spinal injection

[lisrm]

Has anyone on here ever had a spinal injection that causes leakage?  I had a spinal injection on September 4, 2007 and the next day I  started with a severe headache and nauseousness that no medicine would relieve.  The doctor at the pain clinic said he couldn't do a blood patch because it was a caudal injection (whatever that means)  He gave me lots of drugs to keep me knocked out, basically..  I still have the severe headache and nauseousness that only lying down helps.  It doesn't hurt when I am lying down.  The doctor at the pain clinic said these punctures from a spinal injection heal themselves in 12 days tops so he thinks I am imagining this horrible headache.  He said I am anxious.  I have had this headache for over 6 weeks so I am very anxious.  I saw a neurologist and am having a test done which is supposed to show if there is any spinal leakage.  I am really frustrated and sick of the headache.  I just wanted to know if anyone else has ever been through this.

[post viral kid]

Yes, after 8 lumbar punctures, I just had my second spinal blood patch.  I'm not sure what your doctor's explanation of a caudal injection means - ask him.  Sometimes it takes two or three blood patched to fix the leak if that indeed what it is.  To determine if you have low CSF pressure from a leak, another lumbar puncture will have to be done.  Make sure you have the doctor take both opening and closing pressure.  Very often they do not read the closing pressure, and it is an important element in determining CSF pressure.  I have been going through this for 7 years, so hang in there.  See if the doctor will give you something for the anxiety as well, since this doesn't help your headaches either.  Good luck.

[lisrm]

Thank you for responding.  My headche is literally driving me crazy.  I think the doctor at the pain clinic (he is new, the one who knew me well left) thinks it is my imagination.  I know I am not imagining the pressure on top of my head and the severe nauseousness.I don't have either when I am lying down.  I am having a test on Monday which will show if there is leakage.  I forget the name of it but it must be a rare test since the neurologist had to find a radiology doctor who can do it.  The doctor who gave me the injection wouldn't give me a blood patch.  The neurologist couldn't understand why he would even try the blood patch.