Chiari Malformation Recovery

[colbert121]

I had surgery 2 weeks ago. They removed part of the skull for decompression. Also, they removed a syrnx. I am still having headaches in the back of my head and neck, along with the throbbing pain when I cough, sneeze, laugh, sit up, or things like that. Is this normal? Will the surgery I had fix this in time? It is just sort of frustrating to me to live with this every day still even after the surgery.

Thank you for reading this and any answer would be great.

colby

[pdxmomof3boys]

I echo what has already been said...take it easy! I remember that those headaches did NOT go away until about 4 weeks post op, and even still they would return if I did too much. The swelling and inflammation really impact that part of your head and it is really just necessary to relax and heal. Take it slow...I am 4 MONTHS post-op now and doing much better than before...better than I thought I would 9 months ago!

THis team has been awesome! So helpful in getting me through those tough times. Hang in there!

Rosemarie

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

I have to saw ditto to what ChiariWolf has already said...2 weeks post op u will have pains and discomfort...I am just about at my  1 yr annv for my surgery and I still have limitations and know it can take a while to heal...we all will be diff as to how long especially if we have additional issues going on...I myself do have cervical stinosis and Ehlers-Danlos which make my recovery slower.

Also keep in mind surgery is not a fix or cure...it is to slow progression...and like Wolf said will depend on if u had nerve damage prior to surgery as to what if ne symptoms will be completely gone once u heal.Expect to go thru the symptoms as u heal it is normal....and will take time.

We r glad to have u join our little family here, so sorry for the reason u had to seek us out.

"selma"

[ChiariWolf]

Consider something, without the damage done by the Chiari and without having had the Syrnx; do you think your body would have a reaction to this surgery? You are in a kind of catch 22 right now, your body has been through a lot! So to a point you really need to just literally sit back and relax.

Unless of course the HAs are worse than before the surgery? I did have intense pain at times early on but it was normally because I refused to listen to my body and tried to push things for which I paid every time. I did get sick a few weeks after and yes the sneezing especially really killed my neck and head. If the pain is worse then I'd call the doctor.

Keep in mind, this is major surgery. Two weeks isn't a lot of time for your body to heal. And your dealing with nerves that have been compressed as well as a brain that has been compressed. Not what you want to hear, or least I didn't, but the fact is that your body 'needs' time to recover as these things settle down.

I understand your feelings all too well, but please just relax for a while longer. The road to recovery here is not a short one.

Wolf