After 26 years with a fixed VP shunt valve, my neurosurgeon just replaced my valve with a programmable Codman Hakim valve. After numerous tests they found the tubing was still working so all that was done was a valve replacement. I'm not too sure how I feel about this. I was having headaches before the replacement and since my memory has slowed and I just feel tired all the time. I've had a couple of the same headaches as before the surgery and my NS has changed the setting. I went back to work last week and I was totally wiped out and having headaches again. So, he has put me off on leave again to rest and get used to the new setting. I just don't remember having these issues with my previous revisions with the VP shunt. Is there anyone out there that can relate?

My last VP shunt surgery was in February 2012, and I had a ProGAV programmable VP shunt valve replaced with a Codman programmable VP shunt valve. Ever since I have needed "programmable VP shunt revisions" back in November 2003, I have had headaches with them, usually every 4 months. My last resetting was 1 month after my surgery in March 2012, and that was 4 months ago. I have had my shunt valve reset last Thursday from 4 to 5, then I had more serious head pains all weekend, and today, I was set back down to 3, just like when I left surgery in February. I hope it helps me, but you are not alone, if you find you are experiencing severe headaches, or some dizziness with your valve. Oh, and by the way, before 2003, I had a non-programmable shunt valve myself for 27 years with no problems expect minimal pain!

It has been 14 months with this shunt type. For the past week, I have had facet injections for my serious pain, and now my pain has come back after trouble walking 3 days ago. I called my NSG and they will be ordering an MRI in the next 48 hours. Lying down is what feels the best, and sitting and standing gives me serious head and neck pains worse than ice cream headaches that won't go away! My head feels like it is being clamped tight sometimes as well.

Beth

Hi Beth,
Will they also be imaging your neck? They may not see anything on the imaging. If they don't, consider asking about possibility of over draining (or if you don't have an anti siphon you might need one, but there are various possibilities if over draining is not addressed, e.g. chiari issues, slit ventricles, hemorrhaging).