Underwent MVD three days ago for left TN. Surgeon found a vein wrapped around the nerve that he removed. I feel worse than I had anticipated, but realize it has only been three days and I must take things slow. The ride home today was torture. I have such terrible ear pain and sharp stabbling pains under my left ear. I am hoping that is just related to the surgical incision and swelling and will improve as well. I have some left tongue and teeth numbness and tingling to the left side of my face, this should improve or resolve with time too?
If anyone has specific questions or advice, please contact me. I look forward to each day getting better. At this time, I would recommend MVD and time will tell if all my pain is gone. Best wishes to all on this site.
I too have numbness but it should go away. My NS told me within 6 months. The incision was painful & will get better. Is your TN pain gone? It is a process & I just passed 3 weeks on Thurs & what n improvement. Listen to your body & don’t push too hard. It is major surgery! Remind yourself that!. Good luck & be patient.
I've noticed everyone has a different experience. I had my MVD a couple of years ago. Right after the surgery I had only pain from the incision, but the TN pain was gone. For me, the most disturbing thing was double-vision. For weeks I had trouble getting around and I could not drive at all because I was seeing two of everything! My vision finally resolved, but my right eye has weak vision. I still can't drive at night. The TN pain came back, but it is at a tolerable level... nothing like the agony I felt before the surgery. I am still glad I had it done. The numbness and tingling should get better, I had that too for the first couple of months. You have been through major brain surgery! Now is the time to take care of YOU as that is what helps you heal. I hope you have compassionate people in your life to care for you. Best wishes for a full recovery!!
I think my TN pain is gone. I get occassional twinges of ear and tooth pain, but at this time I think most of that is incisional pain. My teeth and tongue are numb frm the surgery. I am so thankful that there have been no complications thus far and my husband is off for a few days to care for me. All I have done and can seem to do is sleep. Is that normal? I have incisional pain, nausea and headache and all I can do is sleep thre day away. I have had no pain meds since last night as they make me nauseated and more loopy, but may need to do some thwith lunch. Those who have been through this, did you just sleep the first few days. I am 4 days post-op and things are a blur yet.
I had MVD on November 27th and today I only had a two hour nap. I have been asleep more than awake since the surgery. My husband has been working from home and is getting our kids up and taking them to school. I have slept in everyday until 10:00 or 11:00. Then taken long naps during the day. Some days I have literally been awake only about 6 hours off and on. I also think the pain meds make me sleep more. I have had minimal pain in my teeth and ear this weekend, and that has really been bothering me the most. Sound like you are doing great for only 4 days after surgery!
I had my left-sided MVD 5 weeks ago yesterday. I pretty much slept non-stop the first 7 days and then a little less each day. Someone at the hospital, either nurse or Dr, compared it to a very bad head injury and how people can’t help but fall asleep when it happens. (I’ve never had one, but I took their word for it.) When I first woke up from surgery only the TN teeth pain was gone. Every day after I’d notice another pain going away. So that might take time. I had numbness of my left nostril, left side of my lips and left front quarter of my tongue. That all went away within the first 2 weeks. (Except if I overexert myself the numbness comes back on the lips and tongue.) The only numbness that has not gone away so far is the top of my ear and behind it. But honestly, it doesn’t bother me. I still have some issues with my ear feeling clogged and like I can’t hear 100%, but my NS found 3 nerves wrapped by 2 arteries and 2 of those were by my ear so it seems to be “normal” for now.
Rest as much as your body tells you! I hope you recover quickly and have gotten rid of your pain. It doesn’t feel good the first couple of days but it gets better every day!
I had my left-sided MVD 5 weeks ago yesterday. I pretty much slept non-stop the first 7 days and then a little less each day. Someone at the hospital, either nurse or Dr, compared it to a very bad head injury and how people can't help but fall asleep when it happens. (I've never had one, but I took their word for it.) When I first woke up from surgery only the TN teeth pain was gone. Every day after I'd notice another pain going away. So that might take time. I had numbness of my left nostril, left side of my lips and left front quarter of my tongue. That all went away within the first 2 weeks. (Except if I overexert myself the numbness comes back on the lips and tongue.) The only numbness that has not gone away so far is the top of my ear and behind it. But honestly, it doesn't bother me. I still have some issues with my ear feeling clogged and like I can't hear 100%, but my NS found 3 nerves wrapped by 2 arteries and 2 of those were by my ear so it seems to be "normal" for now.
Rest as much as your body tells you! I hope you recover quickly and have gotten rid of your pain. It doesn't feel good the first couple of days but it gets better every day!
Please DONT PUSH IT, I did and now I cant go back to work, I did something nasty to my back and neck and am waiting to get my MRI done and see the surgeon about it. TAKE IT EASY!!
I had the ear pain and fluid in my ears, it lasted about two weeks, I had the fluid so bad I was on steriods for it.
The area around my incision didnt hurt, but it felt weird as hell for a few weeks, it wasnt quite numb, and it was kind of creepy to touch, its hard to describe,
Bottom line is I had ATN mostly and 8 weeks after surgery, other than the back/neck issue, I feel great. I still have some TN pain, but i would say its more annoying than anything, and it really doesnt bother me at all.
I found the numbness went away completely, 100%, by about a year post op, and I had relatively low grade numbness throughout the right side, including tongue and eyeball. For me it was a gradual process. I recommend ginger biscuits for nausea post op. Best of luck.
Yes, please remember to take things slowly. You have had major surgery. You will recover, and this time can be frustrating, but you need rest. I'm impressed that you can type! I had a hard time with vision for a few days, and hearing for a while. I couldn't read for a few weeks. Everyone is different, but soon enough you will be fully recovered. I can't believe it's only been three days!
