Scalp-Ache?

[nteeman]

The other day after taking a shower I was towel-drying my hair and while noticing that my incision area did not seem sore anymore, I gave myself a much more vigorous wipe down. All seemed fine at first and as I enjoyed the fact that my incision wasn't sore anymore I scrubbed even harder. Then it happened!  It seems the area just above the incision became sore. The whole area became touch sensitive and painful.

After about an hour the pain ceased and the area returned to its normal state. I could touch it again and no pain.

I spoke with a nurse at my surgeons practice and she informed me that this was not unusual and was caused by nerve damage in my scalp from the incision. She said that this kind of nerve damage usually is more bothersome during cold weather and while it may go away in time, some patients always have it.

It seems that if I move my scalp in certain directions all is fine but if I move the skin another direction it can become painful.

Anyone experience anything like this?

[EJTampa]

That's one of things I asked my doctor about at my 2 week appointment.  The incision was only mildly painful, but the top of my head had more moderate pain.  The pain was definitely skin level, right at the scalp.  The doctor told me there are lots of nerves running through there, and that the pain and numbness could take a long time to go away.  The pain has become much less, but the numbness is still there.  Actually, the doc said the numbness could take years to go away.
 
Ernie

[msmaggie]

Kinda gives new meaning to the term "numbskull," doesn't it?

Priscilla

[yardtick]

Every time I have my hair coloured, highlighted or cut, the left side aches for that day and the next.  I have take precautions because it can bring on a full blown headache monster.  Oh the joys of vanity! 

Anne Marie

[Jim Scott]

Anne Marie ~

My scalp at the (healed) incision site was never really sore, although I didn't 'test' it, as you did, adopting the attitude that 'if it doesn't bother me, why should I look for trouble?'

My skull was numb on the AN side but that finally resolved - after almost two years. 

By the way, trying to be well-groomed and attractive is not true vanity.  Being obsessive about your appearance, is.  I trust you're in the former category. 

Jim

[Keri]

OUCH Neil - reading your post made my head hurt!
You and me are two days apart on surgery. My incision still hurts, just not badly. Sometimes my head feels tight too.  It doesn't bother me too much - I'm just kind of surprised it still hurts. Do scars stay tender for a while? Guess so. I am thankful that for the most part my headaches are gone.

Hope you're doing well otherwise. Have the transear yet?

Keri

[nteeman]

OUCH Neil - reading your post made my head hurt!
You and me are two days apart on surgery. My incision still hurts, just not badly. Sometimes my head feels tight too.  It doesn't bother me too much - I'm just kind of surprised it still hurts. Do scars stay tender for a while? Guess so. I am thankful that for the most part my headaches are gone.

Hope you're doing well otherwise. Have the transear yet?

Keri

Keri,

No TransEar yet, I was fitted and now I am waiting for it to come in.

As far as my scalp--it is funny because my incision is healed and not sore to the touch at all. The area that becomes sore is about an inch behind and above the incision.  I have discovered that since I aggravated this area with my towel it comes and goes. When it is normal there is no sensitivity to the touch. But I discovered, and this is weird, if I push my scalp from the back of my head towards the top, WHILE MY EYEBROWS ARE RAISED, the soreness to that area come back. Of course if I do this gently it doesn't hurt too much and goes away quickly but if I do it with any force, wow it hurts.  Of course I try not to do it, and when I toweled my head after my shower tonight I did it gently, making sure my eyebrows were not raised.

Neal

[Captain Deb]

I find that even 6 years post-op, my incision area still does weird things.  I can take my scapl and move it around and I will hear a soft "click" where it rubs on the small metal plates that my skull flap was reattached with.  I can also sctratch my temple and "feel" it just above and behind my ear.  Just the way the nerves healed, I guess.  I wonder how much of this strange healing contributes to my headaches.

Capt Deb

[MikeS]

neal, i'm 3 weeks post-op and my scar is still the most painful area, apparently due to the nerve endings.  i'll go a full day with no tylenol and then if i'm laying on a pillow or seat a wrong way, painful spikes near the surface of my scar start pounding for a few minutes.  thought i was crazy but doc says due to the nerve endings and fact that there is still alot of healing taking place under the skin.  misery loves company....glad i'm not the only one and that i'm not going crazy.

take care and best of luck with the recovery

mike

[MAlegant]

Hi,
At almost 9 months post op, I still have days where I have that pain and the uncomfortable feeling that my head has definitely been operated on.  I figure it could get better or stay with me forever.  Either way, I'm good with it, it's not a big deal, just really gets on my nerves and gets me down a bit. But yes, I know EXACTLY what you are talking about.  Early on I had more pain where the halo thing was attached to me than I did from the incision.  And the neck pain was actually the worst part!  Hang in there, your body will heal at its own pace.
Best
Marci

[leapyrtwins]

Numb skulls do go away, but it takes time.

I'm almost 2 years post AN op and a little over 1 year post BAHA op and just a few weeks ago I noticed that my skull and scalp are no longer numb 

Jan

[Melissa778]

I am almost 1 year post op and have some scalp issues here and there.  My doc informed me alot of it was due to nerve damage and regeneration.  About every 3 mo. I get steroid injections into the incision/scalp to help with the pain and discomfort I have.  Once I have those I am ususally good to go for 3-4 months mostly pain free. 

Anne Marie.....I also take precautions when having my hair done.....but I have an amazing stylist who is great with my head!

Melissa

[AMD]

This is all interesting.....the things we experience, that is.   I han't thought about it much, but my scalp did hurt above my incision sometimes when i woke up in the morning.  Kinda like I slept on my hair wrong, and it pulled.  It was always sore at the roots of those hairs for a little while until the discomfort went away.  I also had a bald spot, the size of a dime, which was above where they shaved.  It took a long time for hair to sprout back through it.  Weird.

-Amy

[Seal]

neal, i'm 3 weeks post-op and my scar is still the most painful area, apparently due to the nerve endings.  i'll go a full day with no tylenol and then if i'm laying on a pillow or seat a wrong way, painful spikes near the surface of my scar start pounding for a few minutes.  thought i was crazy but doc says due to the nerve endings and fact that there is still alot of healing taking place under the skin. 
mike

Mike,
I'm about three weeks out now too, and I've got similar issues.    I'll get a stabbing pain that only lasts for a few seconds and then subsides.   I'm noticing it more in the late afternoon and evenings after work when I'm really dragging, dead tired.     I associated it with the healing process as well, plus it is my little "canary in the coal mine" that tells me to back off and rest up.   I've been very very lucky with almost no serious headaches.     Interesting to hear everyone's different take on this issue.

Steve