Sharp pain in my temple-post surgery

[Neyklem]

Hi everyone,'

4 weeks past my surgery, went back in twice to re-stitched after CSF leakage. I am n pain and out of energy at the most part. Still on meds but not narcotic due to other complications comes with it. I have this bad sharp pain that feels like someone just hit the back of my neck and soon after that, I will get sharp pain in my temple and back of eye which caused me to stay still. Sometimes will be accompany by horrible headaches and that can go for a while before I can feel my self again I also have this annoying ringing on my ears....I had schedules a follow up next week but last time I was there, the nurse told me things will get better but I was back in ER same day and got stitches without numbing meds due to brain fluid leakage....I am starting to worry because I don't feel like I am getting better or worse before surgery.

Any suggestion will help ?

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum,

Thank u for sharing part of ur Chiari journey with us.....the member u r addressing ur reply to is no longer an active member....

I like to encourage members to use the journal feature in ur profile page to post and keep track of ur recovery ...and it makes it easy for other members to find and read the journals.

  And per ur description of how u r feeling u may have a leak....I am 5 yrs post op and if u have any questions please feel free to ask.

[Sevda1]

Hi all, I am post 6 weeks out from Chiari malformation surgery, the surgery went well, I was hospitalized for 4 days. I had a suboccipital craniectomy and C1 laminectomy.  Prior to my surgery I had really severe migraines, my gait was off, my memory was bad, I would be driving along in my car and without any warning I would get very dizzy, feel like I was going to pass out and when I would manage to pull over to the side of the road, without thinking or realizing what I was doing, I would get this really bad headache that would last along with dizziness for about 10 minutes , and I would feel very weak and shaky. once this would subside I would be able to drive home. I almost had 2 accidents because of this problem. I of course was advised by my NS, not to drive because I was not only endangering my life but also the lives of others.

I finally decided after much thought to have the surgery done, as I previously stated I'm post 6 weeks  out, my surgery went well, however I was in severe pain following the surgery and was on narcotics for about a week and a half, and I decided to slowly take myself off of the pain meds, because I did not want to become addicted, so I only took 2 pills a day for awhile and finally I per day. After surgery the right side of my head felt very sore but at the same time sort of numb, the numbness is slowly starting to disappear, however, my gait is still very much off, and I'm slowly starting to have those dizzy episodes when I'm driving, and the pain in the back of my head has started up again, and for what seems no reason to me I get very dizzy when I'm just sitting down at times, and I've had to start taking muscle relaxers again for the pain in both sides of my neck. Previously I had diminished CFS on the sides and back of my head, after the surgery, I don't think that I had CFS leakage, but in the back of my head it felt like there was a roll of meat, in the back of my head that felt squishy when I would touch it. My NS says that it could take up to 3 months before things began to get better. I know that I have written what seems like a long letter to me, however, I hope that it might be able to provide a little bit of insight as to what might be expected after having surgery.

[majerus33]

so far so good. any of those who have Facebook can keep up with our story if you want

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=139166966918

if the link doesnt work in the groups section search Kenny's Brain Dangle

[selmaS]

HI....glad to hear the leak was fixed, sorry he required a shunt.

This sometimes happens after a decompression......it is not well understood, but it can  and does happen.
I pray the shunt works well for him and he continues to recover.

Godspeed
"selma"

[majerus33]

my husband had his leak fixed but has had 2 spinal taps that showed high pressure. He ended up getting a VP shunt yesterday

[selmaS]

Hi..try relaxing in a darkened room, with soft lighting and music playing...a damp cool cloth on ur eyes.....

we also have a page in the Health Pages on anti nflammitory foods that can help with pain issues.

I pray u get a call back soon
"selma"

[Neyklem]

Thank you all for your responses. I am hanging there with same pain though and hopes to get better in few weeks. I called in the nurse line today since the pain is getting real bad but still waiting for them to call me back.

[selmaS]

Hi...all three seem to have a similar issue.....and it is possible that a minimal CSF leak can cause these issues...plus having a leak can cause other issues to develop as well.

Have ne of u had a MRI recently?

I also have the ringing in my ears ...it is a chiari symptom, BUT it is a side effect of NSAIDS, so if u r taking NSAIDS for pain it can *** to that ringing and buzzing in the ears.

I pray u all with time will reabsorb the excess fluids and begin to feel better.

"selma"

[majerus33]

my husband gets the same pain in his temple. they found a small csf leak a little over a week ago and went in to fix it. He hadnt had the pain again yet. however he did get a headache  last night so we are on pins and needles hoping it isnt coming back. He had been to the ER 3 times since his surgery on Oct 8th and has been readmitted  to the hospital 4 times. It has been a very hard road. I hope you get some answers soon

[Devin215]

Hello,
Just FYI I get the same thing just not the CSF leak and ringing in my ears... The only thing that helps me is Ice pack and heat pack and pain meds....I had a fluid collection and swelling post surgery which my surgeon says the body will re-absorb the fluid and steroids got rid of my swelling...He says Time will resolve the pain and discomfort post surgery.... I have a dr appointment tomorrow with my regular doctor and will post what he says cus I am going to ask him about the same concern.... Just wanted to let ya know what helps me... he said at least give it another 4 weeks time.... I know its frustrating I am barely hanging in there...