Symptoms

Spinal headache symptoms include:

• Dull, throbbing pain that varies in intensity from mild to incapacitating
• Pain that typically gets worse when you sit up or stand and decreases or goes away when you lie down

Spinal headaches are often accompanied by:

• Dizziness
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Hearing loss
• Blurred or double vision
• Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Neck pain or stiffness
• Seizures

When to see a doctor

Tell your doctor if you develop a headache after a spinal tap or spinal anesthesia — especially if the headache gets worse when you sit up or stand.