Post operative Arnold Chiari decompression complications

[Saggy Jones]

My wife has had an Arnold Chiari decompression operation and since the operation has been experiencing several post operative complications:

1. Headaches - from fron to back of head
2. Extreme nausea and vomiting
3. Build up of Cerebral fluid between the inserted membrane and the back of the head - causing this area to bulge and cause extreme pain.

Should this Cerebral fluid not be draining somewhere?

[TessRN]

How long ago was the surgery? I had ACM decompression surgery as well (11/05)...approx 5 wks post-op I started having severe headaches and swelling in the back of my head....to the side of the healed incision. I spoke with my surgeon's nurse who informed me that it was "normal" and probably just a muscle spasm. Well, I'm a Registered Nurse and knew it wasn't normal, but figured this is her specialty and knew what she was talking about! WRONG!!!  I went to my Primary Care MD, who tried to convince me it was a "gel" that the body was producing to take up the space of the removed bone and tissue. Again...plausable, but not likely in my book....went to my neurologist who ordered a CT scan......which showed a HUGE fistula/pseudomeningocele.....by the time of the CT, the swelling was the size of a grapefruit!! I was severely nauseated and couldn't open my mouth! I was dehydrated.....After the scan, I spoke with my surgeon and was admitted into the hospital the next day to have the "leak" repaired. The spinal fluid was leaking from the patch he had put on the dura. He put a lumbar drain in my back for 4 days .....and I felt SO much better!!
Has your surgeon been notified of the pain and swelling??? PLEASE don't let anyone brush it off.....I know how painful it is....and the potential complications aren't anything to ignore.
Good luck!!  Let me know how things turn out!!

[Saggy Jones]

8 weeks since initial surgery, 4 weeks since second surgery to close up dura

Your symptoms are exactly the same. Went through the same issues backwards and forwards, with the same answers.

Went to another neurosurgeon who acted quickly.....spinal fluid has been syringed off and a pressure bandage applied to equalise pressure - but the swelling is increasing again.

After the 4 day intervention - did your muscles close up behind the dura to allow for the CSF to reamin in the brain cavity?

Our concern is that the muscle that should have closed up, has not and is allowing CSF to flow through past the dura into the cavity betwene the skin and the dura.

What are the next steps as proposed by your doctor?

Regards,
Heydon

[Saggy Jones]

Tess, not sure if you got my reply.

Same symptoms as you - same interaction and responses.

Time: 8 weeks post initial op, 4 weeks post seconf opp to close up insert in dura again.

New neurosurgeon on Tuesday - expressed the excess fluid and put a bandage on to equalise pressure - but build up is present again.

Did you have complications again after your 4 days?

Did your muscles behind the dura come back together?

What was given as your options if the 4 days didnt work?

Regards,
Heydon

[bubbysmommy]

Hi Tess,

I have a question for you.  I have decompression on 12-18 and have a huge mass of squishy fluid about the size of my palm and is is freaking  me out my NS said that it is nothing to worry about and he isnt concerned about it right now. This didnt seem to happen untill i had a three hour drive for my post op and all of the sudden  there it was and hurting really bad.  It hasnt gone down at all since then and that was on  1-24.  I dont go back untill march 10 but am freaking out.  It is scary.  I am not sure what to do and i am supposed to go back to work tomorrow.  It does cause some pressure and headaches and my ear hurts but he said that this would have nothing to do with my ear i just cant imagine that it doesnt.  I need some guidance on what to do before i loose it.  Any help or suggestions would be great.  Thanks  

[lauralelise]

Anyone,

I had the Chiari decompression sugery and about 3 yrs later began to have the fainting spells (losing consciousness for a few seconds and hitting the ground), really bad headaches, this pressure feeling in my head that is overwhelming. The fainting occurs about 5 times a week as well as the headaches, and pressure pain. I have been doing this for 6 yrs now and cannot find any help. I was wondering if this is related to the chiari and if anyone else has had any of these symptoms. I have been to so many doctors (neurologists who send me to cardiologists and vice versa) and no one knows what is causing this. I am about at my wits end and need some help and advice. If anyone knows please let me know!!!! THANKS.

laura

[ChiariMom]

