Lump by screw from gamma knife surgery, anyone else?

Posted by jmb73 @jmb73, Aug 12, 2019

I have a lump where the screw was put in for my gamma surgery. It has become painful and I am not sure if I should see my PC or neuro surgeon or just leave it alone. I had my Gamma surgery on Jan 11. Has anyone had this problem?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Brain Tumor Support Group.

@pegorr

Hi, Along with multiple brain tumors, my MRI also indicates an empty sella. I'm not sure what that means and it doesn't seem like my doctors are concerned about it. Do you think I should be. Wondering what you found out. I didn't have a lump from my gamma knife and hope yours is healing. peg

Jump to this post

My neuroogist said that neurosurgeons and neurologists are never worried about an empty sella. However, he said to check with my endocrinologist as it could be a sign of a pituitary issue. My endocrinologist has ordered blood tests to see if I have hypothyroidism. I am always cold, have put on weight and am very tired. Every female in my family has some form of thyroid issue so I might have it. Please keep checking your screw sites. Take care, Joan

REPLY

I saw my PC and she is concerned that they didn't do an MRI of my brain to see if everything is ok. Plus I am having a headache in that area. She thinks the headache might be from arthritis so I am having an MRI of my neck too. The pin site looks healed and the other 2 pin sites that the neuro PA's said were scar tissue have disappeared. I figure they were related to the infection too. I should be used to MRI's but I am not looking forward to 45+minutes in the machine but I do want answers. She also is sending me to a new endocronlogist.

REPLY

Hi Joan, Glad the infection has cleared up! You may already know about wide bore MRI's, but if not, ask for one whenever you need an MRI. I am very claustrophobic and I always request a wide boar machine. It is a little wider on the sides, so you don't feel as closed in. Also, a mirror helps a lot. The mirror enables you to look in the mirror above your face and see out of the machine. You can see your legs and feet and you can see through to the glass and see the tech who sits behind the glass during the MRI.
I've been having headaches also for the last few months, but not my usual migraines. These headaches are very sudden onset, severe throbbing all of a sudden and always in my right temple. I had an MRI and MRA (to check for aneurysm) - fortunately, both were normal. I also have neck pain. I thought the headaches were causing the neck pain. You made a great point - maybe it's the other way round and could be my neck pain is causing these headaches. I'm going to look into that … Best wishes and please keep us informed on how you are doing, Jill

REPLY

I had the MRI's of my brain and neck. The tech had said 45minutes but she meant for each MRI so I was in the machine for 1 hour and 1/2. The Diazapan started to wear off after she injected the contrast. It wasn't pleasant but I did it! The infection is cleared from the brain but the neck MRI showed severe arthritis pinching a nerve and that is causing the headache. My PC wants me to go to pain management but I am going to use medical marijuana and it is keeping the pain manageable. My cardiologist is concerned about the pain as it can harm the heart and I have AFIB & PVC's.

REPLY

I didn't finish but hit the enter button by accident! I am concerned that the Diazapan didn't last the 12 hours that the PC said it would. When I had the Gamma surgery, they gave me Versed and I had an opposite reaction. It made me hyper! The nurse gave me my CBD and it calmed me down. The Dr. had told me to bring my CBD with me. I strongly recommend CBD for pain. I take .7mmCBD with .3 of THC and it takes the pain away or at least makes it manageable. I also use heat on my neck. I am afraid of neck surgery since I have such a low immune system especially IgM. Jill, you might have the same problem with arthritis in you neck and bone spurs pushing on your nerve. My PC showed me a picture of the nerve that goes from your neck to the top of your head and that is exactly where the pain/headache is. Sometimes it is severe - like now- and I am waiting for the CBD to kick in. Good luck and let me know how you feel and if your Dr. thinks it could be from the neck. Joan

REPLY

The MRI showed arthritis in the area where the nerves leave the spinal cord and my PC thinks that is causing the headaches. But the headaches are right at the pin site. The pain is severe at times and I wonder if the neurosurgeon hit a nerve when he screwed them in. My PC wants me to see a pain doc for a nerve bloc but I have had them in my hand and feet and they didn't work but they did hurt so I don't want one. The meningioma is stable. Any ideas?

REPLY
@jmb73

The MRI showed arthritis in the area where the nerves leave the spinal cord and my PC thinks that is causing the headaches. But the headaches are right at the pin site. The pain is severe at times and I wonder if the neurosurgeon hit a nerve when he screwed them in. My PC wants me to see a pain doc for a nerve bloc but I have had them in my hand and feet and they didn't work but they did hurt so I don't want one. The meningioma is stable. Any ideas?

Jump to this post

Hi, @jmb73 - sounds like you have questions about the cause of the headache and are uncertain about the nerve block direction your PC suggested. Have you checked back with your neurosurgeon or someone on his or her team about the pain at the site of the pins? If so, what did they say?

REPLY

I have not contacted my neurosurgeon as my PC said it was arthritis where the nerves leave the spinal cord. Do you think I should still check with him or his staff? The MRI showed the meningioma hadn't grown. Thanks

REPLY
@lisalucier

Hi, @jmb73 - sounds like you have questions about the cause of the headache and are uncertain about the nerve block direction your PC suggested. Have you checked back with your neurosurgeon or someone on his or her team about the pain at the site of the pins? If so, what did they say?

Jump to this post

I contacted my neurosurgeon and was told that the headache was not related to my gamma surgery or the pin site infection and to see a neurologist. My PC wants me to do PT so I will start that on 1/31. I don't know if I will be able to do the exercises as I have labyrinth vertigo. I just might keep putting my heating pad on it and using CBD &THC as they keep it under control.

REPLY
@jmb73

I contacted my neurosurgeon and was told that the headache was not related to my gamma surgery or the pin site infection and to see a neurologist. My PC wants me to do PT so I will start that on 1/31. I don't know if I will be able to do the exercises as I have labyrinth vertigo. I just might keep putting my heating pad on it and using CBD &THC as they keep it under control.

Jump to this post

I really don't have any headaches but I do use every evening CBD Oil and it does help to relax and I can sleep very well.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.