Post-Op Spinal Fluid Leak
 

I am a 61 ear old female and have undergone two spinal surgeries this year with Dr Ali Chahlavi at the Jacksonville Spine and Brain Institute in Florida attempting to improve my ability to walk and stand which had become progressively increasingly difficult over the past six years.The first was to remove a benign tumor and decompression laminectomy at L4/L5 in March. After no improvement 5 months post-op, the most recent surgery was on Aug 28th to remove a benign neoplasm that was avoided during the first surgery as they did not predetermine whether or not it contained spinal fluid. I had a CT Mylogram which did not indicate any contrast within it; and a disection/partial removal and hemilaminectomy at L5/S1 was performed. Dr Chahlavi advised me that while attempting to separate it from the dura, it was compromised and he had to stitch it closed and limit what he was able to remove. Nine days after returning home, I developed a severe headache, nausea and dizziness, and started leaking a clear fluid from the base of my incision. Sutures were applied to the base of the incision and a compression dressing applied. I was also fitted with a compression brace and prescribed Keflex and Fioricet and advised to go home and lay flat for 48hrs. I returned to his office a week later with no relief from headache/nausea and although the incision is dry and healing nicely, the sutures were left in place and a new compression bandage applied. I was advised to continue laying down and return in another week. I have now been laying in bed for two weeks and still have the same symptoms along with some numbness/pins and needles in my hands.

I am just looking for advice on how to maximize the replenishment of fluid and find out if this is a common or unique complication and what I should expect going forward. I have an MRI with and without contrast scheduled for next week and am hoping that this will show whether or not I am still leaking internally?