I had my MVD in March for right TN. As the weather changes I've been experiencing an increase in TN pain in the bridge of my nose and behind my right eye. I can understand that, but last week during the snow storm my skull bone to the immediate left of my incision became severely painful in one particular spot. It had never hurt that bad after the surgery. My skull seems extremely sensitive to the cold weather. I even wear a hat inside my home now. I have titanium mesh and screws, but I do not know if that is in any way contributing to my pain? Has this happened to anyone else? Is this part of the normal healing process? I've had it since then but not severe like it was over Thanksgiving.
I had my MVD in July for right TN and have neck stiffness, ear pain, and all over skull sensitivity as the weather has gotten colder. The wind, sun, and colder temps bother me more now than when the weather was warmer. I wear scarves and hats all the time and try to keep myself bundled even when inside. My covering to the hole in my skull is spackle (don't know the medical term) and PVC type material, no screws. My skull would appreciate a warmer weather type of environment!!
Jeanie
I had MVD back in Jan 2012 and my TN pain all came back in Feb 2013 - but included were also migraines that I didn’t know where migraines because it was aching, throbbing pain over my plate. I never had pain behind my ear where my metal plate is before my surgery. I also struggle in the winter and with cold air and wind. Hugs
I had my MVD in March 2012 on left side…I live in Mexico right on the border with sunny California…I still get pain in the winter and rainy days…my skull is tender and sometimes get blisters… The hard pain and sparks went away but still have burning sensation in my skull…hang in there! And hope and pray to God !! And cover up …
The hole in my skull is always tender and sometimes it feels like is puffy and it itches… Xoxo!
Yep. 2 years in Feb. my hole hurts more sometimes then others. Cold makes it worse. I still have some numbness behind my ear and above. I have worse neuropathy in the whole area then before the MVD, worth it because I was soooo bad off and in a bad place spiritually. But now my ATN is still 50% better on a bad day and good day can achieve 75%. I get Botox for a couple of reasons 1-my migraines and 2-my entire scalp hurts, also so I can wear my eyeglass and sunglasses. My PMD does an ONB also to help with the pain in the surgery area and my occipital neuralgia. I have TN on my other side very classic. Comes and goes. Pretty long remissions and short attacks so my docs think for now its in my best interest to manage it as long as possible.
Was having a flare up on my ATN side for a few months from ear infection and bronchitis plus life of overdoing. So when I got my round of 30-40 injections, I had her do my masseter muscle. This I like. Pain almost totally gone. Just twinges. So Botox for ATN is a go for me.
~Tree
Hello all, I typed a reply the other day thanking everyone for their comments, which are very much appreciated. Somehow it didn't post. I am especially grateful since I spoke with the nurse at my Neuro surgeon' s office and I got the impression she thought I was crazy. She told me that cold weather wouldn't cause any pain in my skull this long after my MVD. It gets frustrating when they don't take things seriously. The left side of my head doesn't hurt, and only the area where they cut my skull open on the right side hurts - severely - now that it's cold. Of course this is the same nurse who told me 6 weeks after my surgery that it's not normal to still be dizzy and nauseous 6 weeks after surgery. Then she spoke to my Dr and called me back to say that it isn't common but some patients can be dizzy and nauseous for up to a year. Ugh!! 9 months later and I'm dizzy and off balance every day, and even with scopolamine patches delivering meds into my system 24/7 I still have this breakthrough nausea. I tried listening to some Christmas tunes today and my right eyeball started pulsing. It's depressing. I don't put the volume loud, I had it down very low. I am just getting over shingles, and I just stopped taking Percocet the night before last. I've felt pretty rotten yesterday, with pain in my shoulders, neck and head. I woke up feeling the same today. I was only on the Percocet at night for a few weeks. I wouldn't think there could be any kind of withdrawal or adjustment. Does anybody have experience with that kind of thing?
