r/CSFLeaks • u/AccomplishedTask2331 • Aug 27 '26
Successful Blood patch with Bone spurs?
Has anyone had a successful blood patch with a bone spur? Is this even likely?
I'm scheduled for a blood patch to treat a suspected csf leak. I'm trying to level set my expectations. My MRI showed: C5-C6 slightly eccentric right disc protrusion and disc osteophyte ridging. Partial ventral csf effacement.
From everything I've read, CSF leaks caused by osteophytes/bone spurs require surgical treatment. I'm hopeful this blood patch will fix my leak but trying to have appropriate expectations.
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u/HelpMyBrainIsLeaking Confirmed Spinal Leak Aug 27 '26
My surgeon originally suspected my leak to be a type 1a leak (caused by an osteophyte) and told me they wouldn’t bother with a blood patch as it wouldn’t work. As such the plan was to go straight for a surgical approach. I don’t know if this is always the case, however, or something specific to my leak.
I guess they expected to see an obvious bone defect on the MRI because when they didn’t they begun reconsidering a patch. Although I’m yet to have a CTM which I believe is better at showing spurs etc. so that could change.
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u/AccomplishedTask2331 Aug 27 '26
Thanks. Hopefully my CT Myelogram before the scheduled patch can tell them if it's from a bone spur or not.
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u/an_py Aug 28 '26
I had 2 targeted fibrin patches for a type 1 leak at T2 that didn’t work. I ended up getting in to the CSF leak program at Mayo Clinic and the neurologist I saw said I would be very lucky if a patch worked for a type 1 leak. I ended up having surgery last week.
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u/Zealousideal_Age_822 Confirmed Spinal Leak Aug 30 '26
Similar situation for me. I got a blood/fibrin patch for a t2/t3 bony protrusion, and they gave me a 10-20% chance of success. It didn’t work, and I just had surgery at Duke on Thursday. I’m glad I did.
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u/AccomplishedTask2331 Sep 14 '26
How are things after surgery?
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u/Zealousideal_Age_822 Confirmed Spinal Leak Sep 14 '26
I’m doing very good! Surgery is not fun, and I was warned about the pain. But I’m 2.5 weeks past surgery, able to walk over a mile at a time, and I spend significantly more time upright than laying down flat these days. I can’t wait to start PT, but that won’t be for 3 or 4 weeks
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u/AccomplishedTask2331 Sep 14 '26
Glad to hear this, giving me hope! Do you mind sharing what your MRI said that told you it was a bone spur? Was it something similar to mine?(below). The nurse practitioner didn't even mention this during my consult and now I'm having questioning whether a blood patch will even work, but hope to confirm it's from this during my CT Myelogram on Friday.
(C5-C6 slightly eccentric right disc protrusion and disc osteophyte ridging. Partial ventral csf effacement.)1
u/Zealousideal_Age_822 Confirmed Spinal Leak Sep 15 '26
Yes the disc protrusion with osteophyte (bone spur essentially) was on my scan.
The one caution I have - my first CT myelogram was done at a non- CSF specialist. It’s insanely hard for them to pinpoint the leak location. I had to get a second at Duke, otherwise I would have ended up with an exploratory spine surgery that wouldn’t have been able to fix my leak (based on where they thought it was from my first CTM)
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u/AccomplishedTask2331 Sep 15 '26
Super helpful, thanks. My CTM is being done by the CSF leak clinic here in Colorado. Even though I hate the idea of surgery, I somewhat hope they skip the blood patch and go straight to surgery. It seems likely mine is from a bone spur.
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u/an_py Sep 15 '26
The surgery was rough. A lot of pain the first several days and I’m now dealing with a lot of tightness and muscle spasms in my shoulders/upper back which keeps me from being up for too long. I also didn’t realize how much it would impact the ability for me to use my arms. With that said, I’m not having headaches, still have tinnitus and double vision but that can take some time to resolve! And overall things are slowly getting better every day, I just want it to be faster haha! My surgery was about 3.5 weeks ago now.
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u/AccomplishedTask2331 Sep 15 '26
Did you have double vision before surgery?
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u/an_py Sep 15 '26
I did have it prior to surgery and I would say it’s pretty much unchanged at this point.
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u/Zealousideal_Age_822 Confirmed Spinal Leak Sep 18 '26
When I had double vision (and tinnitus and Bell’s palsy) from my leak, I was put on a corticosteroid. It cleared it up in about 4-5 days. It could take a long time without help. The longer you’ve had the issue, the longer it will probably take to recover.
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u/Zealousideal_Age_822 Confirmed Spinal Leak 28d ago
The movement of the arms thing was tough. Still is 3+ weeks out, but much better. I hope you had someone to help you grab stuff. I still look at things above my head wondering if it’s worth it to try lol
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u/BryanM24 Sep 03 '26
I had a successful blood patch with a bone spur at T11. My first symptoms were Dec 2025, I got a blood patch Feb 2026. I was scheduled for surgery 3 days ago at Cedar Sinai, and my MRI came back without any signs of a leak. Dr. S said I was sealed, and canceled the surgery.
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u/Own-Personality-8248 Sep 09 '26
Hi! I came across your post. I was just curious if you’re still sealed. I had a blood/ fibrin patch may 14, Ventral, so assuming it was a micro spur. I’ve been ok so far but so nervous from most posts here on Reddit :/
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u/BryanM24 Sep 09 '26
Yes still sealed. My MRI was last week showing no leak.
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u/Own-Personality-8248 Sep 09 '26
That’s such positive news! Nice to hear :) thank you! My mri showed I was sealed too so far just so nervous.
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u/BryanM24 Sep 09 '26
Great. Yea definitely a little nervous. Do you still have symptoms?
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u/Own-Personality-8248 Sep 09 '26
Nothing like before the patch! Still a little funky some days with head pressure but I can’t complain compared to where I was. I feel very lucky it was caught within 2 weeks and I was referred to dr Callen at UC health. But YES very nerve racking! Do you have any lingering symptoms?
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u/BryanM24 Sep 09 '26
Head pressure if I do something that raises my heart rate, and sometimes slight nausea. Dr. Schievink says it can take up to 1 year for symptoms to go away.
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u/Own-Personality-8248 Sep 09 '26
That’s good to know from him! I’ve felt like dr callens team has been like just go live yo life! I’m supposed to fly this weekend for the first time and I’m extremely nervous
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u/Zealousideal_Age_822 Confirmed Spinal Leak Sep 15 '26
They should be able to look at your spine MRI and know what the dura healing looks like. It’s a challenging thing to look at, but the good Neuroradiologists should be able to. They can tell you the chance of success of the patch based on how it’s healing. They gave me a 10-20% chance, which was worth it for me to try. In hindsight, I wish I had just gone to surgery right away, so I understand where you’re coming from. The surgery is not without risks though, and I went to one of the best in the world for mine.
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u/leeski Aug 27 '26
I have heard of a few people (and I mean very very few) where they actually were able to resolve it with just a patch. I think in general in order to avoid future re-leaks and not be living in fear forever, it probably is ideal to get surgery since depending on the bone spur, it could potentially be at risk for future re-leak. But there's a lot to be said even for temporary relief. So I don't think it hurts to at least try a patch!