A caffeine infusion may sound like an office joke, but for some people it is prescribed as a treatment for headache. When you have a spinal headache, a type that occurs if you are leaking spinal fluid, oral forms of caffeine can help improve pain symptoms. Severe symptoms that persist, however, may require intravenous caffeine. Always discuss any sudden or severe headaches with your doctor, who can advise you on treatment options.
Spinal Headaches
A spinal headache can occur if you are leaking cerebrospinal fluid, which is the fluid that cushions the brain and spinal cord. While this may sound scary, a spinal fluid leak can occur after common procedures such as an epidural during childbirth or a spinal tap for fluid collection. If fluid leaks from the injection site, it can change the pressure around the brain and cause severe head pain. Symptoms don't always begin right after the procedure. According to ClevelandClinic.org, it can take up to five days for a spinal headache to begin.
When Conservative Treatments Fail
Caffeine infusions are not the first line of defense for a spinal headache. In most cases, Johns Hopkins Medical Center reports, conservative approaches are used, which include bed rest and hydration. This allows time for the site of leakage to heal. During this time you may also be encouraged to drink beverages that contain caffeine. Caffeine causes the blood vessels to constrict, which can temporarily increase spinal fluid pressure and relieve symptoms. Cases that do not resolve within 24 hours may require caffeine infusion, according to MayoClinic.com.
Caffeine Infusions
If the spinal headache is severe enough, your doctor may order caffeine to be injected directly into your bloodstream through an IV. MayoClinic.com experts report this usually provides symptom relief within hours. However, caffeine infusion does not offer a complete cure. In addition, an anesthesiologist may attempt to plug the leak by injecting some of your own blood near the leak site. When the blood enters the spinal cavity, it forms a clot and can patch the hole left from the initial puncture. While conservative treatments can take place in your home environment, caffeine infusions and blood patches must be performed in a clinic or hospital.
Precautions
Larger needles are more likely to cause spinal headaches than smaller ones. If you have had a procedure involving injection of a large needle into your spinal cavity, watch for a sudden and severe headache in the next few hours. Be sure to alert your doctor of any unusual symptoms following the procedure. It is also possible to have a spinal headache from other causes. According to Johns Hopkins, a small tear in the brain or the spinal cord's protective layers, from trauma or repetitive force, for example, can also cause a spinal headache. An MRI or similar scan may be required to diagnose spinal headaches without an obvious cause.
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