My chiropractor says that the adjustments and microcurrent therapy he has given me are usually effective at relieving most pain within 2-3 weeks of the accident, and it has been 8 weeks already, and the pain in the head is still very intense.

I am also seeing a physical therapist 2x a week with little progress.

donsdatter,

I did lumbar puncture and understand your concern. Thought a lot before I did it. Luckily no adverse affects and didn't show any abnormalities. orthostatic headaches are tough (took many months to diagnose even for George Clooney and after surgery he is all fine ofcourse )

If there is a leak I think the only way is surgery and you will be completely relieved of symptoms. If there is no leak......well......there is no leak

I posted in the following link about my experience.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread177848.html

Cheers!

So did they just measure the pressures or did they do a procedure, like the cisternogram or something else? I just found out today that the indium they use in the test means that I would have to wean my baby b/c no nursing for 28 days after the test. I'm not as concerned about the LP as the radiation and its effects on my life.

So I am looking for alternatives to test for the CSF leaks. Or alternative explanation for the orthostatic headache. This has really got me in a bind.

They didn't do cisternogram. They measured the opening and closing pressure and took 4 tubes of spinal fluid and did all the tests on that fluid. Nothing abnormal. I have done only MRI with contrast and no problem. It seems like indium may be more accurate for CSF leaks but with your nursing not sure.

As for as other alternative if you have any fluid leaking from nose they can check it out (my friend did once he had headaches and fluid leaking from nose but it was not a CSF leak). I almost forgot. Once this Neurologist ordered an MRI (I have done quite a few) to check for CSF leak using contrast on my brain.

If I am not wrong one member had increased intracranial pressure and suffered a lot and after lumbar puncture she had tremendous relief. It is a different case than CSF leak but just mentioning.

May be you can go after neck first and then try this procedure?

Sorry I understand this is a tough call.