Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Spinal Headaches?
Question: I had a lumbar puncture last Wednesday the 13th and I've been in a lot of pain. I went to the hospital and had a caffeine IV which helped for a few hours on Saturday. I am still experiencing the spinal headache, lower back pain, and neck pain. As of Tuesday, my eyes have started to really hurt. I can't look around too fast or I feel a really sharp pain and a black dot will appear. My ears keep popping and my hearing has started to cut out partially at random times by some "whub whub" sound in my head. Today was really bad and I was hit by a wave of nausea.
Is there anything I can do at home to help with the issues I'm dealing with? I've already talked to my Neurologist and was told to drink water (which I have been).
Is there anything I can do at home to help with the issues I'm dealing with? I've already talked to my Neurologist and was told to drink water (which I have been).
Brief Answer:
Spinal headache
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for the query
Spinal headaches are known to occur in about 45% of the patients undergoing spinal tap and it more common in women than men. 85% of the times it resolves on its own without any treatment. However these are my suggestions to you
1. Be in lying down position as much as possible, this well reduce the intensity of the headaches.
2. Simple analgesics like Tylenol with caffeine helps but a better analgesic would be tramadol, you can take it twice daily for 5 days
3. Drinking lots of water has shown improvement in only a few patients
Since it has been almost 9 days since you have been suffering from headaches I strongly suggest that you undergo epidural blood patch, here small amount of blood is introduced into your epidural space and the headache will resolve instantly. Speak to your neurologist
I hope I was of help, if you have any further queries please get back to me
Regards
Spinal headache
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for the query
Spinal headaches are known to occur in about 45% of the patients undergoing spinal tap and it more common in women than men. 85% of the times it resolves on its own without any treatment. However these are my suggestions to you
1. Be in lying down position as much as possible, this well reduce the intensity of the headaches.
2. Simple analgesics like Tylenol with caffeine helps but a better analgesic would be tramadol, you can take it twice daily for 5 days
3. Drinking lots of water has shown improvement in only a few patients
Since it has been almost 9 days since you have been suffering from headaches I strongly suggest that you undergo epidural blood patch, here small amount of blood is introduced into your epidural space and the headache will resolve instantly. Speak to your neurologist
I hope I was of help, if you have any further queries please get back to me
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
