I just had my decompression surgery on July 23, 2008. My recovery has been OK. I was up and walking 3 hours after I got out of recovery and was home 2 days after. I have done as I was asked by the Docter. Taking it easy and not overdoing it. I ended up with a small infection at the bottom of my scar 2 weeks later. Small amounts of drainage and medication I was doing ok until last Tuesday. I had a large amount of drainage and called my surgeon, he advised me to be checked out in the ER at our local hospital (He is 3 hrs away) It was found that I had CSF leakage and was transported to the hospital where I had the surgery. It seems my body doesn't like the under stitches and rejected every one of them. He restiched it with hopes of not having to put in a drain. I am home as of yesterday and I have the upmost confidence that all will end well. Recovery can be tricky and just getting to this point has been a long journey for me and my family. Many things can effect the out come. Good thing is the Migraines are gone and the Vertigo so as far as I am concerned the sugery was a success and I will get through this little ruff patch.

I had surgery in 1999. did quite well , in hospital 3-4 days , home and rested for 6 weeks . buit went back for post op and removal of stitches 10 days after surgery . then in a year had a MRI to check things and now have MRI every 2 years . you really need to get checked out.

Hi there,

Living this whole thing has been nothing more than a nightmare to say the least. How are we expected to still be mothers, wives and employees when we can barely take care of ourselves ? I have so many questions and the surgeons office doesn't really have answers.... I had my surgery Sept 3,2008 and my head still at times feels fuzzy like before the surgery. Is that because the swelling inside is still slowing down the spinal fluid? Dis you have any of that. ? Is it normal for your scalp on one side to be numb-like, is it normal when you try to tilt your head toward your left or right shoulder that your balance / off feeling. I don't want to say vertigo - but sort of dizzy... How about walking around- is it normal to still be tired after a bit...? I know it has only been 12 days for me. Yesterday was an excellent day but last night, I didn't sleep much and it pretty much kept me on the couch all day. I think 5 hours wasn't enough for recovery.. what is normal ? what do other people feel ..? I am looking for information or anyone to help or talk to..... seems like there is no one that has had this surgery around here..... any advise would be nice..... THANKS !!!

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The numdness on the side of your head is normal. My surgeon said that a main nerve has to be cut through to get to where they need to do the work , so tha tis normal. As far as tring to be a wife, mother, and employee....You need to become the child for a while and let others do your duties. My husband was home with me for 3 weeks after and stayed with me the 4 days I was readmitted. Do not over do it, you will only risk your heling or possibly worse. Vertigo was one of my symptoms and after the surgery I had a little trouble with the dizziness for a few weeks and it got better. I am symtom free of that anf only minor headaches and I think that is from the nerve coming back in my head.
Please for your health take it easy. I would get my boys off to school and sleep for the next 5 hours. I had times where sleep was impossible to do, ask your Doc for somethng to help. Do a little more each day and rest when you need to. Enlist your children. Mine are 8 & 10 My husband is in the military and works 5 hours away and home on weekends. When he went back, my boys helped alot. Weight limit was 5pds. Gallon of milk is 8......they would get my laundry to the basement I would wash and dry it and they would haul it up stairs when they got home to get folded and then they would take baskets up for us to put away. If they are old enough to learn to cook, heres a good chance to get them started. They can help boil water and help you get things off the stove and out of the oven.
If they are into sports use parents and coaches to help get them to and from practice. I do not live near or on a military facility, but I did have alot of help and offers to help during my recovery from Friends, neighbors and my husbands military buddies. Don't be proud, Your recovery is the most important.
I live in Pa and will offer any advice I can, but you make that Docter know your concerns and don't let him leave without the answers you need.

so its been 7 months after my surgery. i went back to my doctor today i told him that ive been out of no where throwing up, i have stabbing pain in my arms that come and go i have some pain in my neck and back. none of my feeling came back still numb. i have to go back in a week to take another mri but for the pain and stuff he wants to put me on neurontin i was wondering if anyone has taken it and how it worked for them please let me know thank you.

i had surgery last year in april - my recovery has been awaful - i still dont feel recovered and i wish id never had the surgery! i have had just so many problems and the effect on me and my life is just huge - ive not been able to go back to work since the surgery and dont thinkn my work will ever have me back now!

i hope things get better for you - im tired of all this now - i wish every day i could turn back the clock and never have the surgery

Neurontin is horrible, it makes you feel like a zombie! I have been through so much, and the last surgery I had was the chiari. It has been just under a month and I feel terrible. I'm hoping that with time things will get better, but after reading everyones blogs I'm not to hopeful! Deana

Hi, I am 20 years old, and had the chiari malformation surgery Nov. 11, 2009. I have yet to return to work due to severe headaches. I have been put on a headache preventative, but it hasn't helped me. I have had an mri done in Ja, and my doctor said everything looked great, but i still almost feel the same as I did before the surgery. Does anyone else have that problem? I hope someone can help me out, due to still not working and its been 4 months and still feel like crap. The pressure and everything is back, right by my incision area, where the headaches were before. I would appriciate any help. Thank you. ~Stephanie

Hi Stephanie, Im sorry to hear about you still feeling like **** after the surgery, i too got my surgery a couple months ago and I FEEL AWFUL! i talked to my dr today and told him how i was feel the same and more. I hope you get back on here if you want to email me please do! Missy.

My sister and I were very close, attached at the hip since she was born until we got into our fortys and she was diagnosed with chiari syndrome at Loma Linda Medical Center. She was sent to Neuro out of Long beach Univ. Hosp. for surgery.

She has changed so much, I don't know what to do for her. She hates me and almost our entire family, she is in pain, has terrible anxiety and worries excessively about her occipital area being injured so close to her brain. It is almost like she gained a split personality with this syndrome.

I am so grieved over losing her, I can't hardly breathe sometimes.