Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.

[Charlotte Lady]

I have yet to see a post about this but the absolute most bothersome trivial problem I have is itching of my scalp in the numb parts.  I use ice and Scalpacin to relieve that.  They work somewhat. 

It drives me nuts.  How can a spot which has no feeling itch? It's just wrong, I tell you 

When I scratch, I get no relief whatsoever. 

Donna

[leapyrtwins]

I'm a little over 5 months post op and I don't have this problem; never did.

Have you tried a dandruff shampoo - like Tegrin or Head & Shoulders?  Not that you have dandruff, but they are supposed to help with itchy scalp.  Maybe you could get some relief that way.

Just a thought.

Jan

[Boppie]

Donna, I've had itchy neck line and back of the head issues since surgery.  My hair hurts sometimes.  It seems as though the nerves in my scalp are reconnecting.  I had the hair hurting issue going on for a few years before diagnosis.  Once I checked in with my PCP to see if I was having a stroke because my scalp hurt so much.  I thought I had pressure in my head. 

I note that your surgery was some time in October.  Your incision might be throwing out some of the dead skin, sealant or a knot or two.  I had two issues with the itchy bumps from that.  I'd continue to use a mild shampoo and suds up three times instead of moving to an antidandruff shampoo. 

[Yvette]

How long ago was your surgery Donna? I don't see any bio info on ya. I mildly itched along the incision for a couple of months after surgery. It is weird how a numb spot can itch! Yvette

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

Too funny,

About a month after surgery I too had itchy flakey scalp issues and was frantically trying to find answers on this very forum (while scratching my head in wonder… LOL)

I found this thread (advanced search “scalpâ€?) 

http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=4048.0

I discovered what I had was a normal AN postie experience.  (See you ARE one of us  now and part of our AN family)

Sister     Boppie is right…


Remember that they made an incision in your scalp and pulled all that hair and skin back (with clamps pins etc gross thought huh?) for a few hours ...while they went into your skull by drilling a big ole hole …and dissected the tumor from your brain. Some cells and hair follicles will no doubt get damaged when they do that.

The itchy scalp is the healing process. Itching is good actually- nerves etc are regenerating in that incision area.

Time to throw an itchy scalp party here on the forum.
This is one of those wacky signs that you are healing!


Three cheers for Donna!

  Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray!  
Keep healing and “Keep Moving Forward!�
Cheers,

4

P.S. Guess what big flakes of dandruff and some hair falling out on the pillow is next.It means you are healing... lets us know when that happens and we'll have another party.
http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=3914.0
It WILL settle down eventually
 (Life is to be celebrated- especially "healing")

[lori67]

Oh yeah, I remember the itchiness!  Fortunately, I had my four year old saying "Mom, no scratching" every time she saw me trying!!  It is a weird feeling that you can feel the itch, but you can't feel yourself scratching the itch!

It did get better though.  In the mean time, I'd be happy to send you my now 5 year old!   
Lori

[Charlotte Lady]

Lori-
I'll take your five year old if she can rake leaves


4-
I laughed at the thread about the lice.  My friend looked at my scalp and asked why I had white thread coming out of my incision.  Eeeks.  Of course it was dry skin or scab. 

As for the rest of y'all, I have never thought about what was done to my poor brain.  I never even really thought about them shoving my brain around during a suboccipital craniotomy.  Eeewwww.  Oh and clamps!?!?!?!


Donna

[Patti]

just to let you know-i am 7 years post-op and still get extremely itchy on my numb parts-especially at night when i am tired.  you get used to it.  patti

[Static]

I am almost 4 years out and I get the itchies on my head all the time all around the incision area!  I always tell my daughter that I have cooties!
~Karen

[Catflower]

just to let you know-i am 7 years post-op and still get extremely itchy on my numb parts-especially at night when i am tired.  you get used to it.  patti

Are you saying that after 7 years your scalp is still numb?  I was hoping that was going to get better.

Linda in WV

[Charlotte Lady]

just to let you know-i am 7 years post-op and still get extremely itchy on my numb parts-especially at night when i am tired.  you get used to it.  patti

Are you saying that after 7 years your scalp is still numb?  I was hoping that was going to get better.

Linda in WV

me too!

donna

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

3 months post op ... NO numb skull

Oh that sounds weird... I mean my "skull is not numb" anymore...

Ok Ok sometimes I can be a numskull LOL

Every patient is different...

My too cool for words teen  told me today "oh ya Mom - you are different!"

Cheers,

4

[Patti]

sorry, but yes i have a numb skull (he he) and face after 7 years.  the real problem is that i have a numb eye and injure the cornea with out feeling pain.  i also bite my cheek often.  chocking is an issue because i don't feel things as they go down that side of my mouth.  it's all under control now except the eye stuff - an ongoing saga.  boy-i am like the character "debbie downer" from SNL.  really-i am ok- even great sometimes!  patti 

[Suziq68]

I had a brain tumor removed in May of 2016 in the right frontal lobe. For the last year, the area in which the metal plate sits is still numb but itches like crazy.  For awhile I would get so frustrated until I came across the best spray  ever.  Palmers coconut oil strong roots hair spray immediately stops your scalp from itching and the itching goes away for at least 12 hours. 

[lark114]

Guess what?  My surgery was 2 years ago and sometimes my incision and the area around it still gets so itchy that I want to rip my incision open to scratch it.  My best guess is that the itching is caused by nerve endings getting cut during the surgery and that eventually it will decrease.