Hi everyone! Well I was just wondering if anyone suffers or suffered from severe headaches after their brain surgeries. Dr. told me I have two types of headaches, Migraines and "brain surgery" headaches. Could it be possible that having two metal plates causes my headaches to get worse? Tried many headache medications and still no relief.

Hi Tiger Lilly,
Take my word the headaches are terrible I remember having them after I had my surgeries done and they lasted for months. I found that cutting back on caffeine and taking vitamin B12 a big help. My neurosurgeon gave me tylenol with codine but that made me feel worse because I felt so tired from the drug. Take note also if your headaches are worse on days when the weather is bad. I still get rotten headaches 15 yrs. later right before it rains or snows. I have a feeling your headaches are from the surgery. Give it about 3-4 months and they will get better. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

Thanks Sue, It's actually been about ten years since my first surgery and seven since my very last one. It just seems even after all these years my headaches haven't gotten any better after the surgeries. My headaches actually do get worse when the weather changes too. I just think enough time has passed since my surgeries yet I still have bad headaches.

Hi Tiger Lilly,

If your headaches are still bothering you all this time after your surgeries I would let your neurosurgeon know what's going on. I often wake up in the morning with a terrible headache and I had my surgery 15 yrs. ago. Try to put a cool washcloth on your face and the back of your neck to see if this helps calm down the headache. By putting the cool cloth on your skin it helps calm the neurons down in the brain and it stops seizures as well as pain. Also take note if anytime you have any seizures if they happen when there's a low pressure in the weather. The medical university I'm going to is working on this to find out what the connection is between epilepsy and the weather. It could also be the seizure meds that you are taking that's causing the headaches and you should talk with your pharmacist.
I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!


Sue

Hello ladies!
My headaches increased greatly after my surgery (seven years ago). As my neurologist has diagnosed them now- they are chronic migraines and also tension headaches. I take Topamax daily for the migraines (the ONLY thing that has ever helped and what a wonder drug it has been).
I take Soma and Midrin for breakthough migraines and Soma alone (a muscle relaxer) for tension headaches).

My experience has been that the headache increase is a common phenomenon within the craniotomy society.

Thank you for your info Stef! It's great to hear from someone who's headachs got worse or increased years after their brain surgeries. Makes me feel like I'm not loosing my mind! When I tell my Epi about my headaches he tells me to go get an MRI. Things look good at the surgery site and yet my headaches are pretty much everyday. I will surely bug him about this again and mention those medications to see if I can try them. Thanks again!