system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
Two days after spontaneous delivery, a 23-year-old woman has progressively worsening, throbbing pain in the back of her head. The pain radiates to the neck and shoulder area. The patient is nauseous and had one episode of clear emesis. She wants to be in a dark and quiet room. The patient's symptoms are exacerbated when she gets up to go to the bathroom and mildly improve with bed rest. The pregnancy was uncomplicated and she attended all prenatal health visits. She underwent epidural analgesia for delivery with adequate pain relief. Her postpartum course was free of obstetric complications. Her vital signs are within normal limits. She is alert and oriented. On examination, neck stiffness is present. Neurological examination shows no other abnormalities. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?
assistant
Epidural blood injection