Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 5/3/2010

Question
QUESTION: Dear Sir,
My Name is Nanda Kishore, April 1st I have undergone URSl surgery for Kidney Stone, they have arranged some stunt in my bady. After discharging from that hospital I was feeling heavy headache, after five days they have removed that stunt on that day onwards that pain decreased little bit. Now also I am using medicines even through I am feeling headache. Can you please tell me what is the problem.

ANSWER: I would need to know more about the type of anaesthetic you had - was it a GA or a spinal anaesthetic?
Dr Ian Jackson

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

QUESTION: Dear Sir, This is Nanda Kishore. They have given anesthesia for spinal cord.

ANSWER: Hi there
It is most likely that you are suffering what is called a post dural puncture spinal headache. Basically the cerebrospinal fluid from around your spine is leaking through the little hole made by the spinal needle. This leak reduces the amount of fluid supporting your brain and this leads to headache which typically gets worse when you stand up. You may also have a mild degree of visual and hearing disturbance. It usually settles down with 7-10 days. If it doesn't then I suggest you go speak to your anaesthetist. In the meantime drink plenty fluids and take simple pain killers like paracetamol.
Hope this helps
Dr Ian Jackson

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

QUESTION: Dear Sir,
This is Nanda Kishore, yesterday Morning I met one general physician He suggested some tablets like buscopan, dolonex, and rantac-dx, dosage is twice a day. He asked me to use those tablets for five days other we will take head scanning. Is that head scanning is good for this problem other wise its better to meet my anaesthetist. Please give me suggestions I am research student, I have lot of work to do but I am facing this problem.
Thanking you Sir,
Regards
Nanda Kishore

Answer
If your headache is positional i.e. gets better when lying down and after a nights rest and then comes on when you stand up then it sounds like you have a continued leak of CSF from the hole in your Dura (the membrane that holds in the fluid). In a very few people this does not stop after 7-10 days and continues to be a problem. In that situation as an anaesthetist I would offer you a blood patch - where we inject some of your own fresh blood taken from a vein into your back through an epidural needle placed in the space just next to the dural membrane. This usually seals the hole a gets rid of the headache.
I can't really advise much more over the internet as it really depends on your symptoms etc.
Sorry
Dr Ian Jackson