I’m 11 days post my 2nd mvd and due to all over pressure headaches that were unrelenting my surgeon sent me for a lumbar puncture and other blood work to search for signs of infection today. The pressure headaches are magnified x 1000 now. They told me to stay hydrated but that makes me have to pee and every time I stand up I feel like my head is going to explode. My surgeon gave me oral dilaudid to get me through the weekend and I’m trying to stay horizontal, but wondered if anyone else had any tips on how to minimize the pain. My neuralgia pain is also out of control since surgery which was expected as my surgeon was very aggressive with my nerve this time. The pressure headaches are what are really killing me right now. I will try e anything at this point!!
I have no idea ---- somebody here will jump on with some experience!
Sorry I dont have tips for you, I had pain after surgery, but it was managed with pain killers pretty well.
I wanted to ask about the spinal tap, my neurologist wants to do one and I am terrified of it. How was having that?
I hope you get relief soon, Headaches suck!
Wendy "crashgirl"
Its the needle in the spine that scares the s**t out of me, I have been terrified of this my whole life..stick me anywhere else and I can take it, but I have some major damage in my neck from a car accident and it terrifies me that they will screw me up. I am hoping we dont have to go that route.
thanks for the help though...maybe they could get me stoned first? lol
Wendy
I have dogs the size of Shetland ponies, and they shed 24/7 365 days a year and other than the usual sneezing from them on occasion, I had no issues with the dander. I dont think it will be an issue with the MVD, I was able to shower the next day so you can rinse it off. My dogs sleep with me as well, or should I say I get a small patch of the bed, lol!
The dogs will be a blessing to you after the surgery, I didnt want to see anyone, but couldnt wait to get home to them!! They are such a comfort.
Wendy
I can report the actual spinal tap was nothing. I barely felt it. It took about 30 minutes for them to get four vials, which the doc was kind enough to show me. The headaches post spinal tap are even worse than the headaches they did the spinal tap to test for. I am stuck horizontal still and on a lot of pain medications. Both of my dogs sleep in bed with me and they did after my first mvd as well with no complications. They are the only bright spot in my days at the moment My surgeon called today and said everything looks good from my tests except my sodium levels are very low and have dropped even since leaving the hospital. He thinks this may be the cause of my extreme pressure headaches and has told me to stop drinking water, start drinking Gatorade and taking salt pills and we will retests on Monday. Hopefully they won’t still be dropping. Anyway, that’s my update. Not sure if its helpful to anyone else out there, but if you are going to have a lumbar tap be prepared for the after effects. You will need help for 48 hours after since moving your head will hurt so incredibly bad.
oh those eyes!!!
My heathens
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I am SO sorry and I know how that feels!! I had a headache after a spinal tap that was horrible and it was very unique kind of pain. Did anyone ever give you the Blood Patch procedure or mention that to you? What they do is take some blood from your arm and inject it back into the area where they did the lumbar puncture. The blood patches any leaks in that area and usually you will have pretty instant relief:) If you have not done this or no one mentioned this You should ask the Anesthesia area to do this for you. ~ Julie
Nobody ever mentioned that to me. I will ask about the blood patch though!
Really?!! Ok.. I truly think this will Help you! I will say a prayer for you as well:)
Thanks everyone. It’s really a huge help to have a group of people who understand all the pain and frustration not only from TN but from trying to treat the TN too!
Maybe your headache is from the spinal. Sometimes it doesn’t seal and the spinal fluid “leaks” out. This causes terrible headaches when raising your head up. I had this once after a discogram. I had to have a blood patch. They take some blood from your arm and put it in your spinal area. Sounds old fashioned but worked. I had this headache for two days. Layed in bed with IV fluid. Less than 12 hours after the blood patch the pain was gone. Just a thought. Hope ou are better soon.
Well they told me to expect 48 hours to recover from the lumbar puncture and I still can’t stand up without feeling like my skull is going to blow apart. The only thing they found from my tests was low body sodium so now I’m taking salt pills and drinking Gatorade. I see my surgeon tomorrow so I will ask about the blood patch. This just sucks so bad 
Hi!
I'm a little over 11 weeks out from MVD and I had a major pressure headache for the first 7 days after surgery, I was put back in the hosptial and 2 days later they did the blood patch and before the were finished the injection the headache was gone. I still have headaches once in a while, but nothing near the pain of the pressure headache.
Ask about the Blood Patch it works
I had a lumbar puncture several years ago that resulted in terrible headaches and required a visit to an Emergency room where they decided I needed a patch. They sent me to the anesthesia department where 2 anesthesiologists did the patch. By the next day, the headaches were gone. While they were doing the patch, they told me if I needed a puncture in the future to request that it be done by an anesthesiologist. They also mentioned that it is better if the puncture is done sitting up, not lying down. Something to think about!
I’m considering a phone call to the radiology department and a trip to the ER right now. I’m taking both oral dilaudid and norco and the headaches when I sit up are still unbearable. This just doesn’t seem normal to me. I will ask about the blood patch. Thanks everyone. It helps to just not feel like I must be crazy.
Oh they did a battery of blood tests as well. So far all they’ve come back with is my sodium levels are low so they have me drinking Gatorade and taking salt pills. Having that rechecked tomorrow too.
I thought this was a discussion about the movie. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088258/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
If you have seen the movie - check out the rating. Ratings: 8.0/11
Anyhow - nothing else to add, sorry. Just trying to make someone laugh.
Smash
A trip to the ER sounds like a good idea, you have been in pain for too long. I agree it doesnt sound normal, I would rather you be safe than sorry.
I used to get migraines so bad I would rather have been put in a coma than deal with them and it sounds like what you are having is worse, I do hope you get some relief soon.
I will be thinking of you
Wendy "crashgirl"
Heather Calkins said:
Oh they did a battery of blood tests as well. So far all they've come back with is my sodium levels are low so they have me drinking Gatorade and taking salt pills. Having that rechecked tomorrow too.