Weird headaches following brain surgery

[JaniceBea]

Ever since I had brain surgery in 2001, (originally they thought I had a brain tumor, but it turned out to be an AVM which was removed) I have had strange, randomly occuring headaches that are caused by noise or light or even by a breeze running through my hair over the surgical site. The surgery was in the right temporal lobe. Sometimes they start for no apparent reason. I was once told that this was Post-Craniotomy Headache Syndrome. But so far I can't find any kind of treatment for it once it starts or anything to prevent this. I am a 57-yr-old female. Any ideas?

[Eddie1994]

Hi Janice,
By chance did you have stainless sutures used for the cranitomy closures?
My wife had a cranitomy for a ruptured aneurysm in 1994 and she still has numerous migraines and some of the same symptoms as you since the surgery.

We know know what her migraine triggers are and I would be happy to share them with just in the event you suffer from the same triggers.  

[JaniceBea]

It is now April 28, 2012 and I still have these post craniotomy headaches. Have just been put on Topamax. Surgery that removed AVM in right temporal lobe was 11 years ago. I'm now 60 with dreadful headaches. I have loss of memory, ataxia (lousy balance) disorientation, episodes of tachycardia (though I have a pacemaker for bradycardia), lightheadedness, shortness of breath.  Any kind of pain medication causes rebound headaches. My life is controlled by the above symptoms. Can't drive if I'm dizzy; lights & sounds make the headaches worse (sometimes my own voice triggers them), and if I do take any pain medication that works I can't drive either. I feel like I can't make any real commitments. I've had to back out so many times. Well, right now I'm hoping the Topamax begins to work.

[dr_simran]

Hello JaniceBea,
Craniotomy involves  structure like bone,meninges and nerves.The nerves get cut during the surgery and they take some time to heal .The pain resolves as the healing of the nerves takes place.As such there is no treatment for this but wait and watch.You can take some NSAID to relieve the pain.
Best