Horrible headache

[Sexybare]

How many chiarians still have debilitating ha even after surgery? I do. Seems the surgery should have helped?

[cash242]

I am 9 mo post op and I had ha's all the time afterwards but they were different.  The extreme pressure in the front and pain on the top of my head is gone and my neck never hurt but recovered very quickly.  I also felt that it was more than recovery pain so I went to see Dr Oro and he found that I have a ruptured c5c6 with herniations above and below with extreme kyphosis of my neck.  I have decided to go in for a fusion (the 29th yikes!!) because my neck is very messed up and needs fixed and my insurance is already maxed out!  I am praying that it solves a big piece of the pain but if not well that is a very scary thought I had no idea when I received this dx last december how life changing it is.  Hang in there it is so grounding to know that there are others out there that truly care and understand.

[Sexybare]

i am 3 months post op as of yesterday. i am going to a referred neurologist jan 4th from my ns. apparently i cant go to my old neurologist. when i called their office 2 weeks ago, they told me i had to be referred to one by my ns. for he isnt to familiar with chiari. i am trying patiently to wait for jan. id like to get put on something for my headaches. i go back to work nov 28th and will not be able to function when these headaches come on.

[linnielou232]

I have to comment on your comment because they are the exact word's that would of come out of my mouth.  Before surgery it felt like I had my head in a vice.  The pain clinic just changed me from Lyrica to Keppra which I am trying to adjust to, but it does help with the pain.  Have you tried the pin injection's.  The doc. jst ordered a TEN (transcutaneous nerve stimulator).  The doctor o.k ed this for me and I am anxious to see how this help's.  I agree with you that the muscle's in the neck have to adjust to getting back to where they are used to being.  I don't think we, I know with me never realized how serious this surgery is.  I don't regret in the least of having the surgery it was needed, but I don't think we realize how long it takes to heal.  So Sexybare I know how hard it is because we deal with it each day also, but we need patience and I thank you Stormy beccause you and Selma both have given me hope that next year will be a better year.  Something for us all to look forward to.

[*Stormy*]

Hello

Can I ask how far post op you are? The reason I am asking is that I had horrible headaches post op for at least 6-8 months after. My theory was that it was possibly due to the inflammation after surgery, excess production of CSF (my brain hadn't adjusted yet) and/or triggered from my neck muscles (which are affected by the surgery as well). The headaches definitely were pressure ones though and most of the time it felt like there was a vice clamping on my skull!! So..if you are newly out of surgery...give it some time, it takes a  REALLY long time to see the results.

I am coming up to 2 years post op and I have seen many improvements however, I am not cured and do deal with many symptoms daily. I am happy most of the time with what has improved.

I take Lyrica and extended release tylenol daily and that has improved my life immensely. You may want to have a consult with your GP to work out a pain management plan. I was stubborn for so long that I wasn't going to take meds and all it did was cause me months of unneeded pain.

I hope this helps!
Stormy