ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Facial Issues => Topic started by: reg on June 11, 2009, 03:01:41 pm
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i had an appt with one of my surgical team doctors (fukishima) last week he said or i think he said everything was going alright. iam 2.5years post-op and had difficulties associated with the surgery. i done research on decompression surgery and ask if i was a good canidate to which he replied no. he examined my mri's one this year one last and he showed me where the source of my unsteadiness was according to him. i thought there was a procedure for it (balance, facial tightness, periphiral nuerapthy etc) but he didnt, needless to say i was disccouraged that point. his office asst lori explained a lot to me she said i was still healing and that my trigerminal nerve had been badly bruised during the surgery she also said that my facial movement or symmertry was at 85% so there was no need for decompression surgery. iam posting to say everyone is different and dont give up some days will be better than others
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reg .....
So sorry you are continuing to have difficulties post-op. Just wanted to say I also had Dr. Fukushima ..... but fortunately my AN was much smaller than yours (2+cm) and I had an excellent result from surgery. Lori was wonderful throughout the entire process so feel free to call her with any concerns you may have.
As you already know, this Forum is a wonderful support group, as well, so keep coming back here.
Clarice
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Hi Reg,
Always good to hear comforting words. Thanks for sharing.
Vivian
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reg, what does decompression surgery involve?
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Decompression surgery is a procedure in which a neurosurgeon performs a craniotomy and then follows along a certain nerve looking for places where it is compressed, usually by a blood vessel. Over time such compressions cause demyelinization which causes corruption in the signal that the brain receives from the nerve.
It is most often performed for trigeminal neuralgia (compressions on the fifth cranial nerve) and for hemifacial spasm (compressions on the seventh cranial nerve). It is less commonly used for particular cases of Bell's Palsy.
I had hemifacial spasm; the MVD in my signature line stands for microvascular decompression.
Sara
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thanks sara
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Reg ~
I was sorry to learn of your ongoing issues this far post-op but I agree that you can never submit to despair or resignation over these deficits. As you noted, some days will always be better than others and tomorrow is always the opportunity for a better day. :)
Jim