“Recovery from craniotomy?”
I had a craniotomy done two weeks ago, after a serious car crash gave me a head injury. I was advised by my doctor to perform walking exercises since I got back from the hospital, and I've been following his rules, but I still have trouble concentrating on things. Is this normal for two weeks after the surgery?
16 Answers
Hello. If you had a head injury, AKA traumatic brain injury (TBI) that requires a craniotomy, it is more likely the trouble with concentration is due to the effect of the original brain trauma rather than the surgery. Usually head trauma severe enough to cause a injury that requires a craniotomy will be at least cause concussion type symptoms, such as poor concentration. It should improved usually in a few weeks to a few months. Some patient will require a consultation with concussion specialist and rehab.
It is normal to still have post traumatic issues like decreased concentration at 2 weeks post head trauma.
It is normal. It takes three to four months to heal.
It’s normal for the head injury. It can last weeks, months, or a lifetime.
Recovery from craniotomy can take several months. It is a slow and steady process. Please don’t get frustrated. Definitely light excercise is a great idea, it always increases blood circulation, which is a key factor for healing.
Try to challenge your brain at a slow pace by repeating the tasks and you will notice improvement. Try to get at least 8 hrs of sleep at night time, and if possible, avoid napping during the daytime.
Best wishes
Try to challenge your brain at a slow pace by repeating the tasks and you will notice improvement. Try to get at least 8 hrs of sleep at night time, and if possible, avoid napping during the daytime.
Best wishes
Yes, quite possibly you might have had a concussion
It is common for patients to have trouble concentrating this early on after a craniotomy. Depending on the extent of the injury and the surgery performed, the duration may vary. I would encourage you to follow up with your surgeon for evaluation for possible cognitive therapy.
It is common following severe head injuries as you must have had after the car crash. You might see if there are programs for neuropsych rehab in your area. Might help.
Recovery from a serious head injury and craniotomy can take a long time. Trouble concentrating, trouble with temper, trouble learning are all quite common after a serious head injury whether or not surgery is done.
Jacob Januszewski
Neurosurgeon
In cases of high velocity trauma, such as yours, requiring craniotomy for intracranial pressure management or evacuation of a traumatic hematoma, you may have also suffered any form of traumatic brain injury (TBI). There are many levels of TBI, mild to severe, and many symptoms can accompany this. Your problems with concentration may sure be one of those symptoms and may take few weeks to even few months to recover. You may need assistance from a neuropsychiatrist to help you cope with symptoms of traumatic brain injury or post-concussive symptoms.
It's not the surgery, it's the head injury! Even without surgery significant head head trauma can have long lasting effects. A significant concussion with a normal scan and no surgery can often result in "post concussion syndromes" consisting of poor concentration, memory problems, headaches, nausea, dizziness etc. everyone is different but these symptoms can last for months in some people. Concussions have gotten a lot of press recently in sports. Prolonged rest is advised and there are some specialists in concussion that can advise.
Your neurosurgeon would best answer that question for you depending on the extent of your head injury.
Recovery after craniotomy depends on the reason for the surgery. You are dealing with the after effects of your head injury and not after effects of the surgery, itself. Symptoms such as difficulty with concentration, poor memory, trouble performing sequential tasks, reasoning and emotional lability are common after head injuries. These symptoms can persist of several week or even several months and in rare cases, if the injury is very severe, may be permanent. I suggest that you discuss your concerns about these symptoms with your surgeon or neurologist.
Brain is surgery is a "big deal" as I tell my patients. Physical recovery from the surgery tends to happen quicker than the mental recovery. It is normal to have some headaches and concentration trouble after surgery. This usually depends on the type and nature of cranial surgery you had, your age, and why you had the surgery.
The answer to this question depends a great deal on the nature of your injury. Mild traumatic brain injury that does not require surgery sometimes leaves people with headaches or difficulty concentrating. A trauma that was significant enough to require surgery likely represents a greater impact, and as such, can certainly cause residual symptoms. You should follow up with your surgeon if you have concerns, as he would know the details of your situation.
difficulty concentrating after a significant head injury is not an unusual problem. Certainly 2 weeks after craniotomy for a severe head injury is not soon enough to expect every cognitive concentration problem to resolve. You may require some cognitive therapy and reconditioning as part of your recovery. You're treating surgeon we'll be able to determine this when they see you for your postoperative visit. Be certain to inform them about this problem.
