This article provides a brief overview of low CSF pressure headaches, including causes and symptoms.
It also discusses diagnosis and treatment.
Terry Vine / Getty Images
What Is a Low CSF Pressure Headache?
Terry Vine / Getty Images
The symptoms come on due to insufficient amounts of cerebrospinal fluid, which protects thebrainandspinal cordwhen you move.
The pain and other symptoms arise as the brain moves excessively and distresses surrounding nerves.
What Is Cerebrospinal Fluid?
For some, it comes on quickly.
For others, it has a more gradual onset.
Pain with positional headache due to low CSF pressure ranges from dull and manageable to severe and debilitating.
CSF leakscan be brought on by:
CSF leaks can also occur without any identifiable cause.
Diagnosis of this condition can be difficult, especially when the symptoms are mild to moderate.
Therapy is successful when the tear or malformation in the spinal meninges is closed, stopping the CSF leak.
There are several interventions that healthcare providers try.
Rest and Recovery
As noted, lying down for some time should relieve the headache.
This blood forms a clot at the rupture, providing nearly instantaneous relief of symptoms.
This therapy may need to be repeated.
UsingX-ray imagingas a guide, an interventional radiologist can use a specialized needle to deliver adhesive to the tear.
If theres a larger tear in the spine, a neurosurgeon may attempt surgery to repair it.
Complications
Positional headaches due to low CSF pressure can occasionally lead to serious complications.
Treatment depends on the severity of the condition but includes rest and hydration.
An epidural blood patch and surgical repair may also be necessary.
Complications are rare but can be serious.
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