Spinal head ache after LP
 

I live 1.5 hours away from the hospital that did the LP friday. I went to our local ER (decent sized - new hospital) yesterday for a really severe spinal head ache. It was the first day I got out of bed after the spinal (3days) And my local ER didn't want to do the blood patch. They recommended resting for two more days and prescribed a migrane med/sedative. Today I feel ok except the lingering head ache. It goes away when i lay down like a spinal head ache is supposed to. I am taking it easy and my daughter is staying home from school so I dont have to drive. No cleaning, etc... but when I stand up I get a mild head ache. It is typical to linger this long? I know I could call my mom and tell her to go do the blood patch but I really really dont want anything thing else in my spine. If I can lay down for the next two days and be fine that is more ideal for me. I know that no one on here is a dr. If I thought I needed to go to the hospital I would I promise :)

Been there Summer.:(. I actually laid flat on a hospital bed for a full 24 hrs,
no pillow, and still got the headache from He11, after coming home. I'd
just lay flat, each time, until it went away. After a few weeks, it went
away for good.:p

I had a similar experience. I had a bad experience getting my LP in the first place...took two docs multiple attempts over a two day period before they were successful (long story)...but surprisingly, I felt fine two days after the LP. So I went to the beach with my brother and nephews...and spent the day in the water having fun. And when I got home, I had a screaming headache. By the next morning, whenever I tried to sit up, I got bright flashes and the room would spin and my head felt like it was imploding. So I ended up flat on my back in a dark room for about 3-4 days after that before I could get up without a headache. Caffeine helped...Tylenol helped...but nothing but laying flat and resting cured it.

hi summer,

sorry for the painful complication. i don't know for sure but i think you're doing all the right things. be sure to stay hydrated too.

i'd follow that dr's instructions and take the med as needed. if you still have pain monday call your neuro or the dr that did the LP. let us know how you are.

Yeah, my post LP headache lasted over a week, and I stayed in bed pretty much the whole time. I think everyone reacts differently.

I had no problems getting my LP done. Very routine, no surprises (other than finding out I am allergic to the iodine they used on my back to clean it before the LP).

I went home after lying in the hospital bed for about 3 hours. Nurses said I'd be just fine to go and do whatever I wanted.

All was fine, until the following night. Around 8 pm I felt a headache coming on. By 9 pm I was in a tub of hot water trying to calm down this raging headache (hot water baths actually ease my headaches). By 9:30 I was clothed (don't know how I managed) and in a taxi headed to the hospital. I am surprised I made it to Triage and through their questions still conscious. I was whisked into the back of the ER and put on migraine medication by IV right away. No blood patch either.

I woke up around 6 am, feeling dandy. Walked with the rack with empty IV bags to the nurse station and asked if they could unhook me. Went and got a coffee upstairs in the hospital.

I hope to never again experience a headache that vicious, nor have need of another LP. Sorry to hear you've been going through the headache. :hug: Remain horizontal, take it easy, drink lots of fluids. I heard caffeine helps tons, but also Gatorade.

Today is the first day I have felt normal again. Still a lingering headache here and there but no where near what I felt monday. I didn't get the blood patch even though I scheduled one. I just dont want anything to come near my spine like that again lol. I am so thankful to be feeling better :)

I have never in my life felt the kind of pain in my head. I had to fill out the ER papers too and just shook the whole time. I have never cried because of pain. Even when I had my children and my son was 10.7 lbs. And the epidural only worked on one side with him....

Same, Trigeminal Neuralgia is bad, but the spinal headache beat all other pain I've endured. Glad you're on the mend!