Radicular pain followed by epidural blood patch.

Dear Editor, Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) is a well-known complication of the epidural block and usually treated by bed rest, intravenous hydration, caffeine and analgesics, and epidural blood patch. The epidural blood patch has been considered as the “gold standard” in the treatment of PDPH and regarded to safe procedure, but various complications, including delayed radicular pain [1] and severe low back pain and lower extremity pain [2] have been reported. We experienced a patient who complained of radiating pain immediately after an epidural blood patch in the lumbar region for PDPH. A 44-year-old woman with 2-year history of chronic low back pain visited our pain clinic due to an exacerbation of low back pain radiating down to the lateral aspect of the right leg from 2 days before. On physical examination, she had a 60-degree limitation on the straight leg raising test of the right leg because of pain. There was no other motor or sensory deficit, and …