Post dural puncture- when will it end

Hopingforbetterluck · 2023-01-31T20:14:58+00:00

I had DD on Friday and unfortunately suffered a complication during the epidural and am now suffering from severe headache and neck ache associated with it. Can anyone shed any light on how long this lasted for them? I’m really reluctant to get a blood patch done but the symptoms are obviously ruining my first few days and weeks with the baby. As it’s also affecting my hearing the consultant seems to think I’ve got a significant leak of spinal fluid. Would just like some light at the end of the tunnel! Im managing so far on very strong pain killers but am worried I won’t cope if it carries on for weeks rather than days. Anyone experienced this or have any ideas how to heal it quickly?

MyDogStoodOnABee · 31/01/2023 20:16

8 days and only stopped when blood patched, drink caffeine that helped. Happy to DM if there is a way of talking this offline?

MyDogStoodOnABee · 31/01/2023 20:17

Ears still affected and other complications.

Watto1 · 31/01/2023 20:21

Have the blood patch! It works instantly. It was 4 days before they did mine and I wish they had done it straight away.

Original poster

Hopingforbetterluck · 31/01/2023 20:22

@MyDogStoodOnABee thanks - I’ve pm’d you. Sorry you’ve suffered the same - it’s awful isn’t it

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OuiLaLa · 31/01/2023 20:23

Hmm, I haven’t had exactly this OP but I had two issues following two spinals - one was severe pain around the site and a hunchback walk. That lasted for months until us saw a chiropractor (who sorted it immediately). Second was a large numb patch on my lower back. That was gone in 6 weeks but started getting smaller and better very quickly.

for the former I didn’t even raise it with the medical team - not really sure why now. The second I had a lovely consultant who tested me and kept an eye on me for about three months. Have you seen anyone gif a review? What did they say? Does heat help on your neck?

hope you are ok, i still have a little bit of ptsd from mine! Wishing you all the best op! Xx

OntarioBagnet · 31/01/2023 20:24

It can be weeks. Blood patch will sort it instantly

itsabigtree · 31/01/2023 20:28

I'm so sorry. It's truly horrific. I felt suicidal with it.
It lasted around a week but would have likely been less if I'd have laid flat more strictly. I didn't have blood patch, as they don't offer it in the country I was in at the time.
Sending you lots of strength. I hope you are being looked after well.

Greybeardy · 31/01/2023 20:29

If you have cranial nerve signs (tinnitus) the blood patch is usually strongly advised. The hearing changes may become permanent even if the headache resolves. An epidural PDPH is less likely to resolve by itself than a spinal PDPH.

Original poster

Hopingforbetterluck · 31/01/2023 20:32

They have offered me a blood patch but I’m really nervous of making the situation worse. The doctor who did the epidural was apparently quite senior and she struggled to tell the difference between the layers of my back so I’m afraid of another tear happening while trying to fix this one. I feel I’m coping with the pain if I knew it would come to an end at some point. The hearing loss is really frustrating while trying to look after a toddler and a newborn though.

OP posts:

Original poster

Hopingforbetterluck · 31/01/2023 20:35

@Greybeardy really? This is worrying as I do have tinnitus and when the baby cries or DS talks loudly to me it sounds strangely robotic. It started in my left ear and then switched to the right today. The hospital are aware of it but haven’t mentioned anything about it being permanent.

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WhenIsItReady · 22/03/2023 06:35

Hopingforbetterluck · 31/01/2023 20:35

@Greybeardy really? This is worrying as I do have tinnitus and when the baby cries or DS talks loudly to me it sounds strangely robotic. It started in my left ear and then switched to the right today. The hospital are aware of it but haven’t mentioned anything about it being permanent.

What happened for you? What did you choose to do? Hope you are well

Original poster

Hopingforbetterluck · 22/03/2023 21:00

@WhenIsItReady I decided to ride it out as I was really reluctant to have another needle in my back. I took strong painkillers and drank a lot of water and caffeine and luckily both the pain and hearing issues resolved themselves in a couple of weeks.

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WhenIsItReady · 22/03/2023 22:46

Hopingforbetterluck · 22/03/2023 21:00

@WhenIsItReady I decided to ride it out as I was really reluctant to have another needle in my back. I took strong painkillers and drank a lot of water and caffeine and luckily both the pain and hearing issues resolved themselves in a couple of weeks.

Good for you. I'm glad you are better now. I'm in the same position and think I'll try to do the same.

Hope you and baby are doing well

Natalierosexox · 31/10/2024 13:34

Hopingforbetterluck · 22/03/2023 21:00

@WhenIsItReady I decided to ride it out as I was really reluctant to have another needle in my back. I took strong painkillers and drank a lot of water and caffeine and luckily both the pain and hearing issues resolved themselves in a couple of weeks.

Any update on this ? X

Original poster

Hopingforbetterluck · 31/10/2024 15:16

Natalierosexox · 31/10/2024 13:34

Any update on this ? X

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I’ve name changed since this post but am the OP. The pain, tinnitus and robotic noises resolved themselves within a few weeks without a blood patch. My hearing still goes slightly odd and I feel a strange pressure in my head when I lay on my front in my DS’s bed to read him a bedtime story but that’s literally the only time I notice it.

I’m pregnant again and planning another epidural so I must have forgotten it pretty quickly. Are you suffering with it at the moment?

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Greybeardy · 31/10/2024 15:34

OP, hopefully you’ve been followed up properly by the anaesthetists but if not, it’s probably worth seeing an anaesthetist antenatally so they can think about examining you & documenting your current neurology plus to consider if there was anything particular that makes another difficult epidural/dural puncture more likely.

Original poster

Hopingforbetterluck · 31/10/2024 16:01

Greybeardy · 31/10/2024 15:34

OP, hopefully you’ve been followed up properly by the anaesthetists but if not, it’s probably worth seeing an anaesthetist antenatally so they can think about examining you & documenting your current neurology plus to consider if there was anything particular that makes another difficult epidural/dural puncture more likely.

@Greybeardy thank you, you’re right I should get this checked out before I blindly have another epidural.

I’m hoping it was just a one off as I’ve had several spinals in the past without issue after multiple pregnancy losses and complications that resulted from them. This was the only time I had an issue afterwards but I’ll bring it up with the hospital/midwife.

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Natalierosexox · 31/10/2024 19:45

Hopingforbetterluck · 31/10/2024 15:16

I’ve name changed since this post but am the OP. The pain, tinnitus and robotic noises resolved themselves within a few weeks without a blood patch. My hearing still goes slightly odd and I feel a strange pressure in my head when I lay on my front in my DS’s bed to read him a bedtime story but that’s literally the only time I notice it.

I’m pregnant again and planning another epidural so I must have forgotten it pretty quickly. Are you suffering with it at the moment?

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im 4 days post c section and its happening to me . Mostly headache and back pain , Ended up going to triage tonight and they told me to go home and strict bed rest for 48 hours . Lots of fluids & caffeine and then they will follow up after 48 hours to discuss the blood patch .
hoping I don’t have to have the blood patch and it resolves itself but I’m really struggling. X