Spinal fluid leak

Greenfingers37 · 2025-07-18T20:04:38+00:00

Our son’s girlfriend (she’s 21) received a steroid injection in her back due to herniated discs. Four days on and she’s back in hospital with a post dural headache caused by a leak in her spinal fluid. The hospital seem reluctant to give her a blood patch and instead are observing her for 48-72 hours whilst she lies flat on her back. Has anyone ever experienced this? If so, what was the outcome. Thanks

User415373 · 18/07/2025 21:17

Hello,
Sorry to hear that she's poorly. I had spinal fluid leak for a different reason - I'd had a lumbar puncture for viral meningitis. I was convinced I needed a blood patch, they advised me to wait 48hrs and it did resolve. I did have to lie flat on my back (which I had to anyway because of the meningitis).
Hope she feels better soon.

Greybeardy · 18/07/2025 21:29

it's well described. Initial management is usually conservative (pain killers, rest, drinking plenty, caffeine). If that doesn't work then there is a procedure that can help (easier if they only did injections at one level). Have attached (hopefully) a link to a patient info page - the page relates to headaches after obstetric anaesthetics but even if the injection was one of the ones done by the pain team/orthopods the principles of management are the same.

Headache after an epidural or spinal injection - Labour Pains

Headache after an epidural or spinal injection

https://www.labourpains.org/other-resources/headache-after-an-epidural-or-spinal-injection

Original poster

Greenfingers37 · 18/07/2025 21:42

User415373 · 18/07/2025 21:17

Hello,
Sorry to hear that she's poorly. I had spinal fluid leak for a different reason - I'd had a lumbar puncture for viral meningitis. I was convinced I needed a blood patch, they advised me to wait 48hrs and it did resolve. I did have to lie flat on my back (which I had to anyway because of the meningitis).
Hope she feels better soon.

Thank you. That’s very reassuring.

OP posts:

Original poster

Greenfingers37 · 18/07/2025 21:43

Greybeardy · 18/07/2025 21:29

it's well described. Initial management is usually conservative (pain killers, rest, drinking plenty, caffeine). If that doesn't work then there is a procedure that can help (easier if they only did injections at one level). Have attached (hopefully) a link to a patient info page - the page relates to headaches after obstetric anaesthetics but even if the injection was one of the ones done by the pain team/orthopods the principles of management are the same.

Headache after an epidural or spinal injection - Labour Pains

Edited

Thank you. This is very useful.

OP posts:

ObliviousCoalmine · 19/07/2025 07:03

I had this! She’ll feel loads better soon once the blood patch has kicked in. I think I asked the anaesthetist who did mine to marry me…

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 19/07/2025 07:09

ObliviousCoalmine · 19/07/2025 07:03

I had this! She’ll feel loads better soon once the blood patch has kicked in. I think I asked the anaesthetist who did mine to marry me…

But she’s not getting a blood patch?

herashere · 19/07/2025 07:12

I had it and it was the worst headache ever. I was told it would resolve itself in three week and on day 20 I woke up and it was gone.
It was awful.

NeverAloneNeverAgain · 19/07/2025 07:12

I had a spinal headache following a lumbar puncture due to increased cranial pressure (diagnosed with IIH). They wouldn't do a patch as apparently low pressure is better than high. After about 5 days of laying flat I was fine.

It was an odd experience - felt completely fine laying down but as soon as got anywhere near sitting up it was the most painful headache imaginable. Like being hit on the back of the head with a metal bar.

Original poster

Greenfingers37 · 19/07/2025 12:03

Thank you for all your helpful replies.
Well, she’s spent the night in a corridor lying flat on a trolley as there were no beds. And she’s now being sent home as there are still no beds! Been told to lie flat and drink lots! Although doing that at home is infinitely better than doing it in a hospital corridor!

OP posts:

ObliviousCoalmine · 19/07/2025 12:38

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 19/07/2025 07:09

But she’s not getting a blood patch?

Show quote history

An excellent point. Evidently I can’t read that early in the morning 😂🫠

I did have to wait about a week of not actually being able to stand up before they did the blood patch, it was definitely a good 2-3 days before they’d even talk about it.

I’ve had a few leaks and only one blood patch, they do sometimes heal in time. Caffeine helps raise ICP a bit, especially if she’s got the raging headache that comes with it.