a follow up-
4 days post LP my husband calle neuro as I was getting progessively worse to the point I was voiting from the headache and could not sit up without y vision getting affected. I finally started to cry. They rushed me in for blood patch procedures.

We all discovered something interesting (well, at least to me): since I ambulate with crutches I use a lot of upper body movement/force. This caused the "hole" to not heal and in fact got larger over the next few days. I was leaking like a collander. As the radiologist said "my tank was really low". Used 3 or 4 vials to seal off hole and was put on strict bedrest for 48-36 hours to not disturb clot. I will say the blood patch is an odd procedure

Am feeling much better now. Back is a bit sore but headache is gone, etc. The end result is they are bringing it up in next M&M to advise other docs who order this on mobility impared folks who need a LP to try and avoid anyone else from this effect.

Thanks all for you info and compassion!

i'm glad they did the patch and you're feeling better.
and good for the drs to learn from your experience.

I completely understand what you are going through!
I had my second LP on Monday (first one a year ago without incident), had severe spinal headache for 4 days and I too had to have a blood patch just yesterday. Ugh - now that was a traumatic procedure compared to the LP! Thank God my headache is gone, but now my back is KILLING me today - I feel like I threw my lower back out. It's good to hear that the pain goes away though. This is definitely no fun! Advil has become my very good friend this week.

Feel better,Carisa. I remember well that terrible spinal headache post LP. I knew nothing about the blood patch then, it was 1999, didn't have the internet yet.