Beyond the headache that we discussed yesterday, additional symptoms occur very frequently in patients with spinal CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) leaking that are associated with IRRITATION OF THE MENINGES (connective tissue layers that hold CSF around the brain and spinal cord). These are symptoms that are seen with meningitis or with subarachnoid hemorrhage (type of brain bleed), often considered as possible diagnoses when symptoms first develop.
In addition to headache, these include:
– neck stiffness or pain
– photophobia (sensitivity to light)
– nausea without or with vomiting
– phonophobia (sensitivity to noise)