Father suffering from headaches after spinal anesthesia. Is this common?

Bones, joints and muscles
1

My father had hip replacement surgery three weeks ago. He had spinal anesthesia instead of general. About two weeks after having the surgery, he began suffering from headaches. He has pain above one eye and sensitivity to light. I learned that these headaches are called spinal headaches. However, I read that most people that have had spinal anesthesia start suffering from headaches one or two days after surgery and that they last up to one week. However, my father started suffering headaches two weeks after surgery and has been having headaches every day for almost a week now. Is this common? Or should we be concerned?

2

I would want to know the facts. He could check with the surgeon's office to be sure. They must be knowledgeable about post-op headaches. Hope he feels better soon!

3

Hi Sylvia I have heard of these type of headache but if I was him I would probably go and see my GP it's early days but at least he could get some advice.

Is he still taking his pain meds as these can also cause headaches especially opiates

4

I had a reaction to a lumbar puncture 20 years ago. Was fine on the day and kept in overnight for more tests. When I tried to stand up the next morning I collapsed on the floor - it was like having a house crushing my head. Took 3-4 days before I could stand.   It doesn’t sound like your father has had this - may be more medication/fluid related. But worth getting checked out none the less. 

5

Thank you for your reply. I took my father to the emergency room today. They did an CAT scan to rule out stroke/aneurysm. They determined that he is in fact suffering from spinal headaches, but that it would be too risky to treat him with a blood patch due to the procedure having a high risk of developing blood clots. They gave him medication to treat the headaches.

6

Hello. He stopped taking Tramadol less than one week after surgery. 

7

Glad to hear that you took him in, Silvia. It's good that they ruled out stroke/aneurysm. Hope those headaches stop asap.

8

So glad that the reason has been found, I'm sure that he will begin to feel better soon and he's a lucky man to have a daughter who is looking out for him

9

Thank you

10

Thank you