That is fabulous Lucy !! Just be aware even tho you feel better it is still possible to over do it and cause set backs...just go slowly.
Just an update! It has been 3 weeks since surgery plus 2 days. Just this past week I have been feeling almost normal! The pain is only in my neck and back of head and the fatigue is minimal! The sutures healing nicely. I even was able to attend a birthday celebration today. Amazing what a difference from week 1! Each day this week I felt stronger and more normal if that makes sense.
Thank you. We shall see. I had a pretty crappy day today. So tired but to anxious to sleep, frustrating. Even with meds to help with pain and relaxing neck muscles. Oddly, the top right of my head hurts - like I was hit with a baseball bat - sore and burning - not fun. Sigh. And suture site itches like crazy! Sorry to complain. This is just not very fun.
Still...I know I would not have been up to going to any kind of job at that point....I also was not able to drive.....we are all different but do listen to your
body..try a few hours at first to see how it goes.....just take your time.
It will be 7 weeks from surgery before I go back. Office job with lots of meetings- a librarian manager!
Hmmm ...what type of work do you do?
Several weeks may not be long enuff.....remember to listen to your body to know when the time is right to go back to work...doing things too soon, too fast can cause set backs....so take your time, rest ,rest and rest some more.
Went to NS today. Stitches out! Asked about thick dura. Didn't know why, but said it was so thick it was blocking flow - like a big adhesion of tissue too close to brain. They fixed it when doing dursplasty. He thinks my headaches should improve and Syrinx stop growing. Will do another cine MRI in 6 months to see if he is right. Several more weeks of neck pain and being wobbly and then back to work. Yay!
Thank you! I go Wednesday to NS and will ask what he thinks it means.
Well as I said it could indicate a few things, but seeing you have Chiari....one could be pressure from excess CSF building up caused it to thicken....
BTW- when you do your exercises do use heat b4 and after, this is a huge help......to loosen muscles.
So glad you are doing better again today : )
Yes, deff stay to a schedule...and then slowly step back dosage......but while you have pain like that you need to stay ahead of it.
Glad you are doing somewhat better....and I pray you continue to improve.
Are you still taking pain meds? It is important to stay on a schedule and not wait till you have pain as the meds will not help at that point.
Each Dr is different as to if they will do a CINE MRI post op....but most do a MRI at some point during recovery and it depends on you and how you are doing as to when that might be,,,,mine was at 1 yr post op.
Have you been doing neck exercises? You do not want your neck muscles to get tight or scar tissue to form.....
Hi lucysun and welcome to the Chiari forum.
From reading up on a thickened dura it could be due to a number of things, one being excess CSF build up....and with Chiari that is not surprising.
Unless testing is done there is no way to know for sure......
Just ask, what does he think could be the reason for your thickened dura.