Spinal Headache

I had a spinal tap on May 18th, and then had to go back in to the hospital and get a blood patch because I got a spinal headache. About 2 weeks have passed now and I still get severe headaches at times when I stand up. What should I do?

[bev62]

You may need to get another blood patch. The same thing happened to me after having a myelogram.  I had to have two blood patches.  After the second one my headaches went away.  Just be sure to lay flat as much as you can after the blood patch.  Good luck.

[SoCkMoNkEyGiRl]

I had a lumbar puncture last month and had that horrid spinal headache afterwards. It feels like aliens are sucking your brain out of the back of your head with mini straws. I get migraines all of the time, but they didn't hold a candle to this pain. It hurt to talk, to feel my lips move, to hear the words in my head. My legs were restless also, I had to keep moving them because they felt numb and tingly. But, to get onto my discovery....I am in the military and had to go somewhere for my duty, which entailed a 22 hour drive across country to my next location. It was about my 5th day suffering from the headaches, I couldn't even pack. I would pack some stuff, then lay down, and repeat. I forgot so much stuff, now that I am here I have noticed. Luckily I had a friend from my unit who offered to drive with me. She knew of my headaches and offered to drive once I got to her house. But, she was 1 1/2 hours away from me. I set out in my packed truck, trying to lay down and drive at the same time, but of course that just didn't work. I placed my left arm on the armrest on my door and took my left fingers and pressed on the squishy part of my head, kind of at the base of my head and upper neck area (left side) until I felt some releif. I was thinking, WOW, this feels pretty good, I can get to her house now if I just don't move my hand. I still had an hour to get to her house. Once I got to her house, I removed my hand so that I could help her load my truck wuth her stuff....and my headache was gone!! I don't know what happened, but all I cared about was that it was gone. It never came back and I drove the entire way.

So, please give it a try and see if it works for you. I think you would have to sit up though to be able to tell if it is relieved. Just press your fingers around until you find the relief point (I pressed on the back left side of my head-the squishy area.). Now I kept my fingers pressed there for an hour, but don't know how long it would take. I hope this works for someone else! I just had to share it! With these headaches, you try anything! Good luck!