Hello everyone. I am 6 weeks post op today. Everything is going good. However, has anyone experienced a lump or swelling around the incision sight? I have this lump (soft) at the base of my incision. It is about the diameter of a silver dollar. I was just wondering if anyone else experienced that. Also, has anyone experienced tightness around the head. I've noticed it more when I get tired and it is getting better and better as the days go by. Also, one other thing. Has anyone experienced numbness in hands and feet. Usually when I get tired. They (Stanford) states this is normal and should slowly improve. It is slowly improving...but I was just wondering if anyone else has had these experiences.

Thank you.

Reagan

Hi Reagan,

I've had no experience with a lump, other than when I wore my old glasses for a couple of weeks shortly after surgery. I didn't think they were too tight but the limbs kind of made an indentation over the incisions. I decided that as I'd spend a mint on the surgery, it would be senseless not to spend the extra dollars for some light-weight, rimless, wire-limbed specs - no more dents.

I did experience tightness around the head, especially around the incisions - but not recently (I'm about five months post-op).

I still occasionally experience a bit of numbness in my left forearm and hand and sometimes around my mouth. Less and less so with each passing day. Those are the areas where I felt the effects of my small strokes, so it may be due to that.  Initially it was when I was tired, but sometimes I still feel it a bit in my hand when gripping the steering wheel of the car. I found that the more consistently I exercise (water aerobics and swimming five days a week) the less frequently I experience the numbess. Maybe learning those new movements in the water aerobics class is helping to reprogram my brain around the injured areas or maybe it's just the passage of time that's causing the improvement.

As time passes. I find myself forgetting some of the recovery process until someone here posts a question. I was fortunate in that I kept in touch with a wonderful woman I met there at Stanford who had surgery at the same time as me. We were able to compare notes throughout our recoveries - we still do. It would be helpful, I think if there was a comprehensive list available in one place, either located on this site or on the Stanford site, of what to expect during the recovery period - especially what is normal and what is not. Also information about ID bracelets, novacaine when visiting the dentist, flying and diving, ... It's all here on this site, but you have to know what to search for to find it or just happen to stumble across it when reading the archives, which requires a lot of reading. If you read this D.J., maybe - in your spare time  ;) ...

Hope this is of some help to you.
Kim

Hi Reagan,  I still have numbness in my hands and arms when I drive alot. I had surgery in 2003. I just have to not overdo. It does improve.
Take care, Sharon

Hi Regan,

Here are a few prior threads where similiar experiences were discussed.

Throbbing sensation?:
http://www.moyamoya.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=news;action=display;num=1141686847

Pain at scar:
http://www.moyamoya.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=news;action=display;num=1168484891

Scalp Pain 1 week after surgery:
http://www.moyamoya.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=news;action=display;num=1117182732

I hope it helps, and that you're feeling better soon. You've been through alot, God love ya. I'm very proud of you. It takes time, hang in there!

Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

Mar

Hi Reagan,

It'll take some time before the swelling goes down completely.  My surgeries will be going on 2 years this month.  Time sure flew by.  Going back to the subject of swelling.  It took a few months before the swelling was completely down for me.  I can still feel the spot where the put back the bone in my skull (I can still feel the screws).  I cannot actually see where the incision was, but if I rub my fingers over the incision, I can feel a little bump on both sides of my head (nothing to be alarmed about).  It doesn't bother me, but when it gets cold or if I'm in an area where it's colder than usual, I can feel some throbbing (like slight headache) at the sides of my head.  Other than that, no problems.  Also, I was bruising easily due to the aspirin thinning my blood too much, the bruisin started to go away once they switched me to low-dose aspirin.  All my bruises were gone within a month or so after surgeries.  I'm not sure if my info helps....I hope it does. ;)

Aloha,
Jan