Neck muscles postop, recovery time?

[Just_Gina_Fair_Banks]

Hi everyone!!

I've been off the boards for a little while.  I actually went ahead with chiari decompression and radical L1 laminectomy on March 18, 2013.  Upon entering my skull, the surgeon said she was sprayed with CSF because I had such a pressure buildup.  There were also two areas where the CSF was boring holes in my skull because it was so pressurized.  Following surgery, I had dry heaves for about 18 hours.  They got further apart until they stopped.  They told me that was from the valves clearing of all the caked up CSF.  Following that, I've done very well.  I was pretty much pain free, although I made sure to keep up with my meds around the clock.  It was difficult to just sit still when I got home as I felt good...really good!  I had energy, could think without getting overwhelmed, and, of course, NO HEADACHES!!!  

The only thing I'm really having trouble with is neck fatigue.  Sometimes I feel like I'm carrying a bowling ball! If I get a cold, then I really feel it!  At this point, it does impede me a little.  A car ride over 2 hours, especially if I'm driving, is probably the worst.  I don't feel it until the next day and it takes a few days to rebound.  So...my question is regarding thebuildup of neck muscles.  I've had PT and exercises for home.  I use heat a lot.  When it gets really bad, I get these zingers up the left side of my head--nerve irritation.  Soooo...curious to hear anyone else's postop experience and advice.  Do particular supplements help?  Stay away from certain foods?  Any super effective exercises?  All help appreciated!!!

[selmaS]

  For those with EDS it can take longer to see results......as we tend to heal slower....so it may just be doing the exercises a few times a day and build .....

Meds will cause issues with the GI track, so I have been taking  Probiotics to help get my system back in natural balance. Talk to ur PCP about Probiotics.

[Just_Gina_Fair_Banks]

Do you find a difference with supplements?  One more than the other?  I've taken up juicing--want to be off these meds badly....this whole ordeal has just killed my stomach--but it's close!!!  

[Just_Gina_Fair_Banks]

Thank you, Selma.  It is nice to have support...for other things too!  God sends people into your life right when you need them!

Exercises...do you know if some get better results than others?  

[frankie_rush]

Hey,

Sounds like you are doing good.  I had a little different, but the neck fatigue sounds the same.  It took mine about four months to start to feel normal.  But like Selma said you got to do your excercise and increase a little at a time.  I know you feel good, lord knows I did.  But if you did have a CSF like you said it is going to take time.  One thing the doctor said would help me with nerve repair is fish oil and vitamin B complex once a day.

[selmaS]

  Well it does take time to heal inside with the nerves....and even tho u feel good as u found out u can over do it so u have to go slow.

Stress can affect how u feel......

Keep us posted and my Deepest Sympathies on the loss of ur Grandmother.

[Just_Gina_Fair_Banks]

Hi Selma!

The feeling I have isn't all the time...more on the days I do waaay too much because I feel good otherwise.  I feel like it's partly due to stress.  I tend to carry my stress in my shoulders, and the past 8 weeks have been AWFUL!  We had a flood in our basement, my grandmother passed away, and my mom just about had a major stroke (had several TIAs and finally had a stent placed).  Sooo...not sure how all this has impacted everything.

I have no complaints otherwise, and surgery couldn't have gone better.  I'll do a little research and see how things correlate with what's going on.  Thank you!

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome back!! and Thanks for the update : )

May I ask did they check u for cerviocranial instability?.....Ehlers-danlos?

If u r doing exercises but still having this issue, it may be u have another underlying issue...

keep using the heat but no more then 15 mins at a time...b4 and after u exercise ur neck and u should be increasing how long and how many times u do the exercise to help with those muscles....but the bowling ball description sounds more like instability.

Have u had the flexiton and extension xrays of the cervical spine?