neck swelling

[Jess]

It has been a little over two months now since my surgery for chiari. I have been improving and feeling much better. I have not been taking pain medicaion for a while now and have reduced the antinflammatories. My mom noticed yesterday that the back of my neck was swollen. It is still pretty swollen today and it has been hurting in the last few days. Is it normal for swelling to be an issue right afte surgery, then get better for a while and come back again? I am only asking because I hope there is not some kind of problem. The swelling is predominately where the last cervical vertabrae is, that bump toward the end of the neck. I have been icing it but the swelling is still there. Any thoughts?

[Keggy]

I would think that is a concern, did you call your surgeon?
I am surprised you are still in pain two months post. My daughter stopped her pain meds within a week of her surgery.

I would not be icing either unless the surgeon (not your primary doc) reccomends it.

[pringlec]

I would definately get the swelling checked. As I've shared in prior posts I also had a hard long recovery, lots of pain but no swelling. That would really concern me. I don't know how old you are (I was 33 when I had my surgery) but I do know that we don't heal as quickly as children. My 13 y/o son also has Chiari but at this time has no symptoms so the doctors just want to monitor him (he has many other medical issues going on now). Part of me does not want him to have surgery now just because of his other medical conditions but another part of me believes he would recover so much better now then when he is older if he did. His doctors don't want to discuss it at this time. What are your thoughts on this?

[Rozia]

Jess it has been a few days , did the sweling go down?

[Jess]

I called and emailed my neurosurgeon and he moved my appointment to Tuesday of next week instead of July 12. The swelling has been coming and going since the begining of June so it is odd. My neck is also really sore all the time still. I am glad the appointment got moved. I will update afterwards. Thanks for all the help.