Hello all,

I'm 24 and I have had a headache 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 4 and a half years. It has impacted my life in ways I never thought possible, disabling me and preventing me from doing much.

I have seen every type of specialist, been on about 25 meds, had every diagnostic exam (MRIs, MRAs, MRVs, CAT scans, lumbar punctures etc) and had them repeated, had several types of injections, biofeedback, pain management programs, lots of continuous IVs: DHE, magnesium, depacon, zanaflex, dexamethasone and a few others.

Until a few weeks ago, it had been 2 years since I had an MRI. Until then every type of diagnostic exam I had come back normal. This one showed the I have a cerebrospinal fluid leak and the CSF is accumulating in my lower back. I had back surgery to remove tumors, surgery on my nose and 3 lumbar punctures (spinal taps). I believe any of these can cause a CSF leak. Anyway the CSF leak may be causing my headache; I will see my neurosurgeon soon and learn more. The fact that I have a CSF leak is the best news I've gotten in years.

Here's to hope that the leak is causing my headache so I can get my life back.

ES