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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Post Craniotomy Question
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Post Craniotomy Question
by kelli302, Sep 23, 2005 12:00AM
I had a rt temporal lobe meningioma removed 4 months ago~golf ball size that was into the frontal lobe area & had grown into the bone as well. I did have double vision following surgery that has nearly resolved.
My recovery has gone well and I have returned to work which brings me to my question.
I am a special educator. I work with emotionally disturbed children. I often have to restrain students that get out of control and can physically harm another student. I am very well trained in how to do this but of course being 4 months out of surgery, I am having issues. I discussed this with my neurosurgeon and the response I received is that this has no bearing on my recovery. I find this hard to believe. I have been hit in the head on my surgery site but this is not something that should be of concern?
The other question I have is that any pain I have ~ where the screws and hardware are ~ I am told that this is not from the hardware and that I am the only patient this NS has ever had that has ever complained of such pain. Am I just a complete whimp or am I correct that there can be some pain where the screws are? I was told I needed to be up walking 30 minutes per day 2 weeks after surgery to "get the weight off" ~ seems a bit excessive to me.
I also have speech issues when I am tired but this again, I am told has nothing to do with the surgery but I did not have this prior. The speech paths I work with say different.
I guess I am just trying to find out if this is standard or if everyone should come out of brain surgery with no pains or deficits.
Thank you!!
My recovery has gone well and I have returned to work which brings me to my question.
I am a special educator. I work with emotionally disturbed children. I often have to restrain students that get out of control and can physically harm another student. I am very well trained in how to do this but of course being 4 months out of surgery, I am having issues. I discussed this with my neurosurgeon and the response I received is that this has no bearing on my recovery. I find this hard to believe. I have been hit in the head on my surgery site but this is not something that should be of concern?
The other question I have is that any pain I have ~ where the screws and hardware are ~ I am told that this is not from the hardware and that I am the only patient this NS has ever had that has ever complained of such pain. Am I just a complete whimp or am I correct that there can be some pain where the screws are? I was told I needed to be up walking 30 minutes per day 2 weeks after surgery to "get the weight off" ~ seems a bit excessive to me.
I also have speech issues when I am tired but this again, I am told has nothing to do with the surgery but I did not have this prior. The speech paths I work with say different.
I guess I am just trying to find out if this is standard or if everyone should come out of brain surgery with no pains or deficits.
Thank you!!
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Sep 27, 2005 12:00AM
I'm not clear on what exactly the 'issues' are?, in the case of trauma to your head, the wound and bone should have healed by now, and the risk is very low, unless of course you sustain more severe head truama that had the potential to hurt you whether you had surgery or not.
Pain or headache after any kind of brain surgery is common - they are cutting through skin, a big muscle, and then bone and meninges all of which have an abundance of nerve endings - it will take time to heal/resolve. Use painkillers judiciously as too much may make the headaches worse (not more than 15 NSAIDs/advil a month is ok)
Speech areas are usually on the left side of the brain/temporal lobe, I would not anticipate any worsening of your speech, if it persists or gets worse, it needs to be reevaluated
Walking 30 minutes a day is excellent advice I would reccomend for every body
Good luck
Pain or headache after any kind of brain surgery is common - they are cutting through skin, a big muscle, and then bone and meninges all of which have an abundance of nerve endings - it will take time to heal/resolve. Use painkillers judiciously as too much may make the headaches worse (not more than 15 NSAIDs/advil a month is ok)
Speech areas are usually on the left side of the brain/temporal lobe, I would not anticipate any worsening of your speech, if it persists or gets worse, it needs to be reevaluated
Walking 30 minutes a day is excellent advice I would reccomend for every body
Good luck
Would that this were so ! I don't want to intrude on your query. Just want to let you know that I too had a craniotomy, in May. There most certainly are pains and deficits, some of which , for me, will pass with time, say my docs. Some I am trying to resolve now, some might have to learn to live with. I think you are doing very well.
I am also back at work, very glad to see you are also able to do this. It makes a big difference to me, and not just financially. If I were home, I think I would spend too much time mentally pacing back and forth over every little "thing".
If I might ask, have you considered a second opinion or absolute change from your current NS?
My best wishes to you, for peace and healing.