On Jan 27, 2009 I had a small tumor removed from L-3 , I had a laminectomy. When I got to recovery, they told me I had a small CSF leak, and had to stay reclined for 24 hours and then gradually elevate to 60 degrees to see if I got a headache. I did not. The wound was healing very well, no other symptoms. I of course was put on Oxycodone which gave me severe constipation. Nobody told me of the risk of CSF leakage, nor the importance of stool softners etc. and so I tried very hard to have a bowel movement when I got home (with no instructions from the hospital). Within a week I developed a large (3" X 5" X 1") bulge below and around the wound. I was seen and told at first by the doctor's nurse to put heat on it. Three weeks after surgery, I saw a resident who told me it was probably a hematoma and that I should come back in 2 more weeks. Yesterday, I finally saw the surgeon (6 weeks post op). It is still the same size although I have virtually no other symptoms (no headaches or leakage from the wound). He drew out some fluid with a needle and it was definitely CSF. He told me that either it would go away by itself in 90 days, or I could do nothing, or have surgery to repair/glue it. I asked him if there was any risk to doing nothing, he said only that I would have the negative cosmetic bulge.
Just does not sound right to me.