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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Treatment For Spina Bifida

Hello, My name is Robert. My Step son is a spina bifida patience and has a shunt installed which has been revised about 7 - 8 years ago. He has been having headaches for several days and was administered into the hospital and has had CT scans and X-rays performed as well as blood work done, with no signs of problems being shown. Before we administered him we tried Advil, Tylenol and Migraine meds that did no good. Now after him being here and being treated with Hydrocodone for 3 days and still no answers from the Doctors, his headaches have gone for about 18 hours. He is scheduled for another CT this afternoon to see if any changes are noticeable from the previous scans. My question is it possible that the absence of to much CF causing or possible causing these headaches and if so why now is he back to normal with no meds at all ?
posted on Thu, 11 Sep 2014
Twitter Tue, 3 Oct 2017 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 3 Oct 2017 Last reviewed on
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Neurologist,  's  Response
Hello Robert!

Welcome on Healthcaremagic!

Considering the fact that he has a shunt, a shunt dysfunction could cause persistent headaches, probably related to excessive or low quantity of CSF.

Anyway, a shunt dysfunction can be seen easily in a CT scan.

Is his headache triggered by standing up positition? This would indicate possible intracranial hypotension (from low quantity of CSF).

A brain MRI is also necessary too, coupled with a lumbar puncture to exclude possible infection.

You should discuss with his doctor on the above issues.
Kind regards, Dr. Aida
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Suggest Treatment For Spina Bifida

Hello Robert! Welcome on Healthcaremagic! Considering the fact that he has a shunt, a shunt dysfunction could cause persistent headaches, probably related to excessive or low quantity of CSF. Anyway, a shunt dysfunction can be seen easily in a CT scan. Is his headache triggered by standing up positition? This would indicate possible intracranial hypotension (from low quantity of CSF). A brain MRI is also necessary too, coupled with a lumbar puncture to exclude possible infection. You should discuss with his doctor on the above issues. Kind regards, Dr. Aida