Met with a radiation oncologist at Emory yesterday, and I am having Gamma Knife sometime in the next two weeks. I'm not a candidate for most other procedures because I have the complication of Mitochondrial Disease, and I can't have general anesthesia. Thanks for praying. Has anyone had success with this radiation therapy?
Praying for you! Keep us posted on your progress.
Just wondering if there is anybody who has recently done a Gamma Knife procedure? I was told that if they can't see any vascular compression from the MRI, that this might be the right thing to do. Right now I am scheduled for the GK on June 6, 2014 ..... Sure would like to hear some good news about the GK, or if I should bail out. I have to do something! It's gone from T1 on to T2 and have worked through several of the medications. I just want my life back. Sandi.
Dear Gamma knife questionners:
I had Gamma knife on Dec 21, 2012 and again on March 28, 2014. My first procedure took 3 months to kick in and I got 6 months of relief. In the meantime I weaned off all pain meds, and never went back on them when pain set in again in August 2013. I white knuckled it until my next gamma this March. I got relief this time 3 DAYS after. The second gamma they do a contrast dye to see where they scarred the nerve the first time and then program the radiation further down the pike.
I would do it all again if need be, but my NS says he only does two procedures and then looks for other options (MVD, who knows what else by the time I need it). I had invasive brain surgery 10 years ago for a Chiari malformation and was discharged from ICU in 48 hours. It really was a relative breeze compared to the sinus surgeries I've had. So, I'm not afraid of brain surgery, it's just that I am a poor candidate due to scarring from Chiari surgery.
The only icky part of gamma is the injection of topical anesthetic in your head so they can screw in the frame. I had no complications and got lots of mileage out of this photo!
Good luck to you and have a pain free day!
Mollycule