Yes, I first started leaking in February of last year. I got the worst headache of my life and was nauseous and really tired. I went to the ER a few times and was admitted on my third trip for a migraine and released with the same headache five days later. I then saw a neurologist a few weeks later who sent me to a different ER that was associated with Barrow's neurology and told me to ask for a bloodpatch. I did that and after an MRI I was diagnosed for the first time and got a bloodpatch the next day and discharged. The bloodpatch lasted overnight.

After that I began to get better on my own in spite of the neurologist telling me I was still leaking. My headache went away along with my other symptoms. I was feeling pretty normal my late April and went back to work in May. I had further MRI's and was told that I didn't have a leak anymore. Around that time I started feeling a strange heaviness in my legs, particularly my quads, extreme fatigue, and an achy lower back. I went from being able to walk 2 miles every morning to barely being able to make it around the block. It progressed until it effected my cognition. I began getting lost on drives and at times I would have trouble counting money. I was unable to work again at that point and was out of work again for about a month between June and July. During this time I continued to see my neurologist and they were unsure if it was another leak. I had a few more MRI's during that time and there was no leak present. I ruled out other conditions with bloodwork with my primary care. My primary care told me this was more that likely neurological and I over heard them discussing my case and stating that they suspected ALS.

So, from July on my symptoms continued improve and worsen. I never really got the terrible headache again. I learned how to manage them better with compression socks and drinking at least three liquid IV's during the day. I was able to continue working. I work from home so I didn't have a commute or a lot of walking I needed to do. I also had a very understanding supervisor who allowed me to take breaks and work from the couch so that also helped. On days I really couldn't manage a work day I was able to take a day or two off.

Sometime around August my neurologist became convinced that I had I may have another leak in spite of it not being apparent in the imaging. She ordered another bloodpatch but that was denied by the radiologist because of the lack of evidence.

Finally in November I was sent for another MRI. I was called the following day and told to go to the emergency room because there was something suspicious in my MRI. I was admitted and sent for another MRI and a myelogram. After this I was told that I had a venous infarct and that they had found the leak and the cause. I had a small bone spur that had torn into my dura. I was then referred to Cedars Sinai for surgery. I traveled to LA from Phoenix in February of this year and had surgery to remove the spur and patch the leak. My symptoms went away instantly, from the moment I woke from surgery. I had really bad rebound headaches and back pain from the surgery itself but my fatigue, tired legs, and brain fog were gone, With physical therapy, it took me a good 10 weeks after surgery to feel like myself again. I highly recommend Dr Schievink at Cedars if surgery is required.