I had to have a spinal tap in July and as a result I ended up with a spinal headache. I've had migraines and bad headaches before and during this pregnancy, but the spinal headache was one of the most painful. It was a fuzzy time due to other circumstances (seizures, meds) and I don't remember much, but I remember that.
They gave me an IV for hydration, a coffee for the caffeine, and made me lay flat on my back without getting up for a couple days (although they did let me go pee). They were trying to avoid the blood patch and luckily they were able to because this all helped. Have they tried all those measures already?
I have not had one personally, but I am an ER RN and we assist MD's in performing them. In my experience they are generally pretty effective and no more painful to have done that the spinal itself. And certainly nothing worse than the headache itself. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.
I had a spinal block for knee surgery a few years ago and eneded up with a hole causing the spinal headache and needed a blood patch. It was fine, just a little nerve wracking because I was at a teaching hospital in boston and a "student" was doing this for the first time. After that I was fine tho.
My sister had one and needed the blood patch. She was miserable for a few days. I felt so bad for her because she really couldn't even enjoy her new baby. It finally started easing up after about 3-4 days.
She was on painkillers and sleeping in a cool dark room was really the only thing that helped.
This is the ONLY thing that makes me NOT want an epidural. My doctor said she has seem them (professionally and in journals) that the incidence can be anywhere from 2-6%!
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Re: spinal headache??
I had to have a spinal tap in July and as a result I ended up with a spinal headache. I've had migraines and bad headaches before and during this pregnancy, but the spinal headache was one of the most painful. It was a fuzzy time due to other circumstances (seizures, meds) and I don't remember much, but I remember that.
They gave me an IV for hydration, a coffee for the caffeine, and made me lay flat on my back without getting up for a couple days (although they did let me go pee). They were trying to avoid the blood patch and luckily they were able to because this all helped. Have they tried all those measures already?
Good luck.
Baby Boy #1 born 1/15/2010
Babies #2 & #3 arriving Spring 2014 (EDD June 18)
My sister had one and needed the blood patch. She was miserable for a few days. I felt so bad for her because she really couldn't even enjoy her new baby. It finally started easing up after about 3-4 days.
She was on painkillers and sleeping in a cool dark room was really the only thing that helped.