Myelogram Headache

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Thanks for the replies, I took it really easy for 3 days after the test by either lying on the bed or the couch. I didn't get this headache for about 7 days after the test. I did lie in bed for most of this past weekend from about 4pm Saturday to about 7pm Sunday, but the headache came back as soon as I stood up.

It's a pity that there is no simple test to see if CSF is leaking out.

I can't sleep tonight (after taking Arabien CR about 2 1/2 hours ago) so I am going to have a sore head tomorrow anyway :(
 
Hi and welcome
Oh gosh i had the worst headache after my mylogram i ended up in bed for 3 days with complete darkness. I ate in bed and everything. It was bad.
 
About a year or so ago I also had a myleogram. It sure was intimidating! I was fortunate that my headache lasted only a few days.

A few weeks later though I was back for a nerve block, in essence, much the same procedure wrt needle placement etc. Unfortunately, this time, because of minimal disc space, scar tissue and fusion hardware (that was his excuse anyway) the needle slipped and punctured the thecal sac. There were some immediate concerns with possible loss of bowel and bladder function, stop breathing and scary stuff like that but all was well. Except...
after the treatment was finally completed they went to raise the head of my bed and I literally screamed with the pain that hit my head. I had to spend the day in the hospital to ensure there were no lasting effects before being released.
While the headache intensity improved gradually, I was plagued with a wicked "spinal tap headache" for 3 weeks! What was worse than that was that the nerve block was only mildly effective and lasted only about 2 weeks... one week less than my headache.
When doing these procedures, I am now aware that in the event of SF leakage from a thecal sac puncture they can seal the leak using what's called a blood patch. A simple procedure apparently. I'm at a loss as to why they wouldn't do it as a precautionary measure. These headaches are a lot more common than they lead you to believe. Since they're already there with everything necessary in place it would be a fairly simple thing to so.

Because of this last experience, I am sworn off any more of these minimally invasive procedures.

The headache will eventually pass... a few days, a few weeks, whatever. They can be pretty nasty though in the mean time. All you can do in recline in a 45 degree angle or less. MeRAB just don't seem to work for this at least they didn't for me.

Sorry to scare you all out there considering these types of procedures but I sure wish someone had given me a truer picture of the possibilities.

Eva
 
I would seek treatment because it could be a definite problem. I am sorry this happened to you and pray that you feel better soon.
 
HI, Thanks again for the replies

I had the blood patch on Friday but unfortunately it did not help, I'm now thinking it's a really bad sinus headaches and that the timing was just coincidental. I had to get the blood patch to rule it out so I have no regrets.
 
I can sympathize with you about your headache. When I had my first myelogram (back in the early 80's) the nurse sit me up in a wheelchair and at this time they weren't suppose to do that. I got back to my room and started throwing up and severe headache. They took me back down to recovery room and did a blood patch but had to stay overnight. Got home and then the next day I had another severe headache, laid on the couch all day and couldn't get up because of the severe headache and called the doctor's office 2 hours away and they sent me to the hospital here at home and had the anesthesiologist do another blood patch on me. That finally worked but needless to say every time they mention a myelogram I get really scared but it hasn't happened again.

Linda
 
Sometimes it takes more than one patch especially if they don't get the correct spot.
 
I started to have a myelogram, had the linocaine injected, dr hit a nerve, (ouch) and then apparently because of the position I was in, the vegal? vein was constricted so I fainted. Dr freaked, pulled out needle, called in the troops, (guess my bp dropped low) and when I came to, I freaked. The procedure was cancelled and I was sent home. I was fine the next day but the following day everytime I got up I was hit with the worse headache I have ever had. I would get relief if I laid back down but upon standing, egad. Two days later I finally called the dr who said I shouldn't have any problems as she only poked me once. She said stay in bed all weekend and if there is no improvement go to ER for a blood patch. I stayed down and I ended up ok. A friend of mine who is a critical care nurse and works with new mommys who had epidurals said of course I should have stayed down but with the head slightly elevated as anytime the spine is injected there is a chance of a headache.
Obviously, I had a dr who didn't know much of anything.
 
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