Vertigo/dizziness after spinal tap
Posted , 12 users are following.
Last month I went to the hospital with a continuous headache and fever for a couple days, they wanted to check for meningitis. So I agreed to do spinal tap (guess what they call blind spinal tap, no xray used).
I didn't have a headache at first from the procedure, but about two days later they came on the back of my head. It lasted about a week or less, I was able to function with Tylenol. Then the headaches went away.
I thought a post spinal tap headache were completely normal? Especially since it stopped. That's why I didn't run back to the hospital.
But now I'm learning I should have went back for a blood at first sign of headaches?
Now a month later I'm left with no headache, but debilitating vertigo and motion sickness And nausea I didn't have before spinal tap.
My gp thinks there's no correlation, and that if I was having a csf leak I would have an excruciating headache which I don't.
From what I researched it's very rare but one can have a leak without headache. And I also read low csf pressure can cause vertigo and nausea.
Am I overreacting, that I want to look into to spinal tap as cause of vertigo?
My worries are CSF leak or aquired chiari.
I got some blood work done Friday and saw my primary and told then about this. I got standard blood work done, results were fine, so i guess isnt something that will kill me anytime soon. Its really debillitating, I can barly stand without cane and when I move my head to fast while standing. I can fall.
Can you have csf leak without headache?
0 likes, 18 replies
tyna40260 Guest
Posted
I just had a lumbar puncture done on Friday and I am freaking out. I have very high anxiety and it is getting the best of me. For the first three days I could not sit up without extreme headache and extreme pain in my neck I would have to lay back down for it to go away. That pain has gone away but now I am very dizzy, lightheaded, I am nauseous and I have a continuous mild headache. I also have light ringing in my ears. It has been six days now and I feel like I am going crazy because I feel like I will never go back to normal. I am laying in bed all day and it feels debilitating. I do not want to do a blood patch because I am so against anybody going into my back again after all these symptoms from the initial lumbar puncture. How long did it take you to get back to normal and be functionable? I have a three year old and it is killing me that I cannot do my normal activities with him anymore. It’s so heartbreaking . Somebody please give me good news that this does get better!
AlesL Guest
Posted
Hello, I came across your posts - my 20 years old son had a spinal tap 12 days ago after which he developed headaches and vertigo - headache is gone but he still has vertigo - did your vertigo resolve, did anybody get any medications or medical advice that helped? Thank you very much!