Postop Fusion Symptom Questions

[Guest guest]

I just had Mild Decompression of the Foramen Magnum as well as

Craniocervical Fusion with the rods from the skull to C6.

I don't remember reading much about symptoms people have experienced

when they first went home and am looking for some samples of what is

normal and what is not normal.

For example, my stitches are out and things are looking better. I

happened to develop 3 pressure sores. 2 of them are still healing.

But, I have this weird, faint, " clicking " sound when I move my head gently up

and down or side to side. Has anybody else had this? Is it a normal part of

the hardware settling in?

I know all about the muscle spasms, but not the " clicking " sound.

Any experiences would be helpful.

Happy New Year,

Cassie

[Guest guest]

Hi there -

I had the faint clicking sound as well and was told it is just soft tissue

being rubbed when the head is moved.

There is a lot going on back there - there is material that is placed to

encourage bone growth, not to mention the swelling of the soft tissue. I am

pretty sure it is normal. It will probably go away when the swelling goes down

and such, mine did.

I still have weird sounds that crop up and then go away. I have a lot of

movement too, I can almost touch my chin to my chest when I bend my neck'head

down and I can move my head from side to side enough to almost look over my

shoulder. I don't really turn at the waist anymore like I used to when I was

fresh out of surgery. But movement is different for everyone.

As long as the sounds are not loud and mechanical sounding ;-)

---------------------------------

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

Cassie wrote;

But, I have this weird, faint, " clicking " sound when I move my head gently

up and down or side to side. Has anybody else had this? Is it a normal

part of the hardware settling in?

I know all about the muscle spasms, but not the " clicking " sound.

Any experiences would be helpful.

Kathleen's experience;

I've had clicking that has picked up in intensity since my first

decompression in 1990. After the fusion, it became more pronounced, but I

have learned to get used to the noise.

Other symptoms that I've had after surgeries is some nerve issues. I had a

pin replaced on my halo almost 4 weeks ago and a nerve running up my

forehead was disturbed. The top left side of my head is feeling creepy

crawly, and sometimes painful. This is a problem I had after a shunt surgery

in 1990 only it was on my chest wall. I frantically went to the ER when I

felt the pins and needles sensation on my chest, to find it was perfectly

" normal " .

I've had this happen now with other surgeries as well, it isn't comfortable,

but it eventually just becomes a numb spot. I think most of my head and neck

are numb now, but no more pins and needles.

You can experience various oddities right after surgery. Unless you are

having a fever or redness and oozing around the incision, chances are things

are healing " normally " .

Some surgeries I've spit the dissolvable sutures as much as 4 months after

the surgery. Again, normal. Patients with EDS quite often will get rid of

the sutures later on.

If in doubt about your post op symptoms, it is always best to touch base

with your nurse.

Kathleen

Diagnosed with CM/hydrocephalus 1990, decompression/shunt. Since diagnosed

with craniocervical instability, Ehlers Danlos, and Tethered Cord Syndrome,

surgery for everything but EDS since 1998.

http://chiariconnectioninternational.com/