dura patch issues

[beentheredonethat2x]

Have any of you had issues with your dura patch after a decomp surgery? Although my daughter's NS believes there is nothing wrong with her, she is in the process of "growing" a third bulge on the back of her head where she leaks spinal fluid. The fluid stays between the dura and her skin, so none actually leaks out. When she has a lumbar puncture the bulge goes down again, but after two lumbar punctures we don't want her to have to go through that again unless absolutely necessary. Her neurologist thinks she may be having a reaction to/rejecting her dura patch. Is this common? The NS won't do anything but prescribe steroids...dexamethasone at a decreasing dose for 9 days. Her head, neck, and back pain are so intense that she is in bed all day and wakes up in pain each night. She won't take OTC pain meds because she says they don't help. Because the NS believes there's nothing wrong with her, he hasn't prescribed anything for pain. My daughter is only 10 and is not a hypochondriac. Her pain is very real.

[celticbreeze]

My 1st surgery was in Apr.  In May I had a 2nd surgery - I developed an infection, my body rejected the patch.  I feel for your daughter, I also suffered with intense pain from this.  Meds only give temporary relief, they're not a solution.  Be firm with the NS and let them know you want something done.

Susan

[mustangbabe351w]

Hi, My names Michelle I had the same thing happen to me with the dura patch having the leaks big bulge on the back of my head my fluid leaked out of the staples causing u fluid to run down my neck and waking up to my pillow beening soak wet from it,,,I was in the hospital every wk 2 wk having to lay flat with lumbar drain but soon as I was back to sitting up it would come back I ended up have 3 redo surgeries finally the last one dr at different hospital but in 9 Gore Tex patches over the dura patch to stop the leaks he said it was like sponge when he but one patch it just come right thur finally after 9 he said it quite coming thur I understand her headaches their unbelievable u dont want to hold your head up...I say they need to redo the surgery try some kind of different patch ...I'll be praying for her and your family!!!

[selmaS]

Hi....I am so sorry ur DD is going thru this...I had a leak after an epidural given for childbirth and trust me chiari HA's r bad this is worse......unless u have both which is a possibility.Moving at all with a leak is near impossible....and rest is the best along with plenty of H2o.

I have heard that some can reject the patch and this can be the result......it sounds like ur DD may have had a synthetic patch.

May I ask, what did they tell u to have ur DD do to aid in this healing?People in general don't like to accept they may have made a mistake..and ur NS is no exception.I have heard that when these issues do not resolve they may ned to go back in and replace the patch with her own skin. (which is what my patch is)

Try the streroids and if they do not work, what options did the NS give?

"selma"

[n40066]

i'm so sorry your daughter is in so much pain...i have not yet had the surgery, but do know that some people have def. had reactions to the patch used for them.  selma is a great one to ask and she will be on in a bit, i'm sure.  do you know what kind of patch the dr. used?  that may better help others in offering opinions...