6th nerve palsy Help!

I have had 6th nerve palsy now for 4 weeks. It developed after a lumbar puncture, I was told the low pressure headache I had experienced, caused the brain to drop on to the optical nerve. Causing it to stretch and damage. My left eye is tilted inwards and the double vision in that eye is driving me mad. I have seen Drs, consultants and opticians, who all say the same, Time and paitience for the recovery. I would like to hear from anyone who has had this, and would be able to shed a little light on my recovery and how to cope with day to day life. I have a prism on my specs, this only helps indoors. I patch eye when out to stop me falling over and people looking at my dodgy eye. I was told to try driving, I did yesterday and it was not as bad as I thought it would be. But how long is this going to last??????????? The hospital said they will not do anything until 6months, 6 months?! nooooooooooo!

[Houman Vosoghi, MD]

Most recover faster than six months but it can take up to that long (assuming it's not permanent).  It depends on whether the 6th nerve was damaged or just irritated ( most likely just irritated).  Hang in there; there is really nothing else you can do at this point.  You should be seeing at least a decrease in the crossing within the next few weeks.

HV

[jonnyk930]

A related discussion, Similar situation was started.