Headache and blood patch

Posted By  CCF neuro MD on November 19, 1997 at 10:56:52:

In Reply to: Re: Headache and blood patch posted by Linda on October 14, 1997 at 23:29:10:

:
  : I would be grateful to hear from anyone who has experienced--or knows of someone who has experienced--long-term headache following an epidural blood patch.  My wife has suffered for nearly 5 1/2 years with continuous head pain after she received an epidural blood patch that was administered to combat a post-dural puncture headache following spinal anesthesia.
  Richard, I don't have personal experience with post-spinal headaches of that duration but I did recently read an article on Post-Lumbar Puncture Headaches in which it discusses briefly the use of a blood patch and its effectiveness.  Keep in mind this is a medical article and gets pretty technical, but there were some interesting studies done regarding forms of treatment for persistent spinal headaches. The URL address for the article is: http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/news/review/archives/medrev_v1n2_0003.html
  I found it by starting my research at www.neuroguide.com and then used a search engine to lookup headaches.  I have had post LP headaches that lasted more than 4 weeks but I can't imagine having to endure them for 5 years.  I hope your wife can find some relief soon.

[CCF neuro MD]

Dear Linda- Thanks for the resource help!
Dear Richard, it is unusual to get a 5 year post epidural blood patch headache, I would refer your wife to a Headache Center to diagnose that type of headache and to prescribe therpay aimedat her specific type of headache.  
We have a headache Center at the CCF and we have Neurologists that specialize in headache so if you are interested, the mian number of the CCF is 800-223-2273.  Good Luck!