After going through a pretty good recovery from my MVD, I have a large amount of swelling that appeard last week, which is four weeks following my MVD. I was literally bed ridden with severe headache (pain all over my head), neck and lower spine, and because of the intensity of the pain, which I think was worse than the MVD surgery pain, I also had sickness and unable to keep any pain or anti-sickness down long enough for them to have any effect.
I spent the whole day yeaterday in my local A&E hospital who unfortunately have no neurological expertise who were really at a loss how to treat me and what the cause of the swelling was from and why it just occurred 4 weeks down the road. They did however give me fluids, pain and sickness medication via IV which at least gave me some respite. They also administered 1000mg of Naproxen which they gave me via IV and have given me the same doseage to taken at home orally which they say will reduce the swelling. Pain and swelling definitely subsided whilst I was in hospital with everything going in via IV but today the swelling is increasing again, although currently more localised area but a larger bump and the pain is steadily returning, please can anyone advise whether they suffered with this and whether they had the same pain symptoms etc as above and what treatment they underwent to resolve it. Pretty concerned as local hospital didn’t instill me with any confidence yesterday and I don’t want to return to the level of pain and sickness I had all last week.
Yes we called our surgeon when it first happened who wouldn’t give any advice over phone or email and told us to go to our local hospital (A&E is the accident and emergency dept of a hospital), which we did as soon as we got a flight back home from our vacation, am booking in to see GP (family Dr) today to ask him to call my NS! All so long winded I know but this I the healthcare system in the UK!!
I’m so sorry to hear you’re going though this. 2 weeks post MVD surgery I’m having some similar symptoms with severe headache,nausea, and dizziness in the a.m. That eases a bit better after taking tylennol and walking around but comes back throughout the day and is worse in the evening when it feels somewhat swollen in the back of my head. I find lying down seems to help take the pressure off. My Neurosurgeon is out of town but called the on- call Neuro as I worried about a possible CSF leak. He told me you have to be leaking fluid from somewhere either through your nose, ear, or down your throat to have a CSF leak. He seemed more concerned with whether or not I was having a fever, redness and oozing around the incision site, impaired thinking, slurring of speech, neurological problems rather than head pain and dizziness. I’ve read that fluid build up can happen around the site and may need to be drained. That’s terrible that your Neuro wouldn’t answer your questions over the phone to give you some peace of mind. Wishing you the very best and hope you’re feeling better and have some answers soon.
Quickie, I would call back your neurosurgeon and tell him that the local hospital has NO idea what to do and you are concerned and in pain etc…demand to be heard!!! Ask him, " if I were your wife or daughter what would you do?"
Hope you find answers soon and relief from this ASAP.
(( hugs )) Mimi
Thanks MH and MImi for your response and support. I went to my family Dr today and she did explained that it is most likely a build up of fluid although expressed concern that it was only appearing now 4+ weeks into my recovery. Fortunately my Dr today did express the same frustration and dismay with my NS response and is contacting them to get a response. I also called my NS and left a message (as voicemail is the only thing I can get through to) expressing my dissapointment with the lack of help, hopefully I will be able to report positive progress in the next day or so!
Hi Quickie, I had a small drainage of fluid 5 months post op! Two weeks ago I went to emergency and the NS on cal opened the incision to check for infection. No problems, but I went to have the stitches removed to day and apparently now have a suture access! More antibiotics, and an ugly scar.
Did the fluid cause you a severe headache and sickness and if so what meds were given to you?
I truly sympathise what you have been through, this last week alone is making me regret have had the MVD surgery!
Thanks
Christine said:
Hi Quickie, I had a small drainage of fluid 5 months post op! Two weeks ago I went to emergency and the NS on cal opened the incision to check for infection. No problems, but I went to have the stitches removed to day and apparently now have a suture access! More antibiotics, and an ugly scar.
I see you are in Kent. The A/E you went to does that hospital have a neuro department. If not I would go to the nearest hospital that has both. I am in Glasgow and luckily one of our hospitals have both. I think you should be seen by a neurosurgeon at the very least to get neurological exam. Please get this checked. Let us know how you get on.
I have had the surgery, but without problems. However, having heard all that could possibly go wrong, the first thing that comes to mind is a spinal fluid leak which could explain your terrible headaches. I am hoping at this point you have found answers and seen your surgeon, but if not, be a pain in their side until you are taken care of. It is unacceptable that you are still in pain and not being tended to IMMEDIATELY! Please let us know how you are.