My daughter had Chiari decompression surgery.  She had pain and pressure, dizziness, fainting all post surgery.  Because the MRI looked ok the dr's never felt the symptoms were related to the chiari. So she was checked out by cardialogists and neurologists, had tilt table tests and ekg's and eegs etc.... She recently asked her neurosurgeon to order an MRI with CSF (to show the cerebral spinal flow). This showed  that no fluid was moving in one area. Her Neurosergeon then ordered a myelogram that showed fluid pooling up (at her chiari site). They thought the patch from her surgery was leaking so they went in to repair.  During her surgery it was quickly evident that the patch (layers of collagen) had divided and her spinal fluid was filling into the patch like a balloon and was pressing on her cerebellum.  I don't know of course what's causing your pain and pressure,, but if you have not had an MRI to check your CSF you may want to ask your neurosurgeon about this.  

[kathyannherndon19561]

I have a question.  Has anyone had any problems after chiari surgery with the patient having problems making decisions, thinking logically, etc.

I would love to hear from anyone about this.

Thanks,
Kathy
***@****

[selmaS]

Hi...u may want to post this question in our chiari forum here on MedHelp....

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Chiari-Malformation/show/257?camp=msc

May I ask how long post op did this issue arise?...was it continuing or short term?

I know with all the meds I did not want to make decisions...or even how I felt, I did n't trust myself if that makes sense...even know I hesitate with some things more than I would have b4.

"selma"

[babiido43]

So i have just been diagnosed with Arnold Chiari Type 1 and have had really bad migraines specially lately..I have had a migraine for over 1 month now and had the MRI and my neurologist said it is AC. He told me there is meds to take to ease the pain but surgery was basically the only option. I am already dealing with nausea, dizzyness, light headed, tingling in hands and feet, and the list goes on. I am not sure whether or not to get the surgery because it seems like there are a lot of complications post op. What would you all suggest? I am a 22 year old going to college and dealing with this has made it very difficult to work and go to class and im not sure the post op will make it even worse. I need help....

[kerski]

i was diagonesed with chiari malformation.  have a lot of symptoms dizziness,tinnutius, neck pain, headaches.  going to a few surgeons within the next few months.  scared anyone have any suggestion with good neurosurgeons

[selmaS]

Hi, I invite u to join the chiari forum here on MedHelp we do have a list of chiari drs for u to use as a starting point in ur research of drs.....

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Chiari-Malformation/show/257?camp=msc

"selma"

[PJM610]

Have you decided to have the surgery? My 18 year old daughter was heading to college also and in her senior year was diagnosed with Arnold Chiari.  After much research, we decided she needed to have the decompression surgery as there was no other option.  The symptoms would not go away, only get worse.  We met with 4 neorosurgeons in New Jersey and none of them made us feel comfortable, as they had not done enough of this surgery.  We took her to CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) and met with Dr. Leslie Sutton. He performs 2 decompressions surgeries per week.   We felt very confident that he was the one who would operate on her.  He operated on her and the surgery took 3 1/2 hours.  He did an excellant job and my daughter is doing great.  She had her surgery last April and was able to go off to college that August.  Post surgery is rough as she was in alot of pain (about 40 stiches). It was two weeks of pure hell.  Looking back, we would not have done anything different.  We were glad she had the surgery and extremely glad we went to CHOP and had Dr Sutton.  Good Luck!!!  

[ChiariSusan]

I had just a plain old Chiari type 1 decompression surgery (no syringomyelia or tethering) on 5/3, was walking that night, and left the hospital the next day.  I was walking half a block, then more, then a block.  I could shower, fix my food, etc right after coming home.  I had my surgery done by Dr. John Tew at the Mayfield Clinic in Cincinnati.  Even though I have some remaining issues now on 5/31 (possible nerve damage on left side of head from surgical halo), range of motion is still not pre-surgery range, I'm doing really great overall.  He was going to do a C1 laminectomy(sp) but didn't have to.  I still have neck pain and the pain from the nerve damage, but I started back to work part-time a week ago and full time this week, and all things considering, I'm doing very well.

[strawberry22]

Hi.. I am about 9 months post op.  I woke up last night with this intense pain right where the incision is.  It is usually sunk in pretty good.  But my husband and I feel it is even more sunk in.  In know this sounds weird.  But we are wondering if it us something to worry about or not?

