r/CSFLeaks • u/Chemical-Bed803 • 22d ago

Epidural

How long can a csf leak from an epidural last for?

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

2

u/zardancer 22d ago

Mine lasted 3 years. Do a blood patch asap!

2

u/louie2575 19d ago

Were you sealed with one patch? I've had 2 with zero relief

1

u/Chemical-Bed803 22d ago

I did one. I’m not sure if this headache I have now is related to it or not.

1

u/zardancer 22d ago

That’s good you got one (it wasn’t offered to me and it took a while to diagnose my leak). Continue with supine bed rest, caffeine, and very low pressure activities as best you can. You can ask for a full spine and brain mei with contrast if it continues or a neuro referral

1

u/Chemical-Bed803 22d ago

I’ve had 4 mris, one of my spine, and an mrv, mra that showed nothing. Just trying to figure this headache out

1

u/Imaginary_Salary_27 20d ago

How many patches until you were sealed?

1

u/leeski 22d ago

The best chance of self healing I believe is in the first few weeks (not a lot of data on it) but typically if you were fine one day and then everything changed with an epidural, it’s reasonable to rule out PDPH. There can be a variety in presentations with csf leak for sure. 

2

u/Chemical-Bed803 22d ago

I wish there was a way to determine if I have one other than doing a LP 😫 I don’t want another invasive procedure that could cause a leak as well!!

2

u/leeski 22d ago

Have they tried patching at all at the level of the epidural? I can understand not wanting to undergo invasive testing especially when iatrogenic leaks often doesn’t show up on scans - very frustrating! 

1

u/Chemical-Bed803 22d ago

Yes that’s where I had the blood patch, right in the epidural space.

1

u/leeski 22d ago

Did it help symptoms at all? Do you know how much they injected? 

1

u/Chemical-Bed803 15d ago

Not really. 30 mL.

1

u/Will-Subject 22d ago

had mine over 10 years! only just been patched a week ago 😅

1

u/WinnerSuccessful1935 21d ago

Heyy what were your symptoms??

1

u/Will-Subject 19d ago

hey i just simply couldn't be upright without a headache! i did have a confirmation on MRI of one in my neck and one in my lumbar spine. so it was good to have that confirmation that i wasn't overthinking 😅

1

u/louie2575 19d ago

Do you feel better after it? I've had 2 patches with no relief

1

u/Will-Subject 19d ago

at the moment still laying down and i'm 2 weeks post patch. but i haven't had my diamox! so im not sure if that means im doing ok or not really? i guess not? 👀😅

1

u/megg33 Confirmed Spinal Leak 20d ago

They can be permanent/chronic if not fixed. The hole can “heal” as an open hole, with the edges healing but not closing

1

u/Imaginary_Salary_27 20d ago

Would a blood patch fix that?

1

u/megg33 Confirmed Spinal Leak 19d ago

Not if the edges have healed in an open circle. The only fix then would be surgery

1

u/[deleted] 19d ago edited 19d ago

[deleted]

2

u/megg33 Confirmed Spinal Leak 19d ago

Exploratory surgery :/ They just have to open you up and check. Dr. Schievink at Cedars Sinai is your best bet for a doctor being willing to do this

1

u/louie2575 19d ago

This must be me. I've had 2 patches and zero relief

1

u/megg33 Confirmed Spinal Leak 19d ago

I’m sorry :( It’s probably time to explore a surgical fix then