Mid-life symptoms from Hydrocephalus at 6

[freeddavep]

I'm in my early 60s. At about 6 years of age I had an infection that resulted in a bout of hydrocephalus and a bilateral mastoid infection. No shunts were installed because sulpha drugs eventually took effect. I do remember a large amount of fluid in my head for sometime after that. After reviewing some of the info on this site, I wonder if some symptoms I have been having since my early 40s  are a result of the hydrocephalus: leg and foot spasms (I've had them on and off for most of my life) and the urge to urinate frequently while reclining despite a mostly empty bladder? Green Laser surgery a few years ago on my moderately enlarged prostate did not relieve that latter problem. Additionally, a few years back I started having trigeminal neuralgia that has eventually subsided to infrequent acute bouts. At the time the neurolgist noted some brain ventricle abnormalities - could this also be related?

I ask because all of these symptoms do present quality of life issues, most notably the effects of highly disturbed sleep. Would any of this information help a doctor come up with a solution to the symptoms that disrupt my sleep?

[selmaS]

Hi...Have u had a recent MRI?....do u know if as a result of ur hydrocephalus u may have developed a syrinx?....were u tested for tethered cord?...chiari?

These r related conditions to the hydro....and they all can be the result of each other.Not too many drs seem to look for these, BUT way too many of us with these issues also suffer from sleep disturbaces...mainly sleep apnea. Please see a dr at a sleep clinic to determine if this is an issue for u.....
Restless leg syndrome is also associated with the above issues and a sleep clinic dr is capable of helping with that as well.

I hope this is helpful

"selma"

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Hello, Thank you for your question. Hydrocephalus is a condition in which the cerebrospinal fluid gets abnormally accumulated in the brain cavities.  This may cause increased intra cranial pressure leading to headache, convulsions, mental disability etc. It is constantly being formed in the ventricles of brain and drained out to circulatory system through special foramens. Hydrocephalus occurs due to either blockage of these foramens or overproduction of CSF. The treatment of hydrocephalus is surgical shunt placement. An alternative treatment for obstructive hydrocephalus is endoscopic third ventriculostomy but it may not be applicable to all patients depending upon internal anatomy of brain. Hope this information proved helpful.