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What Is a Spinal Migraine?

Spinal migraines are also known as post-lumbar puncture headaches. These headaches can make simple activities such as walking to the bathroom difficult, with excruciating pain, balance problems and dizziness. Diagnosing the headache is the first step in treating it.

  1. Cause

    • A spinal migraine occurs when spinal fluid leaks into the spinal cord. This may be caused by a small puncture in a spinal tap or administration of epidural anesthesia.

    Symptoms

    • Spinal migraines range from moderate intensity to incapacitating pain behind the eyes. You may experience nausea, ringing in your ears and dizziness and have trouble focusing.

    Those at Risk

    • Women ages 20 to 40 are at the highest risk of spinal migraines. Procedures using larger needles or multiple punctures increase the chances and severity of spinal migraines.

    Diagnosis

    • Your doctor will take your history to diagnose the headache and may request an MRI to rule out any other conditions. The diagnosis is usually fairly straightforward if you have recently had any spinal procedures.

    Treatment

    • Lying down and taking over-the-counter pain relievers might alleviate the pain. For more severe cases, a doctor may prescribe an epidural blood patch, intravenous caffeine or epidural saline to relieve the headaches.

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