spinal leakage and headaches

I suffer from chronic pain and on March 21st I had an intrarticular thorasic spinal injection in five sites with steroids to alleviate some of my spinal pain.  Three hours later I developed a spinal headache and was rushed to an emergency room.  From there I had 3 outpatient emergency visits, and two different hospital stays; one with medication and steroids to help keep my severe head pain at bay and to prevent any serious complications by reducing the inflamation (inflammation). I did have a blood patch performed approximately 9 days after the procedure and during my last hospital stay an MRI could not directly show where the site of the leak had occurred. I am still having symptoms, but the Dr.'s are treating me for migraines with no relief.  I feel much better laying down, I have to constantly wear dark glasses as the light pierces my eyes and is painful; my right eye seems to be blurry now and every day I am living with a headache that travels to all different parts of my brain, like little electrodes firing off at different points continually. The only time I do not have a headace is when I first wake up in the morning and the longest I have been without a headace is 3 hours.  I am currently on a migraine protocol with medication.  If I exert myself to any extent, I am washed out, dehydrated, weak and the headaches get worse.  Any stress or tension at all brings on a full blown migraine.  I am having difficulty focusing at work and at this point I feel as though I am literally surviving each day, not living each day.  Could I still have leakage that is going undetected?  Is there a way to measure any fluid leakage that is non-evasive?  This constant, constant pain is taking its toll.  I feel the Dr. is not very assertive and I believe he assumed that this would take care of itself and told me to check back with him in two months.  I think I need a second opinion as coming home from work each day and dragging myself off to bed is not how I intend to live my life.  Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated.
FADINGFAST

[Quixotic1]

It sounds as though you are, indeed, still suffering from unstable pressure around your brain and spine froma continued leak.  Of course I cannot be sure of this online, but your symptoms and the character of the headache are classic.  You need to look for another neurologist or even seek the opinion of a neurosurgeon regarding this.  I do know that sometimes a repeat blood patch is necessary.  I suggest neurosurgery because they deal with spontaneous leaks and traumatic leaks and are more skilled in trying to determine the site of the leak.  

I would request another MRI to assure that nothing more ominous is going on.I know the horrible pain yu're going through, but mine, thankfully, healed over a six week period after the first patch.

You are going to have to be your own advocate here.  Good luck, Quix

[banshe]

sorry to hear about your spinal headaches...i myself just had injections in my neck and doctor nicked the dura he put me on meds and told me to me to drink lots of caffine so i am doing that ...as long as i take the meds on a regular bases i am ok but if i dont they worse ,the headaches r slowly getting better but at the rate i would like and i am a can and floor supervisor in a nursing home and there days i want to cry ..i go next week for more injections..i deal with the headaches as long as i take the meds because i dont want any more needles in my neck than have to be i hope u get better ...ask you doctor bout drinking caffine and a med called fiorcet/codeen and i also take norco and lots of diet mountian dew