The dura matter encases the brain and spinal cord in cerebrospinal fluid.
Hey, not a doc, but certainly know about CSF leak. After my decompression surgery in Jan 08, I was recovering wonderfully for the first 3 weeks. I did have pain and stiffness from the surgery, but all my prior chiari symptoms had disappeared. Three weeks after surgery, I got a CSF leak. just a couple of drops, but it didn't stop. The leaking persisted for almost two months!! This was the most painful experience I could ever imagine. I slept sitting straight up, and every night, the fluid would soak through two bath towels. Any time I would have to vomit, which was a lot, the fluid leak was projectile, sometimes over a foot. A couple times, I felt that my head would suck in air, after losing so much fluid. I don't know if it makes sense, but It felt and sounded like air bubbles being sucked into my head. The headache I got at this time was so much different and so much worse than any chiari headache I've ever had.