Post-op CM1 decompression surgery

[mvittorio]

Tomorrow I will be 4 weeks post op. I have yet to see my neurosurgeon outside of the hospital. So many questions. Please for those of you that read this please share what you can. All I do is cry now. I was so stupid to think that I was going to feel instantly better. In a lot of ways I do there is however this new pain that comes over my eye and is killer. I am now sensitive to light - it will bring on one of those newly acquired headaches. I am a little "duh", I tire easily, am having trouble concentrating and when outside it feels as if I'm overstimulated. Everything seems surreal. Has this been the experience of many of you out there? I am off of all pain meds, have been for three weeks. This new headache does not respond to pain meds. A percocet will take the edge off but thats all. Its like I'm here but then I'm not. I want to be whole again. I want to be able to walk for a distance without a walker. I want to come out of the dark world this surgery has thrown me into. I have to watch tv with sunglasses. Please share your post op experiences with me so that I can ascertain what is "normal" and what is something I should look out for. Last week I bent down to pick up my dog bowl and upon rising I fell into my friend. My head spun like vertigo...exactly like vertigo without the dizziness. It was also different in that it was if my skull hadn't made a complete rotation and I was having trouble foucusing for a few minutes. It was an isolated incident so I figured it was normal. The headaches and light sensitivity, concentration, "duh" and feeling of being here but not are my primary concerns. Do they go away? How long before I'm back to "normal"? How long was your surgery? Hospital stay? What were the first few weeks like? I felt like wonder woman the day after surgery, life was great. It was a couple of days after I got home that my head started to hurt and light sensitivity began approx a week after surgery.

[ChiariWolf]

this time.... Listen to my sis! Well not really my sis, but selma helped me though this period. I was very over anxious to get moving around and trying to get my life back to 'normal' as it where.  

There is no substitute for rest. Your mind and body have been through the ringer and back again. Just force yourself to relax, do nothing for a while. You most likely feel much better and want to get up and get at it.... but remind yourself  'I can do those things but not right now'. It does take time and as selma can probably recall I can testify that if you don't take this time now~ well it will just slow down your recovery and yes you will feel like garbage more and more until you do take the time to relax.

As for meds, everyone is different here. Our life experince determines how much pain is pain to each of us. I took only 6 pain pills after surgery, most in the hospital. And frankly I was fine with that and wouldn't change it. However, the next person's body may need it for a few mos. I'd discuss with your doc and listen to your body here as it knows what it needs.

Hang in there, and get some rest it sounds as though you need it.
Wolf

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

It is possible u have a small CSF leak to have these HA's and issues...in fact, my post op instructions said no bending for 6 to 8 weeks....

I would suggest lie flat for 4 to 5 days, drink plenty of water and caffeine....if u still have the HA's call ur dr and let him know how u r feeling.

U may have stepped off ur meds a little early....and u may need to take as needed and not on a reg schedule...but just to help u a little.
U r in the early stages of healing...so go slow...and symptoms will return as u heal.

Be patient, but do let ur dr know of changes to pain and symptoms.

"selma"