Spinal Headache

A spinal headache occurs when there’s a leak of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the space around the spinal cord, often after a lumbar puncture or spinal anesthesia. This reduced fluid pressure can cause headache, typically worsening when sitting or standing and improving when lying down. It may be accompanied by neck pain, nausea, or dizziness. The headache is caused by the brain pulling slightly downward due to low fluid pressure. Treatment often involves hydration, pain relief, and sometimes a blood patch procedure to seal the leak and restore normal CSF pressure.