Thick Dura?

[lucysun]

I just last week had a posterior fossa decompression and duraplasty. Have an expanding syrinx at c7, and cine MIR showed obstructed flow posterior. Chiari itself is bordeline 1. My neurosurgeon, who doesn't explain much, said i had a really thick dura, thicker than he has ever seen. But had no explanation for what this means?? Confused. Anyone have any ideas of what it could mean or what I should ask him when I get stitches out in a week or so? He is not the most talkative, but has steady hands so I don't care. Now just wondering why he made an effort to tell me of thickened dura. Thanks!

[selmaS]

  That is fabulous Lucy !! Just be aware even tho you feel better it is still possible to over do it and cause set backs...just go slowly.

[lucysun]

Just an update! It has been 3 weeks since surgery plus 2 days. Just this past week I have been feeling almost normal! The pain is only in my neck and back of head and the fatigue is minimal! The sutures healing nicely. I even was able to attend a birthday celebration today. Amazing what a difference from week 1! Each day this week I felt stronger and more normal if that makes sense.

[lucysun]

Thank you. We shall see. I had a pretty crappy day today. So tired but to anxious to sleep, frustrating. Even with meds to help with pain and relaxing neck muscles. Oddly, the top right of my head hurts - like I was hit with a baseball bat - sore and burning - not fun. Sigh. And suture site itches like crazy! Sorry to complain. This is just not very fun.

[selmaS]

  Still...I know I would not have been up to going to any kind of job at that point....I also was not able to drive.....we are all different but do listen to your
body..try a few hours at first to see how it goes.....just take your time.

[lucysun]

It will be 7 weeks from surgery before I go back. Office job with lots of meetings- a librarian manager!

[selmaS]

  Hmmm ...what type of work do  you do?

Several weeks may not be long enuff.....remember to listen to your body to know when the time is  right to go back to work...doing things too soon, too fast can cause set backs....so take your time, rest ,rest and rest some more.

[lucysun]

Went to NS today. Stitches out! Asked about thick dura. Didn't know why, but said it was so thick it was blocking flow - like a big adhesion of tissue too close to brain. They fixed it when doing dursplasty. He thinks my headaches should improve and Syrinx stop growing. Will do another cine MRI in 6 months to see if he is right. Several more weeks of neck pain and being wobbly and then back to work. Yay!

[lucysun]

Thank you! I go Wednesday to NS and will ask what he thinks it means.

[selmaS]

  Well as I said it could indicate a few things, but seeing you have Chiari....one could be pressure from excess CSF building up caused it to thicken....

BTW- when you do your exercises do use heat b4 and after, this is a huge help......to loosen muscles.

So glad you are doing better again today : )

[selmaS]

  Yes, deff stay to a schedule...and then slowly step back dosage......but while you have pain like that you need to stay ahead of it.

Glad you are doing somewhat better....and I pray you continue to improve.

[lucysun]

Thank you. I awoke today with a much fresher head / like the brain cloud has moved on. How lovely - making me cry I am so happy. 9 days post op and doing pretty well I think. Just curious still what a thick dura means :-)

[selmaS]

  Are you still taking pain meds? It is important to stay on a schedule and not wait till you have pain as the meds will not help at that point.

Each Dr is different as to if they will do a CINE MRI post op....but  most do a MRI at some point during recovery and it depends on you and how you are doing as to when that might be,,,,mine was at 1 yr post op.

Have you been doing neck exercises? You do not want your neck muscles to get tight or scar tissue to form.....

[lucysun]

Thank you. I may be being too cavslier with the meds. I will stick to schedule rather than wait for pain. I do the neck exercises when meds kick in and when I take a short bath. Will try to do more often - I have hypermobility so already have neck issues and exercises for strength. I suspect I may need help from my PT once past the worst from surgery. Today the spinal headache broke I think - no more positional pain or pain in head when moving my eyes . That was no fun! I lost a lot of fluid in surgery they said.

[selmaS]

  Hi lucysun and welcome to the Chiari forum.

From reading up on a thickened dura it could be due to a number of things, one being excess CSF build up....and with Chiari that is not surprising.

Unless testing is done there is no way to know for sure......

Just ask, what does he think could be the reason for your thickened dura.

[lucysun]

Thank you. I had obstructed flow as seen on cine MRI, even though herniation was only 2. Will they do another cine MRI after I recovery from surgery in a few months?

Hard to even find the medical term for thick dura?

Wonder when the headache gets better? He said a week for csf to regenerate and recalibrate. Been 8 days and still hurts to move my head and eyes. Neck is very sore- to be expected. Just thought by now the spinal headache would resolve. Maybe it is just a regular "you just had a hole cut out of your skull" stress headache! Ha ha!