[strawberry22]

Hi.. I am about 9 months post op.  I woke up last night with this intense pain right where the incision is.  It is usually sunk in pretty good.  But my husband and I feel it is even more sunk in.  In know this sounds weird.  But we are wondering if it us something to worry about or not?

[1623nj]

I had Chiari I decompression surgery on 8/16/2011 and I am disappointed with the amount of nausea I deal with on a daily basis, I expected all the pain but thought nausea would be gone after surgery. It is nice to see I am not alone.

[selmaS]

  Hi....u r early in ur decompression surgery  recovery and the nausea u have could be due in part to pain meds and the drugs used for the surgery...it can take a while for this to get out of ur system and depending on what u have right now for pain may be delaying it.

  I sent u a note to join us in the Chiari forum here on MedHelp ~~ http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Chiari-Malformation/show/257?camp=msc

   I pray ur recovery goes smoothly

      "selma"

[agfmgod]

HI,
I had Chiari Decompression surgery on April 5,2012. afterwards I had a severe headache that went from the front of my head to the back of my head. I stayed in the hospital for 8 days. I wouldn't let them release me because the pain was so bad. I decided to go home when my pain level was at about a 4-5. However, it didn't get better when I got home. When I went back the following week to get my suters removed they gave me an injection  in my occipital nerve area that wore off in a few hours. I am having a lot of neck spasms and I can't turn my head to far to the left or right.I am also experiencing a lot of nausea. My surgeons next step is to give me cervical injections to see if that helps. I wasn't expecting all of this discomfort. Will this eventually go away?

[cdwcbj]

We have been struggling with a Chiari diagnosis from 4 years ago and the doctors are all telling me my daughter's symptoms are unrealted and yet they can find no other cause. May I ask what your daughter's symptoms were? We are also in NJ and do not have out of network benefits for the Chiari specialist centers but CHOP is covered. I'm anxious to see if Dr. Sutton would be a good option for us. Thank you so much. We are so frustrated. She is 17 and we are concerned that her symptoms will effect her college career.

[selmaS]

  I invite the 2 of u to the Chiari forum here on MedHelp-

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Chiari-Malformation/show/257?camp=msc

[angeliz74]

I had surgery on 11/18/11 and I have not felt any relief after surger. I feel worse than prior to my surgery. I have a lot of pain from the right eye all the way to my back, I also have neck, shoulders, arms, and legs pain. I have severe pain on my neck, my vision is poor and I cant sleep from so much pain. I have problems with my focus and cant think very well, I cant drive for too long. Now my spine is bothering me to the point that I'm having trouble walking. I have not been able to return to work since I cannot even sit for more than an hour without getting severe pain.

I discuss this symptoms with my surgeon but said it was normal....I really feel so much pain that I feel I will go crazy from so much pain....I wish I had some relief but there is not a single day that goes by without pain.  so far Ive gone to a different neurosurgeon and said everything looks good with my surgery but I have worse symptoms than before surgery...Please can any one give me any other ideas of what to do next ???  

[selmaS]

  Hi I saw u posted in the Chiari forum and I did reply to ur post there...just wanted to post here, that neone with chiari questions r invited to join the chiari forum here on MedHelp.

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Chiari-Malformation/show/257?camp=msc

[klt_2008]

I am 19 yrs post op for my ACM decompression and I am having severe headaches now. My neck gets very stiff feeling and hurts so bad, my vision gets blurry, blood pressure sky rockets and oh... the nausea BUT everyone here wants to treat them like " Normal Miagrains" but they aren't.
Nothing but Narcotic pain medications helps and I am like you,
I TOO AM AT MY BREAKING POINT!
I AM NOT CRAZY... I AM NOT A DRUG ADDICT!!!
I NEED HELP!!!
I don't know what to do!
I have NO LIFE because of the debilitating headaches.
I have no insurance to be seen by a Neurosurgeon
and I am scared to death that something with the ACM has come back or something.
Any suggestions ???

[selmaS]

  Hi, it is possible for issues to resurface as it can be scar tissue or the tonsils have herniated to obstruct CSF again....once we have Chiari surgery does not make it go away, just helps with the progression and hopefully some of the symptoms.

Join us in the Chiari forum where we have a number of members that can offer insight and support.,http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Chiari-Malformation/show/257?camp=msc