Both literally and figuratively...

Back in Feb of this year I was diagnosed with Chiari malformation type 1. My PCP was completely clueless about it and suggested I see a neurologist. I work in a very large hospital on the neurosurgical progressive unit so I talked with one of the residents instead. He suggested I bypass the neurologist and go to a neurosurgeon instead.

So that was what I did.

I met with the chief of our department and was set up for surgery after my first visit with him. 3 weeks later I was under the knife. Luckily it was with 2 residents I trust, literally, with my life and the chief of neurosurgery. The surgery was successful. My brain "had room to breath" and the incision was stitched and stapled nicely. My headaches were gone. My depression was gone. I felt like a million bucks for the first time in YEARS!

Here I am 6 months later and my headaches are back. I now have this horrendous neck pain, back pain, nausea (I'm not pregnant), my vision is starting to go blurry, I can't focus/concentrate, I'm irritable, and a million other things are going on.

I'm terrified that I might have torn or ripped something and caused a whole load of problems. I did the required 12 weeks of lifting restrictions. I was off work and in bed for 8 weeks. I haven't called my NS yet, I don't even know if this is something I should be worried about. Or if it's all part of the healing process.

Anyone have any similar issues 6 months post-op?

I also feel so alone with this. None of the nurses I work with had ever heard of it, or only briefly discussed it in nursing school because it's so "rare". I don't know anyone else with Chiari of any type, and some folks make me feel like a huge faker because on the outside I look a-okay. But inside, I just feel so crappy. It sucks.