Spinal Headaches

A healthcare provider diagnoses a spinal headache based on your history and symptoms. If you’ve had a spinal tap in the last 14 days, the diagnosis is often obvious. In that case, you usually don’t need tests.

If you haven’t had a spinal tap, providers typically use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose the source of the headache. This imaging test allows your provider to see your brain and spinal cord to look for signs of leaking cerebrospinal fluid.