titanium plate

[cally]

I am one year post-surgery (posterior fossa).  I have suffered from chronic headaches which are often triggered by atmospheric pressure and also triggered by coughing or sneezing.  I have been advised  by my neurosurgeon that having a titanium plate fitted over the area of bone loss will help minimize this problem.   Has anyone else had one fitted post-op? Is there anywhere I can find out more details?

[becknell]

This is second-hand information, but I thought I'd mention it since you are asking about the titanium plate. I have a good friend with our AN support group who had a titanium plate put in her head to close the incision when she had her surgery in March. She had a lof of problems, including very severe headaches. The titanium plate had shifted in placement slightly and she felt like it was a problem and she wanted her doctor to remove it. After some back and forth with her doctor, he agreed to remove it in a surgery in late August. And now she said her heaches have completely gone away! I'm not really sure why some doctors close with the titanium plate and some just replace the bone flap.

[cally]

Thanks for that - but my problem is that I haven't had a titanium plate fitted and I am being advised that having one will hellp with my severe headaches.  I am trying to find someone who has had one fitted post-surgery.

[SURI]

I had the titanium mesh in place, connected to the skull with little screws .
It felt weird but it worked for awhile.  Eventually, it became dislodged,
giving me extreme headaches that made it difficult to turn my head.
A nuerosurgeon and specialized plastic surgeon had to open
the scalp clean out the failed titanium plate and surrounding area.
They replaced the titanium with a fitted piece of resin material,that
makes the skull feel more solid. 

[cally]

Nice to hear fom you - will find out if I can have that instead of the titanium plate!

[Kim]

Am 1 yr post-op, have titanium mesh (a very large plate).  Haven't had any problems; how long since surgery, for the person who did?

[kristin]

 

I had the titanium mesh in place, connected to the skull with little screws .
It felt weird but it worked for awhile. Eventually, it became dislodged,
giving me extreme headaches that made it difficult to turn my head.
A nuerosurgeon and specialized plastic surgeon had to open
the scalp clean out the failed titanium plate and surrounding area.
They replaced the titanium with a fitted piece of resin material,that
makes the skull feel more solid.

suri, do you remember how long after your surgery the titanium plate came dislodged? i have been having some pretty tough headaches lately myself, all on the AN side. they're always a quick shooting pain up the left side of my head. my head is kinda concave in that area and i can feel 3 of the 6 screws.

thanks,
kristin

[Mary 117]

Kristen, hey, I've been thinking of you. Sorry to hear about the headaches. I hope you can find something that helps. Maybe it is the plate. Are you still working full-time? Hang in there,
Mary

[kristin]

hi mary!

i am working full time, but just decreased to 72 hrs instead of 80 per pay period. i didn't do it becuase of health, but because i wanted a morning w/ my 6 year old every other week. today was my first day off and so lovely!

no headaches today, so that was great. but the last few mornings i've felt like i had a hangover when i woke up. i figured if i'm gonna feel like i'm having a hangover anyway i might as well drink! just kiddin'!

thanks for thinkin' of me..how are you doing?
kristin