Chronic headaches

[ElizabethT]

I have a couple of questions regarding chronic and intense headaches.  I am 28 and have no prior history of having headaches.  In December of 2008 I had a disectomy of the L5/S1.  The disc had adhered to the nerve root after a herniation in 2005.  This time the disc wrapped itself around the nerve root.  During I incurred a tear to the dura membrane with a minor leak.  While in hospital I did not present with headaches or any other symptoms of a dural tear/leak and was sent home.  One week post-op the disc herniated again.  two weeks post-op I started suffering severe headaches - roughly 4-5 days a week.  I then had a second disectomy of the same disc - no complications - and was released - but was told I would have chronic back pain.  I will be getting a spinal stimulator implanted this summer.  After the second surgery I had three stroke like episodes - but CT and MRI are clear.  I now have headaches 24/7...9/10 on the pain scale.  I have pins and needles in the right half of my face with facial weakness.  I have sensory issues on the right half of my face and I can not touch the right half of my head.  My face feels like I have a bit of a palsy droop - I don't.  Could the dural tear in December be the problem?  It was fine during the second surgery.  I'm wondering what could be causing the headaches and if there is any treatement you could recommend?  They have mentioned something about a spinal tap, but they're hoping to avoid it.  Your help would be greatly appreciated.

[JoeRunner]

I also started to have unexplained headaches after never having headaches in my life.  It turned out to be a dissection in my left carotid artery. A dissection is basically a tear in the artery. I unfortunately have learned way too much about this area.  From what I understand, such a dissection can lead both to stroke and to massive headaches.  Further, a strokes caused by a carotid artery dissection is one of the leading causes of stroke for people your age, and mine. (51).  check it out with your doctor, insist on an MRI and talk to a neurologist.