Spinal Tap

[bsranch]

I had a spinal tap Tues at 630.  It's now fri afternoon.  Still unable to sit up d/t excrutiating pain.  Dr. said to drink plenty of fluids and tough it out.  Is this normal??

[Lulu54]

No, at this point the headache should be gone.  I would contact the doctor who did the LP and tell them you think you need to have a blood patch done - it sounds like you have a leak from the tap.  

Sometimes without the patch, it can take a week or two to resolve by itself.  Why put yourself through that misery when the patch works almost immediately from what I know.

good luck,
Lulu

[togomalik]

If it is the headache, I had the headache for four days and went to the emergency room to get what is called a blood patch done.  I would recommend trying to tough it out before getting the blood patch done.  Drink caffeine. But what they didn't tell me is with every caffeinated drink, drink two glasses of water.  But they said to drink alot of caffeine.  Something about the caffeine regulates the fluid.  I know its the worst headache to have.  You can't raise up at all.  It feels like your head is going to pop right off your shoulders.  Good luck and hang in there :)

[togomalik]

Is it the headache?  Or is it pain from the actual tap?