Surgery

So...in July, I was diagnosed with a congenital condition called chiari malformation, which basically means that my cerebellum was descending through a hole in my skull, creating pressure on my spinal cord and partially blocking the flow of spinal fluid.
So the radiologist told me I had to get surgery.

I just wanted to put up some pictures of the progression of the incision post-surgery (I had the surgery on august 9th, 2007), just because a) I think it's cool and b) I feel weird not having posted any videos in a year or something. haha.

so um...enjoy?

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• surgery
• chiari
• malformation

[grimreefers1968]

im seeing a neurosurgeon in a couple of weeks as i need the decompression, do you mind if i ask how you found the surgery, was it truly awful or doable? im a bit worried as i am allergic to anesetic and morphine so will need antiemetics whilst under, and cant have anything stronger than ibrupofen for the pain, even pethedine and gas and air make me vomit. also were there any tubes down your throat when you came round as this also scares the bejebbers out of me :)

[onethousandsteps]

@grimreefers1968 I thought it was fine. I was anesthetized. I had a lot of medicine afterwards, though, like a morphine drip in the hospital and then vicodin, percocet, and such afterwards. No, I didn't have any tubes down my throat when I came to. That would freak me out, too! Good luck with everything :)

[sk8freak3000]

is there a way to have surgery without having to cut your hair in the back ???

[onethousandsteps]

@sk8freak3000 I have no idea, although my hair grew back fairly quickly.

[adriannamissy]

Should I get the surgery? Will it help enough to have the pain go away?

[onethousandsteps]

@adriannamissy I would recommend it. It made my pain go away.

[cheechnragz]

wow....i jst read my comment from 2yrs ago....forgot about it, till I read an email that I missed....2 yrs ago!!!!! Soooo sori!!!!!!

So now its been 2 yrs....I had surgery last yr....was in hospital 4 aweek....now....Im stil getting headaches, no ACC so physiotherapy for massage is xpensive, need it cos my arms shoulders and neck muscles all numb & tense up and becomes vry sore, pain....sux....no 2nd op for me....hate painkillers....avin a good sesh helps the pain......yearly chekup dis wk!!!!

[grimreefers1968]

@onethousandsteps thank you for that. i have quite a high pain threshold but dont want to suffer unnecessarily. its reassuring to see someone that had the op and got through it without too much suffering :)

[elsender78]

ive just been told i will have to have surgery for this in a couple of months ......!!im 32 and never been so nervouse!!!!

[TheSam882]

oh wow.very nice video!imhaving my surgery this summer and i have very long hair..im terrified of losing all my hairXD lol i know that should be the least of my

worries tho!

[TheSam882]

oh wow.very nice video!imhaving my surgery this summer and i have very long hair..im terrified of losing all my hairXD lol i know that should be the least of my worries tho!

[chiarimomof3]

Can I ask how many mms yours was? I was just diagnosed and am still waiting for answers so have been researching like crazy. The radiologist recommended surgery? I've been passed through a couple drs already-all saying they haven't much experience with it yet and one said only patient that underwent the surgery went bad which freaked me out pretty badly. Would appreciate any more details-info-Like how'd you find out -thx!

[SargeantEggsalad]

@salenakronic77 im also 15. my highly acclaimed neurologist told me that it probally won't come back but any hard knock or awkward jolt to my neck could easily tear the patch and start it again.