Sorry this may be long, but I need help please!
I had a lumbar puncture done on 10/11/12 which resulted in a severe spinal headache. I then had a blood patch done on 10/13/12. During this procedure, they only used 3mLs of blood which was drawn from my IV site that was being used for maintenance fluids, instead of from a new site. It was done by an interventional radiologist who almost seemed as if he did not know what he was doing. I was put in an uncomfortable position during the procedure and when he did it, I felt a sharp, excruciating pain going down my left leg. I began crying and told them of the pain and their reply was "that is how you know it's in the right place." Well, I got absolutely no relief from the blood patch and continued having the unrelenting spinal headache. After the blood patch was said and done, I've had pain in my back that just will not go away. I did not have the back pain after the lumbar puncture. I then had another blood patch done on 10/15/12 to try to cure me of my spinal headache. The second blood patch was done by an anesthesiologist and when he pressed on my back before starting the procedure, I immediately screamed because of the pain. During this blood patch, they used 20mLs of blood drawn from a seperate site than my IV line. After the procedure was done, I felt relief from my headache, altough it was not completely gone. I still had the back pain, only it seemed worse. The next morning when I woke up, I had an excruciating headache and back pain. It was so bad that I was sobbing uncontrollably. The nurse (I was hospitalized) gave me a dose of Fioricet and Tramadol together and then a dose of Morphine 15 minutes later because I just could not get comfortable and I was in so much pain. I tried explaining to my doctor, but he seemed uninterested in hearing what I had to say and ended up discharging me that day. Today has been my first day at home and I am still with the headache and back pain. I am unable to sit up long enough to eat, stand/walk for more than a couple minutes, and I can't bend over because of the pain. I have also been having intermittent sharp stabbing-like pains in my left leg. My question at this point is: is there any possibility of long-term complications from having the blood patch done? What are the next steps I should take or that should be done at this point? I obviously can not live like this and going to work and taking care of my daughter are almost out of the question right now. Will this go away within time and if so, how long typically....or should I go back to the doctor/ER at this point?
Thanks for your time and any advice is greatly appreciated!
I hope you get to feeling better.
Ginger