You undoubtedly have lots of questions about what you can expect with your microvascular decompression surgery. Understanding the process from start to finish can help alleviate any concerns you might have.
If you have trigeminal neuralgia or hemifacial spasm, there are many different treatments available to help treat your condition. One of the most definitive treatments is a surgical procedure called microvascular decompression. When considering microvascular decompression surgery, it is important to know about the operation and the expected recovery timeline after surgery.
Trigeminal neuralgia is often caused by irritation of your trigeminal nerve. This is your 5th cranial nerve, and it innervates areas of your face and jaw. When this nerve becomes irritated, you may experience facial pain or electric-like shocks of pain in your face, jaw or around your eye.
Hemifacial spasm is caused by irritation of your 7th cranial nerve, called the facial nerve. This nerve moves the muscles around your face, jaw and cheek. The facial nerve may also become irritated, causing your symptoms.
Sometimes, lesions like a cyst or tumor can cause irritation of your trigeminal or facial nerve. Most often, your nerves become irritated by an artery or vein that resides nearby. When the artery rubs against the nerve, it can disrupt the normal transmission of signals through it and cause pain or facial spasm. If you are experiencing any facial symptom, you should check in with your doctor to see if microvascular decompression surgery is the right procedure for you.
What is Microvascular Decompression Surgery?
Microvascular decompression surgery is a procedure that is done to relieve pressure from your trigeminal or facial nerve. During this procedure, your doctor will make a tiny incision behind your ear, and your nerves will be located. Then, a small Teflon pad will be placed between your nerve and its neighboring artery, removing pressure from the nerve.
Benefits of Microvascular Decompression
There are many benefit of microvascular decompression for facial pain. These may include:
- Rapid abatement of your pain
- Long lasting relief of your symptoms
- Low risk of facial pain or spasm recurrence
- Safe procedure with low risk of infection or blood loss
Of course, microvascular decompression surgery is an open brain surgery. All surgery carries with it, some risk. Knowing all the risks and benefits of any surgical procedure is a good idea. Working with a top-rated NJ neurosurgeon for your microvascular decompression can help you have the best possible experience with surgery. Your doctor can explain to you the procedure and what to expect during your recovery as well.
Microvascular Decompression: What to Expect
On the day of your surgery, you will report to the hospital and the pre-op nursing staff will prepare you for surgery by starting an intravenous line. Your neurosurgeon will meet with you to see how you are feeling and to review the surgery one more time. You will then be brought to the operating room, and general anesthesia will be administered so the doctor can perform the procedure.
Recovery in the Hospital
When you awaken from the anesthesia, you will spend about an hour before being moved to the intensive care unit (ICU). This is just a precaution; the specialized staff in the ICU can ensure that you are recovering properly from the surgery. Your doctor will check on you in the ICU to see how your symptoms are and how you are feeling. During this 24-hour period, you can expect to take it slow. Your nursing staff will help you up into a chair and make sure that you are eating and voiding normally.
After a day in the ICU, you will be transferred to a standard hospital room to continue your inpatient recovery after microvascular decompression surgery. There, you will be expected to start walking — initially with assistance, and then independently — and start increasing your activity level. Your doctor will continue to check on you to monitor your symptoms and to be sure that things are healing properly. After two to three days in the hospital, most patients are ready to go home.
Recovery At Home
Once you are home from the hospital following your microvascular decompression surgery, you should continue to gradually increase your activity level. You will need to avoid certain activities, including:
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- Heavy lifting
- Frequent forward bending
- Vigorous exercise
Expect to feel slightly fatigued from basic activity. Walking a bit each day can help you gradually regain your endurance and maintain flexibility. While at home, watch for any signs of infection from your incision. Your doctor can tell you specifically what to watch for. In general, signs of infection may include:
- Pain
- Discharge of blood or pus
- Increased tissue temperature
- Redness
If you have any questions or concerns about your incision, you should contact your doctor right away.
Week One
A week or so after your discharge from the hospital, you will have an appointment with your doctor for a checkup. He will monitor your symptoms — many patients are free of facial pain at this point — and he will check the integrity of your surgical incision. During this appointment, you can discuss returning to work with your doctor. If your job requires heavy lifting or high physical activity, you may be required to remain out of work for an extra week or so.
Weeks Two and Three
By the second or third week after surgery, you should be feeling back to your normal self again. At this time, you can expect to start liberalizing your activities and returning to more intense exercise. Continue monitoring your symptoms, and follow up with your doctor as instructed to ensure that things are going according to plan with your microvascular decompression surgery recovery.
Weeks Four and Beyond
As each day passes, you should start to feel stronger and have more energy. You may even feel better than you did prior to the surgery — pain and discomfort can be draining and take their toll on your overall well-being. Continue to attend your follow-up appointments and report any unusual symptoms to your doctor, should they occur.
Risks
As with any surgery, microvascular decompression surgery carries certain risks. While complications are rare, it’s good to be aware of the potential problems that could arise. Some of the risks that are associated with microvascular decompression include:
- Hearing loss, facial weakness or numbness. Although frightening, in most instances these complications are temporary and will eventually resolve themselves.
- Infection. Any surgery that requires an incision carries the risk of infection. Infections from MVD are rare; the small incision and lack of tissue exposure to the surrounding air decrease this risk somewhat.
- Stroke or hemorrhage. This is a very rare problem that can follow microvascular decompression surgery. If you or someone in your family has a history of either of these issues, be sure to discuss them with your surgeon.
Spinal fluid leak. Because the nerves and blood vessels involved with microvascular decompression surgery lie within the spinal column structure, there is a small chance of a spinal fluid leak occurring. Your surgeon will take all precautions to minimize this risk.
