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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Suspected spinal leak - waiting 7 hours and counting

60 replies

HollyLondoner · 29/12/2023 09:10

What a mess! I have had extreme back pain and migraines since having my c section. I have 7 spinal blocks as they struggled to get me numb. I have been having spasms and extreme pain in the site.

The GP told me the pain would go away and the migraines are hormonal. I paid to see a physio who says she had the same experience and said I should urgently go to A&E.

I called 111 who sent me to urgent care where I waited for 6 hours. I was then told to come back at 8am to an urgent day centre who sent me to A&E. A&E sent me back and the centre have sent me back to A&E. What an absolute joke. The Dr said I have suspected spinal leak which is very serious and I am in extreme pain and keep asking for pain relief but nothing. Any advice!?

OP posts:
CormorantStrikesBack · 30/12/2023 09:47

Don’t think an mri will help for a spinal leak? I’ve never known one be done…..they just do the blood patch. It’s cheaper and quicker. But needs an anaesthetist to be free. Spinal leaks will normally resolve by themselves after a few weeks so they may try and fob you off.

LifeBeginsNow · 30/12/2023 09:51

They have MRI machines in the same building. It's about accessing the right imaging to diagnose the problem.
A&E fobbed me off with an XRay which showed nothing.
They may say they still won't offer to transfer to radiology. I'd like to think that with the severity of symptoms they would. It's worth a try.
I really wouldn't sit back and wait like I did for someone to do the right thing. I went to the GP so many times and begged and cried. My husband went with me and pleaded. Nothing happened.
I received appalling care. The pain I swear has left me with some ptsd issues and I'm a shell of my previous self.
After my surgery, I did actually wet myself and call 111 and got blue lighted to hospital. They do take it that seriously. I really wish I'd said it happened at the early stages so I could have got some help!

Original poster
HollyLondoner · 30/12/2023 13:21

@LifeBeginsNow I'm so sorry to hear how you were treated. It's disgusting that it isn't taken seriously.

I have been referred for an MRI so I don't know how long that will take. I imagine quite a while...I will see how I get on in the next few weeks.

It has sadly made me think twice about having a 2nd child and I always wanted to have a few if possible but it's not looking too promising as I don't want to go through this again.

OP posts:
LifeBeginsNow · 30/12/2023 14:29

I have gone on to have a second but I had to have a csection and I had to be knocked out for it. No question.
Get yourself sorted and never say never.
I did look at private MRIs but they were about £500 and I just couldn't stretch to that at the start of maternity leave.
Fingers crossed you get pushed through quickly. It's funny but once I had the first, they couldn't stop giving me the bloody things! Seemed to spend my life in those horrible whirling tunnels.

Original poster
HollyLondoner · 31/12/2023 12:19

@LifeBeginsNow ah I didn't think about being completely knocked out for it. It would a shame to miss the baby coming out but to be honest they took him straight off for ages any way while they stitched me up.

Thanks so much for your advice and kind words ❤️

OP posts:
Mjmum10 · 08/10/2025 14:15

Hi did you ever get this resolved? I'm in hospital almost 4 months after my c section and have all the classic CSF leak symptoms

Original poster
HollyLondoner · 08/10/2025 19:09

Mjmum10 · 08/10/2025 14:15

Hi did you ever get this resolved? I'm in hospital almost 4 months after my c section and have all the classic CSF leak symptoms

I'm so sorry to hear this! Yes it was a leak but it took a few trips to A&E and finally getting a MRI scan. Please stand up for yourself or get someone else to! Did you also have lots of attempts at the spinal block?

OP posts:
Mjmum10 · 08/10/2025 19:16

HollyLondoner · 08/10/2025 19:09

I'm so sorry to hear this! Yes it was a leak but it took a few trips to A&E and finally getting a MRI scan. Please stand up for yourself or get someone else to! Did you also have lots of attempts at the spinal block?

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Thank you, I've been quite unwell with it been in hospital 5 weeks. My MRI was clear so I've now been offered a myleogram. They thought my c section went well it was just one attempt, but then they did a blood patch with 3 attempts and it seems they've made a mess of me. Did you have any treatment at all or did it eventually heal by itself?

Original poster
HollyLondoner · 09/10/2025 08:34

Mjmum10 · 08/10/2025 19:16

Thank you, I've been quite unwell with it been in hospital 5 weeks. My MRI was clear so I've now been offered a myleogram. They thought my c section went well it was just one attempt, but then they did a blood patch with 3 attempts and it seems they've made a mess of me. Did you have any treatment at all or did it eventually heal by itself?

Show quote history

Wow that's awesome. I'm so sorry you're going through that. The only thing that helped was a lot of physio. It was the physio that sent me to A&E originally as she had a spinal leak herself and sent me. She was fabulous and after a few months I was back to my normal self. The pain was hideous so sending lots of love ❤️

OP posts:
Original poster
HollyLondoner · 09/10/2025 08:34

Sorry I meant awful!!!!

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