Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 1/12/2010

Question
QUESTION: I had a spinal block 15 weeks ago when I had an elective c section for the birth of my second son. I have had a sore back/neck (shooting pains) since my c section and twice in the past week I have had migraines. I go numb on my left side from my foot up to my cheek/tongue, followed by nausea, vomitting and migraine. The numbness only lasts for 10 minutes and I have had a CT scan which came back clear. Could it be possible that I have a spinal headache? or does it just not happen this long after?

Sam

ANSWER: Hi Sam
It would be very very very unusual for this to be a spinal headache at this stage. However a chronic leak of CSF can occur causing issues in an extremely small number of people. However the symptoms you describe do not sound like a spinal headache. You are in a country with good medical care - I assume those who looked after you for your c-section know about the troubles you have been experiencing. If not then it is worth chatting the issues through with them.
I am sorry but I find it difficult to provide an explanation for your problems.
Sorry for this
Dr Ian Jackson

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Ian,

Thank you for your response. My spinal block took over 40 minutes to administer. There was a trainee doing it a the time. She put the large needle in twice and then kept poking in the smaller needle I don't know how many times - my husband thinks about thirty times. I did get a sensation down my left side while it was been administered of water splashing over my left leg. They apologized when I got the sensation. From then the senior anaesthetist took over putting the large needle in for the third time the smaller needle a few times.

Could I have a swelling (build up of fluid) that is putting pressure on my spinal cord?

Kind Regards

Sam

Answer
Sam
It sounds like you had a very difficult time and 40 minutes is a long time for this procedure. It is possible that lots of little punctures were made in your dura mater and in view of all this then it is feasible that you have a chronic leak of cerebrospinal fluid which is causing some of your symptoms. A CT scan wouldn't show a leak though an MRI scan might if they looked carefully.
I think you need to speak to the anaesthetic department that looked after you again.
Kind regards
Dr Ian Jackson