. Good luck...feel better!

[Lulu54]

Hopefully by now you have been to the ER and found that the patch has magically cured your headache.

Are you better?

Lulu

[confusedinwi]

Yes please go to the ER and have the blood patch. I too had a LP done a week and half ago and I woke the next day with the worst headache of my life and had the blood patch that day and it still took a week for me to feel better.

[maria7023]

I haven't gone yet.  I was debating whether or not to wait for the morning because the headache has been slightly bearable when I sit up...but it is very much there and unpleasant...I'm just afraid of the patch being super painful but I'm fed up.

I feel like I should go tonight but it's a saturday and I figure that the emergency room will be nuts on a Saturday night.

I should just go right?  The headache hasn't gotten any better since Thursday morning.

[twopack]

" I emailed my neuro (he did not do the LP) and he told me to go to the ER and have the bloodpatch done."

"I should just go right?"

ANSWER: Yes.  You could get immediate relief.

"Is this procedure painful?"
"I'm just afraid of the patch being super painful but I'm fed up."

ANSWER: The pain would likely be similar to whatever you had during the LP (depending on the skill of the doctor performing the procedure).  For a blood patch you will have a blood sample removed from your arm.  Your own blood is then injected into a spot very close to where the LP was done.  The needle doesn't penetrate quite as deep for a blood patch as it does for the LP.

Relief from a blood patch procedure can be immediate.  The procedure isn't painless but it is probably less than what you are dealing with now and certainly isn't as long lasting.  Only you can decide how tolerable your present situation is.  

You have two choices.  #1 is to wait it out.  #2 is to try a blood patch.  If you delay too long you will wait it out by default.  Just think, if you had gone when the neuro told you to (> 9 hours ago) you could be back at home and sleeping peacefully now.

I'm not trying to be mean.  Just trying to help you focus to make your decision.

Good luck.  Hope you feel better soon.
Mary

[Millsinc]

I Maria, have you gone to the ER yet? I had major headaches when I had my LP and the Doc who did tell me to expect that. It seems everyone's reaction to this different. From my research, what causes the headaches is the in-balance caused by the fluid that was removed. The fluid actually comes from your brain stem, so when it is removed pressure builds up causing those headaches. (That's just a nutshell) For me the headaches went for a few days and the only relief was just to lay down.

I do hope you get relief soon though.

~Hugs~
Tricia

[maria7023]

I went to see my neuro today to discuss the results from my LP and I still have the headache so tomorrow I'm booked at the hospital for a blood patch, finally.  I'll let you know how it goes.  I'm hoping it's not too painful.  The LP procedure was almost painless and I hope this isn't much worse.  

Thanks for all of your feedback.  :)

[jenk41]

The blood patch works right away...had a LP when I was first diagnosed, got the headache from hell, couldnt sit up w/o my head exploding. Got a blood patch and BAM...headache GONE

[twopack]

How are you doing Maria?  Hope the blood patch was an instant success for you.

Mary

[Ovieloverinla]

The same thing happened to me, the hospital sent me right home despite doctors orders telling me I had to lay down for two hours afterwards.

Worst headache ever for 2 days went to the ER, ER doctor was a jerk, told me that I just had to deal with it for 2 weeks and gave me the blood patch as a last resort.  Rolled his eyes when I told him I wanted the blood patch, was so nervous that they could only get blood out of my ankle.  Blood patch worked in like 20 minutes.  No way could I live with a head ache like that for 2 weeks!

They keep wanting to do another LP on me, uh no thanks!