graft rejection

[kristi333]

I am 35 year old female. Have Chiari I malformation. Had decompression 2/07. Did fine and returned to 99 percent. Jogging 3 miles, working, painfree.  Developed leak and had 20 minute repair of small leak.  Woke up with sever head knife like pain and like something is in my neck.  On massive narcotics and pretty much in bed 75 percent of day.  Feels very swollen inside and I respond to steroids. causing severe numbness in legs, left arm, and mouth/face.  Causing weakness and nausea. Very specific to right side of neck.  Slightly fim and slightly swollen.  Very sore deep inside and feels thick inside.  Had thethered cord surgery and no help. Pain transfers down back in addition to everything else.  Could I be having reaction to duragen graft?  Does inflammation show up on MRI?

[Shane99]

I believe it can, but I'm not 100%.

I hate to hear you're having all these problems. I had chiari surgery . . .Hunh, 6 months ago today! But I've had some problems ever since.

[kristi333]

Thank you for responding.  I should have clarified the timeline more precisely.  The leak repair was 4 months after decompression surgery.  I was practically 100 percent until awakening from leak repair whichh took 20 minutes.  Since that day  a year and half have passed in agony.  The chiari institute did tethered cord surgery but i am back at square one with initial symptoms from awakening from that leak repair.  I am having a weight baring and lying MRI this Friday and New York is to review.  I feel like my body is rejecting something and the pressure, thickness, soreness makes me wander if it is possible.  Do you know if MRI's show inflammation?

[Shane99]

I wouldn't think a rejection would happen almost 2 years later. I suppose it's possible though.

Has your doctors said what they think it might be?