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Post op

Hi guys, I'm new to this forum. Long story short I was diagnosed with chairi malformation type 1 with a herniation of 16mm in feb '13. Got opinions off 2 neurosurgeons and had surgery the 2nd of may '13 so I'm 9 days post op. I spent 8 days in hospital was very sick with the most horrific headaches post op, surgeon order a ct scan to make sure everything was ok. But suffered really bad then from nausea and vomiting. Today is the first day I could eat small amounts. Just wanted to ask you guys from experience when you sit or stand up from lying down do you get like darting pains in head and like a spasm in your neck and shoulders that runs down to the bottom of your spine?? I also get these Episodes also when atanding but maybe im not resting much.. Also one side of my hea still feels extremely numb? I'm from Ireland therefore there's no chiari specialist as such, have a follow up appointment with him in 6 weeks but got no real discharge advice from the hospital? I'm 26 years old and any advice or experiences, I would be grateful to hear..
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4816750 tn?1368804670
Hello, I am glad your surgery went well.  I did have spasm the first couple of weeks, even yawning.  Let your doctor know, cause he will want to know.  Mine would do a twitch without even moving.  Like the have said keep up the pain meds cause it does help and rest rest rest.
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Avatar universal
Thank you all for your input.
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620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER

  Yes, u will have that this early post op....sometimes it is the healing and it could also be that u r low in vitamins and or minerals...so do have ur Drs check u for that.

Also keep in mind u will need to exercise ur neck as u heal to help keep those muscles from getting tight and developing scar tissue.

I was on valium at this point to help with the spasms.
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Avatar universal
Hi Stacey, I'm waiting to see a neurosurgeon on May 22, can you tell me which surgery you had, did they do the patch as well or just remove the bone? Did you have all of those symptoms previous to your surgery? I am experiencing terrible head pains with any type of pressure..just wondering where you started in all this?
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the advice Selma, is it normal to get such bad spams? Like even if I yawn it completely sends me into so much pain.. The pain goes right into my lower back it's like it shudders down my spine. I'm doing my physio exercises. Thanks again.
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620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

I am so sorry u had that experience post op....makes the whole thing a little tainted, but this can happen if u have a CSF leak...so do pay attention to how u feel when u change positions....

I was in the hospital 5 days...and I had a reaction to the morphine....so I know a little of what u went thru...

The numbness is normal at this point, it takes time for that to go away.....

as for post op things u should do and not do we do have a list in the Health Pages -http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/list?cid=186

U should be able to walk around...no bending or lifting....nor pushing or pulling, like a vacuum ....

Do not wash ur hair often as it dries it will pull on the scar and may pull open....we were also told to use a baby shampoo.....

U should in addition to walking....do exercises for ur neck...it is slow but u need to move so the muscles do not get tight and this helps avoid scar tissue....u will want to use heat for 15 mins b4...and after to help relax the muscles....if u have swelling use ice again 15 mins at a time...

Rest, rest and then rest some more...keep on ur schedule for ur pain meds even if u have to wake during the night to take them...u must keep ahead of the pain other wise the meds may not help.
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