Worst headache after surgery!!

[Anniefaj]

Help I just had my Chiari decompression surgery on Wednesday, it's Sunday and I'm still in the hospital . I woke up in the worst pain in my life. The incision itself is not very painful and after a day my neck stiffness was much better. It's just this really bad pressure headache. They did a Ct scan and said everything looks good. Is this normal ??

[Initwithyou]

Hi Annie,  (sorry if this in here twice; it doesn't show the first time I wrote something)

I am sorry you are having headaches.  I did too.  I woke up in severe pain and mostly was "knocked out" on pain medications as much as possible in the hospital.  They could not get my pain under control in the ICU.  I had very severe crowding at the magnum foramen and was losing my ability to walk prior to surgery.  I was considered an "urgent" case.  And also a rare case.  I was on a lot of pain medications to help with my pain.  Prior to surgery I did not have the typical headaches and have not not had headaches since the surgery.  (Meaning I continue to have headaches)  At three weeks my headaches became manageable but still on alot of pain medications.  At 12 weeks I returned to work.  I work at a hospital and do some heavy lifting; I have a very active job. I returned to work on medications - pain meds, nerve pain meds, muscle relaxers, ect.  However, like you read above, I am a severe case and now need to go through it all again as they did not do enough the first time around.

I felt the best at 12 months post op as I hiked Angel's landing in Zion National Park, hiked the HooDoos in Bryce and rode the mules to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back up all in 5 days!

I feel I would be back to pre car accident if I didn't have this set back...and I plan to be back to "near" normal after this second surgery!

Best wishes and hang in there; it does get better, it's just slow.

[Anniefaj]

Thank you and I'm so sorry you have to go through this all again! I couldn't even imagine. Will be thinking about you and I hope they get you taken care of this time around!

[selmaS]

  Daily showers may be a bit much....and washing your hair that often will cause the skin to dry out and it will pull on the incision....and could cause it to leak....so a very gentle shampoo  and once a week shampoos.....warm soaks in the tub may be an option since standing for a shower could prove tiring....

Glad to hear your fever is down.....

Not familiar with the burning sensation but it could be a nerve that may have been affected by surgery or just the release of the compression....we may experience the nerves coming back to "life" so to speak....this is part of the healing process....this typically does not happen until around 3 months post op....so I am not sure that is what you are experiencing or not...and since we are all different, it is still possible....

[selmaS]

  Hi Annie......Since you do get relief laying flat it could be a CSF leak....how often are you up and out of bed?

A fever would also be infection due to a leak....make sure they resolve this b4 you head home.

[Anniefaj]

Hi Selma. Fever is under control and being released. Finally had some relief from the pressure headache but it's returning with avengence. Also getting a burning pain above my nose with headache m have you heard anyone else describe this? When my ns came in to discharge me I was doing great, up walking headache at a two and just showered ( finally after many days ) . Another question I have is should I shower daily when I get home ? Thanks so much for your help!!

[selmaS]

  Hi Annie and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Does this pressure change when you change positions?...IE- worse when upright?....laying flat?....it could be a CSF leak.

Are you up and walking around?

What all was done during your surgery?....laminectomy,dura plasty...??

And do you have any other related conditions?

Recovery for this can be slow...so do not push....and listen to your body.

Weather can play a factor in how we feel.even post op....so look to your weather too see if it may be affecting how you feel.....but if the pressure you feel is worse then you ever had....get your Dr to listen as it could be something else....

This early in recovery I do not recall having pressure headaches as the pain meds took care of my pain.....what pain meds are you on?

[Anniefaj]

I had all three the decompression , duraplasty with graft and lamenectomy of c1. I have been on Morphine and Valium and starting to finally get relief. Pain still at about 8 but compared to before it's way better. Dr wants head of bed at 30 degrees which is hard for to have it up . I get tiny relief lying flat. Weather is crazy here! We went from hail, snow and 30 degree weather to 65 over night , not sure if it would affect me inside the hospital .  Supposed to be released tomorrow but now I'm starting to get a fever !