Lumbar puncture,then blood patch,now neck pain/headache

[wannabmommy]

I posted  yesterday about some other symptoms(urinating problems)due to the blood patch.I had a lumbar puncture done Friday(I have MS) and then had to go back on Saturday for a blood patch for a spinal headache.My headache went away instantly.This afternoon I started getting a lot of neck pain almost like muscle pain and it went into my head.Now I have a turmendous headache again especially when I sit or stand.Could it be possible that I need another blood patch or could it possibly just be from muscle spasms etc.Do you know of patients that had a blood patch and the headaches went away and came back like a day later?Thank you very much  

[Ball123]

csfleak.org is a very informative site. Please check it out.

[MIKEYP300]

I had a LP done on 12/15/14.  Still have a lot of what feels like pressure behind my eyes/ sides of neck etc and also have muffled hearing on and off.  Not necessarily a headache though.  I have an incredible ringing in my ears that can be noticed even in loud rooms.  Never had any of that until after the LP.  Am also wondering "How long".  One thing to note is I have been taken off of some Meds - Gabapentin which might possibly be the cause.  Still have not been off even a week yet and am hopeful for improvement.  I do however, recall finding some study on-line that addressed the ear pressure/ringing issue associated with LP's.  Seems that there are many cases of this happening and most seemed to have cleared up on their own in the matter of weeks and/or months.  So it is something we may have to live with for a time.  What I believe to be most important now is prayer and reassurance from others.  Like me you might have to actually coach your friends and family to give you that reassurance.  But it makes a world of difference.  There is a weird feeling of isolation that we experience in our own heads during trials like this and I now the positive support of others and even from ourselves do help improve our existence during these struggles.  Here is to better times to come.  This it NOT a life sentence.  God Bless.  MP

[jac84lp]

Update on my health: So my nausea came back in full force the last 2 weeks and my spinal headaches appear to be the main trigger for my nausea right now. I now have tinnitus in both my ears, not just my right. My left ear seem to be plugged the whole time. The lumbar puncture has really robbed me of my life and I so regret having had the procedure...and it's already been 4 months!

[jac84lp]

I posted this on a new thread, but it doesn't seem to generate a response so I'm going to repost it here and hopefully get a reply.

Hi everyone. I had a lumbar puncture done on Aug 15 and got a blood patch done on Aug 18. Like most of you in the forum, I too, came down with severe post lumbar puncture headaches. It's been 3 months already and I still suffer from the daily headaches (about 20 times a day-they come and go). Though mild, they are still very worrisome and bothersome. In addition to the daily headaches, I continue to have nausea and fatigue. The nausea is usually brought on by the smell of food or when I'm eating. As for the fatigue...I feel completely drained throughout the day even though I've had 8 hours asleep. I can't seem to find the energy or the drive to get things done. I have also developed this ringing in the ears (mostly my right ear) called tinnitus that's becoming a constant nuisance and doesn't seem to want to go away! The ringing is especially loud when I'm trying to fall asleep. I should note that, like some of you out there, I too had severe dizziness, vertigo, vomiting right after having had the lumbar puncture. I also had several fainting spells and drops in blood pressure for 2 months after having had the lumbar puncture done.

For all those out there who have had post lumbar puncture headaches and other symptoms and side effects that comes with it, have your headaches ever gone past 3 months and have they completely gone away? Same with the nausea and tinnitus...those who have experienced these symptoms beyond 3 months, have they ever gone away for you? I'm just afraid that all these symptoms are here to stay and I can't imagine living the rest of my life with them! I've been out of work for 3 months already and there doesn't seem to be an end to all of this. Most of all, it's very depressing! Anyone with prolonged headaches/tinnitus/nausea/fatigue...I'd like to hear about your experience and find out if anyone out there is continuing to live with these symptoms. Thanks.

[jac84lp]

It's been 3 months since i had the lumbar puncture and I'm still having daily headaches that's very bothersome in addition to the nausea and ringing in the ear.  Anyone have the same problem and when or did your headaches/tinnitus go away? HELP!!!

[christinacph]

I was so lucky so I got a bloodpatch more on another hospital and my dizziness improved but not the tinnitus, but I still have some dizzines left too. I really dont hope we have to deal with it the rest of our life. Anyone else who has experience with tinnitus after lumbalpunction and  when did it go away? I got tinnitus 3 days after the lumbalpunction and when they made on of my bloodpatches it start ringing in the other ear as well, so now I have in both ears.