RE. the Oil Lady: I've had two patients who had the blood patch (to treat CSF leak caused by spinal surgery), and both enjoyed dramatic relief from severe headaches without complications. Full disclosure: I've never performed/ordered/advised blood patches, so I haven't acquainted myself with their risks.
If I had a headache from a CSF leak, I would get clarity from the surgeon as to the risks arising from the blood patch versus the risks of complications, or failure to close, from not getting it, and if/when there might be a decision point to throw in the towel and get the procedure. Headaches from CSF leaks are disabling.
BTW, there are even risks (grave ones!) from bed-rest: A former patient of mine was deathly afraid of getting surgery to correct, among other things, a critically narrow spinal canal in her neck, itself secondary to a condition causing her disabling pain. Her pain became so exquisitely sensitive to activity and even movement, that she lay in bed immobile for days. This dense immobility lead to the development of blood clots in her legs (DVT or deep venous thrombosis), which broke off and entered circulation going to her lungs (pulmonary embolism), very nearly killing her. She decided to go for the surgery after all, but had to wait months for the clots to clear up on blood thinners.
no subject
If I had a headache from a CSF leak, I would get clarity from the surgeon as to the risks arising from the blood patch versus the risks of complications, or failure to close, from not getting it, and if/when there might be a decision point to throw in the towel and get the procedure. Headaches from CSF leaks are disabling.
BTW, there are even risks (grave ones!) from bed-rest: A former patient of mine was deathly afraid of getting surgery to correct, among other things, a critically narrow spinal canal in her neck, itself secondary to a condition causing her disabling pain. Her pain became so exquisitely sensitive to activity and even movement, that she lay in bed immobile for days. This dense immobility lead to the development of blood clots in her legs (DVT or deep venous thrombosis), which broke off and entered circulation going to her lungs (pulmonary embolism), very nearly killing her. She decided to go for the surgery after all, but had to wait months for the clots to clear up on blood thinners.
--Lunar Apprentice