Spinal Headaches

back pain months after blood patch
back pain months after blood patch

What are the symptoms of a spinal headache?

Symptoms of a spinal headache typically develop within two to three days of a spinal tap. But they can also develop months afterward.

Symptoms of a spinal headache include:

  • Intense dull or throbbing headache that starts in the front or back of your head.
  • Headache pain that increases when you sit or stand and gets better when you lie down.
  • Headache pain that worsens when you cough, sneeze or strain.
  • Nausea.
  • Neck pain or stiffness.
  • Dizziness.
  • Vision changes and sensitivity to light (photophobia).

Less common symptoms include:

  • Tinnitus.
  • Hearing loss.
  • Radiculopathy symptoms in your arms, like tingling or numbness.

How long does a spinal headache last?

Spinal headaches typically last from a few hours to a few days, but can last longer. See your healthcare provider if your symptoms continue for more than 24 hours.

What causes a spinal headache?

The most common cause of a spinal headache is a puncture (hole) created during a spinal tap or lumbar puncture. Healthcare providers perform spinal taps to diagnose certain conditions and to deliver anesthesia, like when pregnant people have an epidural during labor and delivery.

During a lumbar puncture, a provider inserts a needle into your spinal canal in your lower back to deliver anesthesia or withdraw a sample of cerebrospinal fluid. Sometimes, spinal fluid leaks out of this tiny hole.

The loss of fluid results in low CSF pressure around your brain (intracranial hypotension). This causes your brain to sag downward. The surrounding nerves and tissues become stretched, which results in a headache.

Other conditions can cause spinal fluid leaks that lead to spinal headaches, including:

  • A ruptured (burst) cyst on your spinal cord.
  • A tear in the meninges of your spinal cord.
  • A head or face injury, such as a fractured skull.

What are the risk factors for a spinal headache?

Risk factors for spinal headaches include:

  • Dehydration.
  • Systemic illness (conditions that affect your whole body, like high blood pressure or the flu).
  • History of headaches.
  • Low body mass index (BMI).
  • The use of a cutting or larger bore spinal needle.

Spinal headaches are most common in pregnant people aged 20 to 40 years old due to the use of epidurals during labor.

This post was last modified on Tháng mười một 26, 2024 3:11 chiều