Thanks for the insight crashgirl. Hope you back/neck improve quickly and all the best to you!
Day 6 update: I am making slow progress. Three days ago I had terrible headaches much of the night (maybe from typing on here and overdoing it?). I slept for 14 hours and felt better yesterday. Today about the same, bit better. I am slowly feeling more human. My incision pain is improving. Biggest issues are ear fluid/pain, fatigue and sensititive to light and sound at times (today seems simproved). I am taking only 1-2 pain pills per day, but continue with dramamine 1-2 times daily for the dizziness and nausea and tylenol and ibuprofen scheduled every 4-6 hours. the ear fluid does not improve in a few days I will contact the surgeon. Sounds like many had this for many weeks post-op.
I am so grateful for this site and the insight of others. Blessings and pain free days to you all!
crashgirl said:
Please DONT PUSH IT, I did and now I cant go back to work, I did something nasty to my back and neck and am waiting to get my MRI done and see the surgeon about it. TAKE IT EASY!!
I had the ear pain and fluid in my ears, it lasted about two weeks, I had the fluid so bad I was on steriods for it.
The area around my incision didnt hurt, but it felt weird as hell for a few weeks, it wasnt quite numb, and it was kind of creepy to touch, its hard to describe,
Bottom line is I had ATN mostly and 8 weeks after surgery, other than the back/neck issue, I feel great. I still have some TN pain, but i would say its more annoying than anything, and it really doesnt bother me at all.
My ear fluid is worsening and really bothering me more than my headaches, etc. I saw my primary today who confirmed fluid behind the ear, but no infection. I contacted my surgeon's nurse who said this is common and to give more time. Just wondering how long after MVD you were put on steroids and/or antibiotics and did they help some or completely took away your issues?
Thanks much and hope you are feeling better!!!
crashgirl said:
Please DONT PUSH IT, I did and now I cant go back to work, I did something nasty to my back and neck and am waiting to get my MRI done and see the surgeon about it. TAKE IT EASY!!
I had the ear pain and fluid in my ears, it lasted about two weeks, I had the fluid so bad I was on steriods for it.
The area around my incision didnt hurt, but it felt weird as hell for a few weeks, it wasnt quite numb, and it was kind of creepy to touch, its hard to describe,
Bottom line is I had ATN mostly and 8 weeks after surgery, other than the back/neck issue, I feel great. I still have some TN pain, but i would say its more annoying than anything, and it really doesnt bother me at all.
My ear fluid lasted at least a month, but I could hear better in a few weeks, probably about two weeks after surgery. I took a 7 day run of steroids, and it cleared up a few days after that, but not completely..I could hear, but there was still fluid there and I got that annoying popping noise every now and again. My ENT also had me on Nasonex spray twice a day, if you have some around I would use it, it helps dry it up. It was about a month later that my ENT said it was completely cleared up.
Crashgirl take it easy & don’t push yourself too hard. Rest when tired & it was brain surgery. Good idea to contact the surgeon if you have questions. The incision will improve but stillfeel mine 4 weeks later. I think it’s the temple of my glasses so trying not to wear them unless I must! Keep positive thoughts & yes pain free days to all!
Curious if my post-op symptoms are all routine post-op course after MVD or could represent a possible CSF leak? I am more concerned after hearing Linda on here underwent recent repair with some similar symptoms (linda if you read this I hope you are doing well!). I am 2.5 weeks out now and continue with left ear fluid/pressure, hearing "whooshing"/pulse to left ear, left sided runny nose (sniffling), thin drainage down back of throat (no leakage with head bent forward!), left sided frontal headaches when standing quickly or lifting and exertion at times and sensitivity to lights. I do not want to be paranoid, with the combination I wonder. Hopefully I am just being paranoid and time will cure all.
On a positive note, my nausea has resolved. No more Dramamine even with recent holiday traveling of few hours in the car.
On a negative note, no sharp TN pain, but some teeth and jaw ache yesterday and bit today with lots of talking to family. Time will tell, but I am being positive and optimistic at this time!
Give yourself some time - it's frustrating, I know, but I can't believe how tired I was initially. My MVD was 11/28/12 and I still have some burning in the left side of my tongue. I can't tell you if this is related to the surgery because I had it prior to my MVD. Like you I'm hoping it goes away! The incision bothered me - have someone look at it if it continues. I got a small stitch abscess at three weeks (the incision just looked pink/red in that area) and removing that stitch and a short course of antibiotics made all the difference in the world.
I had terrible ear pain and fluid like issues after my MVD (Nov 27) but it cleared up after about 2 weeks. I never had a runny nose. I caught strep throat 12 days after surgery and was put on penicillin and my ear fluid and hearing problem went away shortly after. I don't know if the penicillin helped or it was just coincidental. I also have teeth and jaw pain still.
msuclemay said:
Curious if my post-op symptoms are all routine post-op course after MVD or could represent a possible CSF leak? I am more concerned after hearing Linda on here underwent recent repair with some similar symptoms (linda if you read this I hope you are doing well!). I am 2.5 weeks out now and continue with left ear fluid/pressure, hearing "whooshing"/pulse to left ear, left sided runny nose (sniffling), thin drainage down back of throat (no leakage with head bent forward!), left sided frontal headaches when standing quickly or lifting and exertion at times and sensitivity to lights. I do not want to be paranoid, with the combination I wonder. Hopefully I am just being paranoid and time will cure all.
On a positive note, my nausea has resolved. No more Dramamine even with recent holiday traveling of few hours in the car.
On a negative note, no sharp TN pain, but some teeth and jaw ache yesterday and bit today with lots of talking to family. Time will tell, but I am being positive and optimistic at this time!