Mesh Plate Removal?

[LoriVA]

This is a long and complicated question.  So, in October of 2012 at the urging of a new neurosurgeon up at Hopkins I had a cranioplasty done as the answer to my ongoing headaches (after initial chiari surgery performed at Georgetown in October of 2010).  

My headaches NEVER resolved after the mesh plate was put in, I had multiple complications including horrible occipital neuralgia, possible cranial leak (which they can't find but which continues to this day) and continuing pressure type headaches which are the same as before the cranioplasty.

Turns out, after seeing a new round of neurosurgeon, this plate never would have corrected the headaches, looks like its a nerve issue and has been all along and now, last week, we found that the plate is missing half of the screws down the left hand side so the plate is flipped up on that left hand lower side.  I've been complaining about the plate making this horrible cracking and creaking sound if I press on it for months and it is also not shaped properly at the bottom as well.

So, it looks like it has to come out.  Has anyone ever had this done?  I am obviously so upset on so many different levels for having to have an unnecessary operation and now this.  Any advice would be so very much appreciated.

[selmaS]

  I thought it looked the same...Maggie Settero is the designer....love her dresses....

Wow...so sorry you are having these issues....Keep me posted....sending prayers your way on making a decision of which Dr and procedure to try next.

<3 and ((hugs))

[RheaAnn]

I saw that we had the same dress!! It's almost identical except for the back! We have great taste! ;)


I also have been having horrible pain for quite sometime and since the plate it out, that probably wasn't the issue! Process of  elimination via surgery is not satisfactory! Anyway, it looks like I'm having more nerve issues. So I went visit Oro in Colorado, Medel in New Orleans and I'll be going to Houston to see a third doc about these nerves. One wants to cut out the occipital ganglion and I have my choice of other procedures. The one in Houston is supposed to be great at performing nerve decompressions. We shall see!

It's also a possibility to put the darn plate back in! So many options at the moment! And we are just exploring them all!

Rhea

[selmaS]

  Not sure how I forgot you also had your plate removed.....

BTW- did you ever see I think you and my DD had the same wedding dress?

[RheaAnn]

Lori, I see.  I did have the injection done as well, but as it turns out, my pain was not from the plate shifting nor the occipital neuralgia, but cranio-cervical instability.

The nerve block did hurt a good bit, as I was not given anything to numb the area because of my allergies to the topical medicine they had. Maybe that's why it hurt.

I also had a 3D mapping recently and it is so cool! In a weird, but cool way!

It's always a great idea to start off conservatively! And I am so glad you have a plan!!

Selma- That's funny! I thought surely I was the only one to have to have my plate removed! hahaha

[selmaS]

  Oh, so we have had more then one, as the person I was thinking of was not u....lol....but so glad u saw this and replied.....

[LoriVA]

Hi Rhea!  Thanks so much for responding!!  It doesn't appear that I have a screw loose (sorry had to say that, it just sounds so funny - and funny is good now, better laugh than cry :)) - it appears that the entire 1/2 of the left side was never screwed down at all!  The new neurosurgeon said the plate was never necessary as the first surgery was done beautifully and the nerve issue was and IS the continuing problem at the C2 nerve root and he wants to do a ganglionectomy but I'm going to have a nerve root block first on 6/30 to test out the theory to see if I get any pain relief (thank goodness he is being conservative to start with!).  If it helps then he will do the ganglionectomy and remove the plate and when it goes in and sees what is there he will either replace it with (a) nothing or (b) "hydroset bone filler"  

I tell you - the 3d program he had to actually visually see the plate was truly amazing - if it wasn't my skull, I would have been more amazed except that it freaked me out looking at it!

[RheaAnn]

It was me! I had my plate removed because a screw came loose.  It made that horrible sound like you are describing!  When he took off the plate, I had to have another dura placed because 1. the original dura did not solidify and 2. when i healed, the dura, plate and muscles all became connected.

The surgery was easier than the decompression, I will say! But just because you are feeling well, don't over do it because I had a dura leak a few weeks after because I went pull weeds in the flowerbeds.

I miss my plate, I wish I could have had him tighten the screws, but my occipital neuralgia is sooo much better now! It was bad right after surgery and about a year later, it gradually became less painful.

I hope you find relief and feel better soon!
Rhea

[selmaS]

  I found an old thread so I sent u a PM with a copy of her post in it ....in the post she mentioned she was having the plate removed and the Dr that she was scheduled with.....u can send her a PM (private message) and in doing so it should generate an e-mail that someone is trying to make contact.

I hope she replies to u.

[selmaS]

  I do remember who it was, but she is no longer an active member here.....I will see if I can find an old thread on this so u can send her a PM that will generate an e-mail and u will be in contact with her that way.

[LoriVA]

Thanks Selma - hopefully she will respond if she seeks this, of if you remember who it was, perhaps you could let me know.  Thanks!

[selmaS]

  Hi Lori....yes, I know we have had one member have her plate removed due to screws coming out and the plate shifting for her as well.....she was not as far out post op as u are and some issues that could prevent removal is if ur skin has grafted onto the plate.....only ur NS can tell u if this is possible at this point....but something needs to be done since it has shifted....