MRI results
Posting for my dad. He’s a 52M with ESRD/CKD on dialysis for 17 years. Current medications: Zemplar, PhosLo, Sensipar, Losartan, Carvedilol, and Amlodipine.
For about the past year or so he’s been dealing with headaches that have progressively worsened and are now significantly affecting his sleep and mental health. A few months ago he went to the ER and was prescribed gabapentin and referred to neurology. Neurology later started him on amitriptyline, but after a couple months there has been no improvement.
He still occasionally takes gabapentin when the headaches become severe because it helps him sleep, but he dislikes the next-day grogginess. At this point he’s mostly taking Tylenol nightly (2 before bed), but he’s concerned about the safety of taking it long term. He will never go past the recommended amount indicated on the bottle.
He recently had an MRI ordered by neurology, and the report mentioned findings concerning for a cerebrospinal fluid leak. We’re trying to better understand:
- What exactly does a CSF leak mean in this context?
- Can this be fixed?
- While waiting for his next neurology appointment, is nightly Tylenol generally considered safe in dialysis patients if taken within recommended dosing limits, or are there headache treatments that are safer in dialysis patients?
Hoping for some general insight on what he can do in the meantime while we wait for follow-up.