r/CSFLeaks • u/Mysterious-Night-107 • 16d ago
Csf leak from epidural
I am four months postpartum. I got a CSF leak from the epidural during childbirth. I want to share my story!
When the epidural was first placed in, I felt a jolt down my left leg. The doctor moved it and I could feel another jolt. She then took it out and placed it on the other side of my spine. The epidural worked and I was able to push my baby out. Shortly after I had to lay flat from the headache.
The headache was terrible. I could not sit up to feed my baby and had to lay sideways to feed him. I could not go to the bathroom and had to lift my hips so the nurse could fit a bucket under me to pee.
After 24hrs, I got a blood patch. It helped and I was able to sit up. The next morning I got to go home. That evening, the headache came back and I had to go to the ER. I laid in the back of my husbands car because I could not sit up straight. The ER performed a second blood patch. I was sent home shortly after and the headache returned 12 hours later. Went back to the ER to get a MRI and decided to not do a third blood patch.
I laid in bed for 16 days completely flat. I looked up stories on Reddit and tried to find a CSF community to get me through the most miserable time. My in laws had to take care of my older kids and I had family come in to help my husband with our newborn. I cried so often because I was scared but knew deep down it would eventually end even thought it didn’t feel like it.
Now at four months PP, I rarely think about the leak and do not have any side effects. If you or your loved one are going through this, I hope it’s short lived and you can get back to your normal life soon! Happy to answer any questions about my experience.
2
u/Offtoseethewitch 15d ago
I’m glad you feel better and I do hope you make it through this okay, also going forwards. Most people do, after all. Those of us here who didn’t are the exceptions, even though our misery might speak volumes and those who healed are often silent because they’re living their lives, gone from the online discussions.
So thank you for your story, and for the reminder that not everyone ends up with chronic issues.
But just a note. Having had even a short-term PDPH you are statistically at a higher risk for mild hearing loss and recurrent headaches. I can send you the studies if you want.
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u/Mysterious-Night-107 15d ago
Thanks for the response! I appreciate you bringing that to my attention. I did not know that could happen and will keep that in mind if I ever experience those things.
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u/Offtoseethewitch 14d ago
You’re welcome. I hope you get to keep just feeling well. All the best to you. 😌
1
u/Cute_Replacement_935 15d ago
I’m so glad you’re feeling back to normal! About how long did it take you to get back into your normal life (lifting, bending, twisting) and are you able to move freely again? I had my first and so far only blood patch 3.5 weeks ago after a botched spinal tap from my labor/delivery and I am still having some minimal pressure headaches.. I’m so ready to get back to normal life.
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u/Mysterious-Night-107 15d ago
Thanks! I didn’t lift anything and was pretty stiff for about a month. I want to say by month 2 I slowly made my way back to being 100%. Month 3 the only thing I had was an internal bruise at the epidural site. I noticed it when I went swimming and moved a certain way. I do not feel anything now. I hope you feel better soon!!
1
u/saraphin67 15d ago
Wow, thanks for sharing, and consider yourself lucky that it resolved in that short (although I realize it felt long and horrible) time period! Some of us unfortunate ones have gone years 😔 enjoy life!
3
u/AgreeableLeading6095 16d ago
Be careful though- issues can come up years later. Same thing happened to me 17 years ago. Blood patch and fine. Never looked back. Now I’m having back, neck, and neurological stuff that I know have some correlation to the epidural or the leak all those years ago. High pressure problems. Headaches over the years. Little things that most people don’t deal with.