Spinal migraine/headache - Long term effects?

[Anonymous]

I had a spinal migraine/headache when I had my son 13 weeks ago. It wasn't an actual headache but excruciating pain in the neck shoulders (think worst stiff neck ever). I had to get a blood patch and take it easy for a week afterward so that the blood patch would work. Since the baby was born I have had several migraines (I got them before the baby, but not this frequently) and have a pretty painful headache almost daily.

Could this be a side effect from the spinal or is this likely hormonal? Has anyone experienced this?

[Anonymous]

It could be either.

I have chronic migraine and also had a spinal headache once after a spinal tap testing for meningitis (ironically it was actually just a really bad migraine). Call your doc/neurologist and get it checked out.

My spinal headache felt better when I would lay down, whereas my regular migraines don't. I think that's pretty common.

Post-birth you may need to adjust your migraine treatment plan -- what worked before might no longer be adequate.

[Anonymous]

I get occasional migraines with visual disturbances, nausea, intense pain on one side of the head. In fact, this week from Tuesday into Wednesday I had a 36 hour migraine.

After each child (4), I had a two/three week span of frequent migraines, most likely due to decreasing estrogen levels following child birth. Maybe that is what is happening to you.

I don't know what a spiral migraine is and hope to not find out.

Good luck to you, I hope you get to the other side of this migraine phase very soon.

[Anonymous]

OP I had what you described for 10 months after my first born. I went to several doctors who wouldn't admit this was probably due to the affect of having had an epidural until a PA from a neurologist office told me discreetly she suspects this is due to having an epidural. I was so grateful to hear that my symptoms was not just a figment of my imagination as several other doctors insinuated. The symptoms went away after 10 months. I have met people who suffered from spinal headaches and symptoms for much longer than I did, so, I elected to have my second baby drugs free. Labor was excruciating with my second, I actually changed my mind during labor and requested meds, but my midwife didn't give in to me considering for sure my history with spinal headaches. I'm glad she didn't give in because I bounced back from that birth like a spring chicken.

I've read spinal headaches may be due to low spinal fluid after an epidural/birth. I think you'll get back to normal after some time as I did, but I would look into it to reassure yourself.

[Anonymous]

I The hospital did a spinal block when they tied my tubes
2 days later I had a spinal headache and lost all spinal flui Lewisville would not do the blood patch cause they didn't tie the tubes By time I got to Parkland I was having grandma seizures They tried to draw spinal fluid out to see if I had spinal meningitis I flate lined 3 times lost all eye sight for 3 days and I have had epileptic seizures ever since

[Anonymous]

PLEASE NO ONE EVEN Consider having a spinal headache I've had seizures for 27 years don't do it please

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry I mean don't consider having a spinal block please

[Anonymous]

And the main part of the spinal headache is because you lose all of your spinal fluid which is what your brain floats in so my brain was hitting my skull and caused scar tissue which does not heal

[Anonymous]

I don't know about your specific issue, but I did have migraines more often than usual (much more) in the immiediate post partum period. I also had optical migraines after one of my pregnancies. Went to a neurologist because of the optical migraines and she told me she doesn't consider anything a pattern during the first six weeks post partum since your body is all out of whack and settling into its new normal. I found that to be totally true. Good luck!