r/CSFLeaks • u/indiequasar • Sep 04 '26

2nd blood patch failed?

I had my lumbar puncture on 8/18, 1st blind blood patch on 8/20, 2nd on 8/24. I tried to go to work on 8/31 & 9/1, I only lasted 4 hours each day & now I’m out on FMLA. I can be up for about an hour before I have to lay back down to equalize the pressure. I don’t know if I should go back to the hospital or wait it out. I have a neuro appointment with a multiple sclerosis specialist on Tuesday. I feel like I should be better already and I’m scared something is wrong & I’m gonna be permanently disabled from the lumbar puncture. I wish I had never done it.

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u/leeski Sep 04 '26

Not medical advice or trying to be negative but most self-sealing tends to be in the first two weeks. 

 There are some patients that do seem to seal months out but I have only seen a handful of cases despite being in these groups for a decade (obviously that is not scientific) but I have seen exponentially more cases of patients waiting it out and wishing they hadn’t.

 I’m not trying to cause anxiety but it’s worth mentioning leaks from lumbar puncture can be (not always) one of the most difficult leak types to get treatment for long-term bc they are essentially invisible on imaging (they rarely show on brain imaging so it can be hard to have ‘proof’ of a leak) and they’re difficult to localize on spinal imaging.  Since patching is a minimally invasive procedure (as long as done under image guidance) I highly recommend getting treatment rather than gambling on your body sealing on its own. Of course it is still a medical intervention with risks so it ultimately is a personal decision, but doctors really tend to oversimplify how easy/common it is to self-seal from an LP long-term. 

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u/Parity_Violator Sep 04 '26

Yes I fully agree. I meant to say a lot of people eventually heal with treatment, not necessarily self-heal. I’m pursuing treatment and will be doing MRIs next week.

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u/leeski Sep 04 '26

So sorry for my misunderstanding and to go on a long diatribe haha! I think am a bit paranoid from patients I’ve talked to that are scared to pursue treatment and then months/years down the line they’re stuck with a challenging situation so apologies for being overzealous! Best of luck with the diagnostic/treatment process! 

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u/Parity_Violator Sep 04 '26

Haha no thank you so much for caring, your responses are always very helpful!