spinal tap leak??

  I just wanted your unbiased opinion about something--my 16 year old daughter recently had a spinal tap (last Thursday) at CHOP.  The neurologist said her pressure was slightly elevated but normal at 180.  He said overall the procedure went very smoothly and he didnt suspect any problems.  However she had trouble even leaving the hospital after 4 hours.  She had slight headaches on Friday and was fine Friday nite--then on Saturday she was stricken with very severe headaches that she has never experienced before.  The only way to alleviate them is for her to be in a horizontal position, and as soon as she sits or stands they come back really bad.  When she is up for more than a half hour and its not possible for her to lay down, then she gets extreme nausea.  Her head hurts at her temples and all in the eye area.  This is still going on today, and the nuerologist wanted to give it a couple days to clear up a possible leak on its own.  Does this sound like a small leak (although it went smoothly and her back is clear)? And if happens to be, could you please explain the procedure??  Thank you very much for your time in reading this--any respons would be greatly appreciated before we see the neuro.
Dear Lisa,
This type of headaches occur sometimes after a spinal tap. They are typically relieved when lying down. This is thought to be due to a small leak of cerebrospinal fluid. When the needle passes through the dura (the envelope which contains the cerebrospinal fluid), it produces a small tear, through which the fluid can leak locally, but this fluid doesn't reach the skin. This can happen even when the procedure goes smoothly. The usual treatment is to lay down and drink plenty of fluids. Most of the time, the symptoms clear up within a few days.

[ccan123]

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