Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum,
I did not have complications from my surgery, but I did have a true Chiari specialist and he did take precautions for other related conditions conditions which I believe can make the difference,....also I did not rush back to trying to go to work or do things as I saw that too can cause set backs and complications.
Make sure u have a true Chiari specialist....and have ALL related conditions ruled out.
I had aseptic meningitis -- which is just inflammation that was caused by having surgery and was treated with a course of steroids. I also have two pseudomeningoceles. One at my surgery site causing some chiari-like problems, and one a little lower that's not an issue ....
I had a very high tolerance to opioid medication before my surgery, and was extremely hypotensive in the ICU following my surgery (pain medication further lowers your blood pressure and I was on the verge of cardiac arrest or a coma), so my pain was not managed well at all. I was hysterical and have to wonder if in the midst of hysteria I might have broken a suture, causing the leak that's responsible for my pseudos. I see my NS again on Tuesday.
My son, daughter, and husband all had decomp surgery, each a year apart. My husband had no complications and an amazing recovery. My son had such an immediate relief of pain that he woke up in the PICU in tears of relief. He did acquire a crazy infection in the hospital...Kawasaki Disease. This was not related to his surgery. He is now a junior in high school and rides bulls...his neurosurgeon said it was ok. My daughter's surgery was successful, but her recovery was extremely difficult. Her recovery, because of rejecting her dura patch, took a long and extremely difficult year.