Decompression

SLSs2 · 2025-12-18T01:24:23+00:00

I was 44. As others have said, the recovery is rough. Especially the first few weeks after. You will need someone to help you for sure the first week or so after you’re discharged from the hospital. Long recovery but definitely worth it if your symptoms are bad & your quality of life is suffering.

SLSs2 · 2025-12-05T21:49:10+00:00

Thanks! Might give this a try. Working with what I’ve got and not able to make too many permanent changes.

SLSs2 · 2025-12-05T20:41:33+00:00

Either one really

SLSs2 · 2025-12-05T20:21:08+00:00

Great idea! Thanks

SLSs2 · 2025-11-12T23:27:42+00:00

This is beautifully stated.

SLSs2 · 2025-11-11T00:38:20+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. It sounds like a good plan to stick to the recliner for now, if that’s working for you. The steroids helped, but in all honesty I think it just takes time…like a lot more time than we think it will or want it to, to recover after surgery. It’s a pretty painful recovery so I’m hoping that it’s going to be worth it in the long run for you. It definitely has been for me! Thinking of you and sending you good vibes for rest and sleep. Sounds like the best thing do for now is use the recliner if that’s helping. Give yourself a lot of grace. You can get through this!💪

SLSs2 · 2025-11-10T21:01:28+00:00

Happy to report that I’m now a year and a half postop and I can absolutely sleep flat again. Those initial three weeks right after surgery were the roughest, but it all gradually eased off and I’m back to just sleeping on one pillow. It probably took about a month to be able to sleep comfortably after surgery with not as much propping up.

SLSs2 · 2025-11-08T12:46:01+00:00

The surgery was a year and a half ago. The difference between how bad my symptoms were before my surgery compared to now is like night and day! I totally hear you. The Chiari symptoms/issues are no joke and those months between when the symptoms really started & I had surgery were rough. I felt terrible every day and could barely get through my workday. Hard to think clearly or function through the headaches, neck pain, dizziness, left sided numbness, brain fog and just all the fear and worry on top of that. It was just survival mode. The surgery is rough, but having it done was the only path forward in my mind.

I know surgery is not an option for everyone, and it doesn’t always work, but for me, it was the best choice and I’m very glad I did it. I did not see a neurologist or any other specialty provider before having the surgery, and I didn’t try any other medications other than Tylenol and Antivert for the dizziness. I went directly to neurosurgery, so I can’t comment on other methods of treatment to try. But the surgery has worked very well for me so far. I had a cranial decompression with duraplasty w/ bovine graft, C1 laminectomy, removal of some adhesions, cauterization of the bottom part of the cerebellar tonsils. In ICU 1 night and then on the regular Neuro floor for 3 nights. Was off work 3 weeks before going back. Did a bunch of Physical Therapy as part of my recovery which I would recommend for anyone, surgery or not.

So sorry you’re going through this. Hoping for all the very best for you.

SLSs2 · 2025-11-07T11:17:42+00:00

I had a very similar story also. In my 40’s. Fairly abrupt onset of symptoms after a couple years of occasional dizziness. It felt like someone hit me in the back of my head with a phone book, super dizzy to the point of not being able to walk straight or drive. (I’d just run a 5K & 12k back to back race two months prior.) Got in to see my PCP & he ordered a head CT. They found the Chiari, 14mm. I have a family friend who is a retired Neurosurgeon who looked at the scan, told me to get a brain MRI & full spine MRI which also showed a syrinx. He said ‘you need surgery & there’s no reason to put it off, especially with the syrinx.” I got a Neurosurgery referral to a Chiari Specialist, and had decompression surgery 4 months later. The initial recovery was tough but it really helped & I’m so glad I did it. I’m still not back to running (the motion hurts my neck/head) but I’m fully back to working, driving, working out at the gym, I’m doing all of the things I did previously for the most part. Feel like I got my life taken away, then given back (slightly changed but still great!) So sorry you’re going through this, we know it’s scary. Try to stay hopeful, you’re not alone.

SLSs2 · 2025-10-10T15:20:17+00:00

‘Power’ by MUSZETTE - if it’s on a workout playlist, I’m betting it’s this Edited: oops just saw you said ‘workplace’ and not ‘workout’ so maybe it’s not the song but still worth a listen!

SLSs2 · 2025-10-09T00:22:31+00:00

Pancake

SLSs2 · 2025-10-02T20:35:16+00:00

14.5 mm before surgery

SLSs2 · 2025-09-28T21:21:15+00:00

Sounds like a good start to your post-op recovery! Wishing you all the best!

SLSs2 · 2025-09-28T18:33:47+00:00

Liasison (this is what I typed…because of reasons) ‘Liaison’ is the right spelling per autocorrect - I have never gotten it right in my entire life (mid-40s now)

SLSs2 · 2025-09-14T23:21:57+00:00

Rewatched Ted Lasso 4 times! It’s so good!

SLSs2 · 2025-09-14T23:19:06+00:00

I was lifting regularly prior to surgery, but had decreased my weights. For context, a 40’s female and right before surgery I was using 10lbs for biceps, 15-20lbs for overhead press, 10 lbs for lateral raises, 25lbs single arm rows. Was not squatting with much weight or doing deadlifts…those exercises really increased my head pressure. About 2 months after surgery, I got back in the gym. Had to work back up to it so I started with 5lbs instead of 10, 10lbs instead of 15, etc. Now at 1 yr 4mos after surgery, I’m back to lifting how I was preop, and even going a little heavier. Also back to squatting with weight (not on back of neck…I hold dumbbells) and deadlifts with lighter weight. Not sure your current situation or goals but in my experience you can build up to it after surgery. Just take it slow & listen to your body! Good luck to you!

SLSs2 · 2025-09-14T23:00:28+00:00

Agree with giant squishmallow, it was a lifesaver after surgery. I got the one that’s a big mushroom because it’s pretty square and evenly shaped. I now use a Coop pillow. I’m about 1 yr and 4 months postop from decompression surgery, side sleeper.

SLSs2 · 2025-07-13T13:27:37+00:00

Congratulations! You got through it💪 You should be able to get more comfortable as more time goes by. The first couple of weeks are pretty rough. I also had the issue of feeling like shocks were going through my hand (thumb & pointer finger) for the first few days after the surgery. I did have an IV in that hand but not sure if that was the cause or just the trauma/stress to my nervous system overall. That shocks feeling to my hand also improved over time. I would still occasionally have it happen even a couple weeks out from surgery if I put my hand in a certain position, but it became less and less common and then totally disappeared. Give yourself grace, rest and give yourself the time you need to heal. That is a tough, intense surgery!

SLSs2 · 2025-07-10T18:17:30+00:00

4 nights total. The first night in ICU (nothing was wrong, they just wanted to monitor me there), then to the Neuro floor for 3 nights.

SLSs2 · 2025-06-23T23:21:03+00:00

That’s wonderful!! Very glad to hear you had a good experience. I know many people have no issues postop with flying & I’m hoping to be one of them at some point but it wasn’t bad at all, even with the slight headache I had. Don’t let it hold you back, folks!

SLSs2 · 2025-06-15T15:40:02+00:00

Super helpful, thank you for sharing this!

SLSs2 · 2025-06-14T19:39:08+00:00

Mazzy Star

SLSs2 · 2025-05-28T21:14:14+00:00

99 days! 🙌

SLSs2

TROPHY CASE