CSF leaks are not pretty and can cause all kinds of problems. This is because the leaks change the pressure in the "balloon" so that the brain and spinal cord are no longer cushioned quite the same way.
Messing with the brain and spinal cord can literally mess you up. Common problems are headaches, which may change in severity when you change your body position (because you're changing the pressure within the "balloon"), nausea, vomiting, neck or shoulder pain and stiffness, and balance problems.
Such leaks can affect your senses, impairing your hearing and sense of smell or making you extra-sensitive to light and sound. You can have strange tastes in your mouth or ringing in your ears. The CSF can make its way into your nose, ear, sinuses or other parts of your body.