Incision still hurts and scabs over 17 months post op

[CROOKEDSMILE]

I've had it checked by neurosurgeon and my family doctor and they all say it looks fine other than alittle caved in! I didn't have any bone put back he just used some sort of metal and screws. It is still very sore to touch, can't sleep on it and when I do gather the courage to even touch it there is lots of dried scab/skin that will come off. Yuck i know. I always try to soak my head when I wash my hair so that this skin can exfoliate but what else can I do. Even as I type the incision is soooooo taut feeling and tender. Any suggestions? I would never be able to massage it like I've heard of some people doing as this would be too painful. For the longest time (like a year of so after) I could get big chunks of skin with what looked like stitches stuck in it off of the incision. I had dissolvable stitches but I'm thinking that maybe I have some that didn't dissolve and it is acting like a splinter in my skin causing it to have poor healing and pain but all the docs say it is fine?!?!?
Angie

[Kaybo]

Angie~
I have noticed, but have never told anyone, that I have more "dead" (dry) skin on that side.  YUCK!  I am so glad it is befind my ear & not really visible!  Also, i wear the same earrings ALL the time - never remove, rarely ever change - when I do take them off to clean, it is always because my AN side has crud on it.  In fact, that ear has it around where the earring would be - that is why I try to be so diligent in taking it off b/c I don't my "crusty" ear to show around my earring!!  You're not alone...

K

[yardtick]

Angie,

Could you have a reaction to the metal in the screws?  I had a plate and seven screws in my ankle that had to be removed because there was a tiny amount of nickel in them and I reacted.  It was very tender and sore.  That area on my ankle is still sensitive four years later.

Just a thought,
Anne Marie