Spinal Headaches – Symptoms and Causes
What You Need to Know About Spinal Headaches
Spinal headaches often happen after medical procedures like spinal taps or spinal anesthesia. These procedures involve making a small hole in the membrane around the spinal cord.
When doctors do a spinal tap, they take a sample of the fluid around the spine. For spinal anesthesia, they inject medicine into the spinal canal to numb the lower body.
The headache occurs when spinal fluid leaks through the tiny hole made during these procedures. This type of headache is also called a post-dural puncture headache.
Most spinal headaches go away on their own without treatment. However, if you have a severe headache that lasts for more than 24 hours, you might need medical help.
Signs of Spinal Headaches
Spinal headaches cause a dull, throbbing pain that can range from mild to severe. The pain typically worsens when sitting up or standing, and improves or disappears when lying down.
People with spinal headaches often experience other symptoms including:
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ears
- Reduced hearing ability
- Blurry or double vision
- Light sensitivity
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain or stiffness in the neck
- Seizures in some cases
Medical Attention Needed
Contact your healthcare provider if you develop a headache after having a spinal tap or receiving spinal anesthesia. This is especially important if the pain gets worse when you sit up or stand. Early treatment can help prevent complications and reduce recovery time.
Causes
Spinal headaches happen when spinal fluid leaks through a hole in the dura mater, the protective membrane around the spinal cord. This leak reduces the pressure of spinal fluid on the brain and spinal cord, resulting in headache pain.
Most spinal headaches develop within 48 to 72 hours after procedures that involve the spine, such as:
- Spinal tap (lumbar puncture)
- Spinal anesthesia
Even epidural anesthesia can sometimes cause these headaches. Though an epidural injection is placed outside the dura mater, the needle might accidentally puncture this membrane, creating a path for spinal fluid to leak.
Who Is at Risk
Several factors may increase your chances of developing spinal headaches:
Age and Gender
- Young adults between 18 and 30 years old face higher risk
- Women experience these headaches more frequently than men
Physical Factors
- Having a smaller body frame or low body mass
- History of frequent headaches before procedures
Medical Situations
- Pregnancy increases susceptibility
- Procedures using larger needles in the spinal area
- Multiple punctures in the membrane surrounding the spinal cord
Medical providers typically consider these factors when performing spinal procedures to take appropriate precautions.
For patients with multiple risk factors, healthcare providers might use special techniques or smaller needles when possible. They may also provide extra monitoring after procedures to watch for early signs of headache development.
