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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Headaches After A Spinal Tap Procedure
Question: had a spinal tap friday.. I started getting a sight headache this morning then it turned into a worse headache by this evening.. I went to the er.. doc said to try and take motrin every 6 hours n wait another 24 hours to get an epidural patch done.. the headache is relieved only by laying flat it comes back when I sit up or stand.. will this go away on its own.. or will i have to get the procedure.. I heard it's painful. they said to drink caffine but I have panic disorder n can't drink Alot of it.. any thoughts or suggestions
Brief Answer:
Spinal headache treatment
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, thanks for asking from HCM.
I can understand your concern. Spinal headache is a type of headache which occurs due to loss of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid). It increases on sitting and standing due to low CSF pressure in head and stretching of sensitive membrane around brain (Dura). This explanation you need to understand. It will help you in managing the pain.
For relief, you can follow few tips
- Lie flat or head low and legs raised.
- Drink plenty of fluids to treat pressure
- You can ask for other painkillers like diclofenac or tramadol or Pantazocin or Morphine. It will not increase your panic symptoms.
- Spinal headache will relieve on its own in 7-10 days if you will follow all precautions.
- If no relief, then go for epidural patch.
Hope it will help you. If still any doubt, do let me know.
Thanks. Take care.
Spinal headache treatment
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, thanks for asking from HCM.
I can understand your concern. Spinal headache is a type of headache which occurs due to loss of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid). It increases on sitting and standing due to low CSF pressure in head and stretching of sensitive membrane around brain (Dura). This explanation you need to understand. It will help you in managing the pain.
For relief, you can follow few tips
- Lie flat or head low and legs raised.
- Drink plenty of fluids to treat pressure
- You can ask for other painkillers like diclofenac or tramadol or Pantazocin or Morphine. It will not increase your panic symptoms.
- Spinal headache will relieve on its own in 7-10 days if you will follow all precautions.
- If no relief, then go for epidural patch.
Hope it will help you. If still any doubt, do let me know.
Thanks. Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
I took motrin this morning n the headache is relieved pretty much ..im gonna continue to take the motrin but when do i know when I can stop it.. how will i know when the leak stops if the motrin is masking the headache
Brief Answer:
Treatment duration
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, welcome back.
It is good that your headache is getting some relief. You can taper the dose from twice to once a day. Then give a trial of 1 day by discontinuing it. If you don't feel pain, then it means your pain is gone.
The leak will stop in 24 hours. By following due precautions, your drained CSF will be replaced by newly secreted CSF and your physiology will become normal.
Hope it will help. If any doubt, do let me know.
Thanks. Take care.
Treatment duration
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, welcome back.
It is good that your headache is getting some relief. You can taper the dose from twice to once a day. Then give a trial of 1 day by discontinuing it. If you don't feel pain, then it means your pain is gone.
The leak will stop in 24 hours. By following due precautions, your drained CSF will be replaced by newly secreted CSF and your physiology will become normal.
Hope it will help. If any doubt, do let me know.
Thanks. Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
I got the spinal tap friday the headache started yesterday morning n got to it's worst by 4pm.. shouldn't it already be almost gone? if ur saying 24 hours.. tomm i won't take the motrin n see if it's still there if it is.. should i just get the patch?
Brief Answer:
Spinal headache relief
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, welcome back.
I got your point. Your headache is decreased as you have experienced - it is occurring in erect posture, not in lying. The pain in erect posture is due to stretching of dura which will subside if your CSF volume will become normal. This normalisation of CSF volume depends upon your hydration, your efforts to avoid erect posture.
If you have been not able to follow required precautions, then you should opt for epidural patch.
Sometimes in few cases, relief can occur late. It is due to large defect in dura, use of some diuretic medication while treating disease, medication which can lower CSF pressure and problem in wound healing. If there is delay in relief in your case, any of these reasons can be a possibility.
Hope it will help. If any doubt, do let me know.
Spinal headache relief
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, welcome back.
I got your point. Your headache is decreased as you have experienced - it is occurring in erect posture, not in lying. The pain in erect posture is due to stretching of dura which will subside if your CSF volume will become normal. This normalisation of CSF volume depends upon your hydration, your efforts to avoid erect posture.
If you have been not able to follow required precautions, then you should opt for epidural patch.
Sometimes in few cases, relief can occur late. It is due to large defect in dura, use of some diuretic medication while treating disease, medication which can lower CSF pressure and problem in wound healing. If there is delay in relief in your case, any of these reasons can be a possibility.
Hope it will help. If any doubt, do let me know.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
I had the patch done lastnight i didn't get immediate relief.. but woke up this morning with relief.. it feels like it's coming back but doesn't get to it's full headache like it was.. does it take time sometimes to get relief.. everyone that got it done had im.ediate relief.. Im scared it didn't work. im still taking the motrin.. what are the odds it didn't work ughhh
Brief Answer:
Epidural patch efficacy
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, welcome back.
The epidural patch's efficacy is around 90 to 100% relief. You can take Motrin along with patch. Your symptoms will completely resolve within 7 days.
Please dont be scared or worried. Your patch has already started working as you are getting relief.
Hope it will calm you. If still in doubt, do let me know.
Thanks. Take care.
Epidural patch efficacy
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, welcome back.
The epidural patch's efficacy is around 90 to 100% relief. You can take Motrin along with patch. Your symptoms will completely resolve within 7 days.
Please dont be scared or worried. Your patch has already started working as you are getting relief.
Hope it will calm you. If still in doubt, do let me know.
Thanks. Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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