Probably the most common complication of spinal surgery is a spinal sac leak also known as a "wet tap". This occurs when the spinal sac is penetrated and spinal fluid leaks. This is the same thing that happens when your doctor performs a spinal tap or a spinal anesthetic. As long as its sealed off - it is not dangerous and will heal without any complications. An unsealed spinal sac causes a spinal fluid leak - or wet tap and a very bad headache. The headache is worse when you are sitting or standing upright. It may cause nausea and vomiting. It will go away if you lie flat or with your head a bit lower that your feet.

The headache occurs because the spinal fluid pressure in the skull decreases. That is why the headache goes away when you lie down - the spinal fluid pressure goes back to normal in your skull.

Most spinal headaches go away in a few days when the hole in the spinal sac heals and closes. You may be instructed to stay flat for a couple of days until this occurs.

There are ways to speed up the healing of the puncture in the spinal sac. The most common treatment for a spinal headache that does not go away on its own is a blood patch. This may be done at the time sees that the spinal sac has been punctured. If not it may be done several days later if the headache has not gone away. This procedure involves taking a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm and injecting it into your back in the epidural space. The blood clots and "patches" the hole.

Thanks for the great explanation. They put a few stitches in the dura and they want my sister to lay flat on her back, but she's not cooperating. She says it makes her shiver. I spoke to her in the hospital she sounds weak and in terrible pain.

she is going to be in pain and imfclcls is right she wilo have what they call spinal tap headaches which can be worse then the pain she is having from the surgery itself. If it does not stop leaking she can have serious affects from it. did they say all they knicked was the sac? did they knock nerves or cut through the teocal surroundking the spinal cord? i would question them very thourally and get a copy of the surgery report as soon a possible. And tell your sister she needs to lie on her back for her own good. sedate her if you have to. i hope it is just a small leak and it closes, but i would definently get the 411 from the surgeon.