Jeanie, I've had a lot of neck pain since my MVD too. My primary care Dr has given me a referral for physical therapy, she said massage and ultrasound might help. I start that next week, so I'll let you know how it goes. I find that heat helps some. I got this lightweight heated shawl (I think Sunbeam makes it) and I put it on the back of my neck, on my head, on my face, you name it, I'll put heat on it. It at least gives some short term relief.
Jeanie said:
I had my MVD in July for right TN and have neck stiffness, ear pain, and all over skull sensitivity as the weather has gotten colder. The wind, sun, and colder temps bother me more now than when the weather was warmer. I wear scarves and hats all the time and try to keep myself bundled even when inside. My covering to the hole in my skull is spackle (don't know the medical term) and PVC type material, no screws. My skull would appreciate a warmer weather type of environment!!
Jeanie
Oh Tree69, I feel for you. My neighbor gets horrible migraines and has to go for the Botox injections. She said it is so painful she ends up in bed the whole weekend. I'm happy though that it gives you some good relief for a while. My killer area is the bridge of my nose and my right eye. I cannot see without glasses and I haven't been able to put the glasses over my right ear. The pressure is too much, within a minute or two it causes blasts of pain. I have to put the glasses against the outer part of my ear and I have to wrap the area of the part that rests against my ear in gauze. The gauze cushions the area and lifts the nose pad off my nose. I look like an idiot it's the only thing that works. Today though nothing is helping. You've given me something to think about, thank you for sharing. One question though - what is an ONB?
Tree69 said:
Yep. 2 years in Feb. my hole hurts more sometimes then others. Cold makes it worse. I still have some numbness behind my ear and above. I have worse neuropathy in the whole area then before the MVD, worth it because I was soooo bad off and in a bad place spiritually. But now my ATN is still 50% better on a bad day and good day can achieve 75%. I get Botox for a couple of reasons 1-my migraines and 2-my entire scalp hurts, also so I can wear my eyeglass and sunglasses. My PMD does an ONB also to help with the pain in the surgery area and my occipital neuralgia. I have TN on my other side very classic. Comes and goes. Pretty long remissions and short attacks so my docs think for now its in my best interest to manage it as long as possible.
Was having a flare up on my ATN side for a few months from ear infection and bronchitis plus life of overdoing. So when I got my round of 30-40 injections, I had her do my masseter muscle. This I like. Pain almost totally gone. Just twinges. So Botox for ATN is a go for me.
~Tree
Hi Delia, did they tell you what's causing the itching and blisters? Did they give you anything topical that might help? Also, can I come and live with you, I'm in the freezing cold Northeast... :) I keep telling my husband we need to move to Arizona where it's hot and dry.
Delia Osuna-Orozco said:
I had my MVD in March 2012 on left side....I live in Mexico right on the border with sunny California....I still get pain in the winter and rainy days....my skull is tender and sometimes get blisters.... The hard pain and sparks went away but still have burning sensation in my skull....hang in there! And hope and pray to God !! And cover up ....
Sending hugs right back to you Jessica. I had spent pretty much all of 2010 and part of 2011 getting migraines on my right side under control. Once they were under control I took daily doses of propranolol and amitriptyline. Then over late summer of 2013 I started getting more and more severe headaches on the right side of my head. We tried everything. Over a few months the pain worked it's way to the bridge of my nose, behind my eye, right in front of my right ear and above one of my molars, and my jaw would get really stiff feeling. That's when my neurologist sent me for an MRI and MRA,which showed that my superior cerebellar artery was compressing the trigeminal nerve. The only time I get migraine pain is if I try to lay on my back or on my right side. Just the pressure of my head being on a pillow still brings that much pain. I'm sending lots of hugs and prayers for warm weather your way.
JessicaG said:
I had MVD back in Jan 2012 and my TN pain all came back in Feb 2013 - but included were also migraines that I didn't know where migraines because it was aching, throbbing pain over my plate. I never had pain behind my ear where my metal plate is before my surgery. I also struggle in the winter and with cold air and wind. Hugs
Hi!!! Sorry for not answering …dont go to the page very often!! Dr. gave me a cortizone base gel for the itching in my scalp…but that is about it…the weather is nice here…come on over…xoxo