ANA Discussion Forum

General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: Charlotte Lady on November 08, 2007, 07:40:52 am

Title: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: Charlotte Lady on November 08, 2007, 07:40:52 am: 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
Title: Re: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: leapyrtwins on November 08, 2007, 09:35:44 am: 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
Title: Re: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: Boppie on November 08, 2007, 11:50:18 am: 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.
Title: Re: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: Yvette on November 08, 2007, 11:06:34 pm: 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
Title: Re: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: 4cm in Pacific Northwest on November 09, 2007, 01:59:16 pm: Too funny, :D

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 wonderÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ LOL)

I found this thread (advanced search Ã¢â‚¬Å“scalpÃ¢â‚¬?) ;D

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 8) now and part of our AN family)

Sister ;) Boppie is rightÃ¢â‚¬Â¦

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 Ã¢â‚¬Â¦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 Ã¢â‚¬Å“Keep Moving Forward!Ã¢â‚¬?
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")
Title: Re: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: lori67 on November 09, 2007, 04:28:06 pm: 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
Title: Re: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: Charlotte Lady on November 11, 2007, 09:29:32 pm: 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
Title: Re: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: Patti on November 12, 2007, 08:30:48 am: 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
Title: Re: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: Static on November 14, 2007, 08:21:10 pm: 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
Title: Re: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: Catflower on November 15, 2007, 10:51:09 am: Quote from: Patti on November 12, 2007, 08:30:48 am
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
Title: Re: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: Charlotte Lady on November 15, 2007, 06:03:46 pm: Quote from: Catflower on November 15, 2007, 10:51:09 am
Quote from: Patti on November 12, 2007, 08:30:48 am
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
Title: Re: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: 4cm in Pacific Northwest on November 15, 2007, 07:18:31 pm: 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 ;D :D ;)

Every patient is different...

My too cool for words teen 8) told me today "oh ya Mom - you are different!"

Cheers,

4 :)
Title: Re: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: Patti on November 18, 2007, 01:37:35 pm: 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
Title: Re: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: Suziq68 on June 18, 2017, 09:04:42 pm: 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.
Title: Re: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: lark114 on July 28, 2017, 03:15:08 pm: 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.
Title: Re: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: JLR on July 28, 2017, 06:23:18 pm: Oh yes my head often itches like crazy. Have gone thru a ton of different shampoos. I too think it's the nerves causing the itch. The incision often aches and itches. Another miserable part of this post op journey. Stay well all. Joan
Title: Re: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: Jet747 on August 06, 2017, 01:17:40 pm: JLR et al,

I'm not sure if it it will help itchy scalp, but I had cortezone injected into my scar and haven't had nearly the itching sensation that I previously had.

The cortezone shots had 2 effects, reduced scar swelling and took away that feeling of needing to itch all the time.

I had this done by a general dermatologist, I think I paid around $100 which was well worth it!

BR,
Jet
Title: Re: Something no one mentions-scalp itching post op.
Post by: Skillern on August 07, 2017, 12:14:30 am: Quote from: Jete747 on August 06, 2017, 01:17:40 pm
JLR et al,

I'm not sure if it it will help itchy scalp, but I had cortezone injected into my scar and haven't had nearly the itching sensation that I previously had.

I get the itching too. I use a cream called Cicalfate and that helps.