Life after Brain Surgery: How to Speed up Recovery

Brain surgery is a common term that is used to describe any surgery that is used to repair any brain structure problem. There are various types of brain surgery.

Why Is Brain Surgery Needed?

Brain surgery is essentially required when there is any type of physical problem in your brain which can be caused due to injury, birth defect or disease among other reasons. The following are some of the conditions in which you will need to have brain surgery.

• If your skull was fractured.
• If you have abnormal blood vessels.
• If you have a brain tumour.
• If there is bleeding in your brain.
• If fluid built-up is present in the brain.
• If there is an aneurysm.
• If there are abscesses.
• If you have Parkinson’s disease.
• If you have a stroke.
• If you have blood clots in your brain.
• If you have epilepsy.
• If your nerves have been damaged.
• If you the dura tissue has been damaged.
• If you had a head injury.

Questions To Ask The Surgeon Before The Surgery

You should always make a list of questions you want to ask your surgeon so that you are prepared for your surgery. The following are some of the questions that you should ask your surgeon.

• Are there any medicines that I should stop taking before the surgery?
• How long before the surgery can I eat and drink?
• How long will I be required to stay at the hospital?
• What are the risks involved?
• What can I expect to experience after the surgery?
• When will I be allowed to get back to my normal activities?
• Will the quality of life change after surgery?

If you have any other questions apart from these, then don’t feel ashamed to ask your surgeon. You want to be mentally and physically prepared before the surgery because it will ensure a smooth surgery experience.

How Brain Surgery Procedure Is Done

The way the brain surgery is done depends on the type of brain surgery. This, in turn, depends on the condition that needs to be treated and the area of the brain that needs treatment. However, doctors agree that brain surgery is a complicated procedure. Brain surgery might require an incision to be made in your head or an area close to your head. For example, in the case of a brain aneurysm rupture, you might need to have a brain surgery called craniotomy. This is an open surgery of the brain that is done through an incision. This might be required when there is abnormal brain tissue, a tumour, or to drain fluid or blood.

If the brain aneurysm hasn’t ruptured then a catheter can be used instead. This involves the use of a catheter that is guided through an artery in the groin. Another brain surgery option is minimally invasive neuroendoscopy surgery which makes use of endoscopes to remove tumours in the brain by making small holes in the skull. Minimally invasive endonasal endoscopic surgery allows your surgeon or doctor to remove lesions through your nose. This is highly useful when removing pituitary gland tumours or those that are present at the brain’s bottom part.

Another brain surgery method is the deep brain stimulation which involves making only a small hole in the skull. It is similar to the biopsy process. As technology has advanced, surgery methods without incision are also available to patients. The brain surgery method best suitable for you will be determined by your doctor after diagnosis and analyzing the test results. You might be a good candidate for one type of surgery which is the one that your doctor will recommend for you. Every case is different which is why your surgeon will thoroughly analyze to determine the best course of action.

Road To Recovery: Points To Consider

Here are some things you can expect during the recovery process.

• You will be required to stay in the hospital for a few days after surgery. This depends entirely on the type of surgery and whether there were any complications or not. You will be closely monitored during this time.
• You will need rest and a lot of it at times due to the prescription medicines given to you. You should get all the rest you need but try and incorporate things you love so that you look forward to each new day.
• You might feel confused about a lot of things and this is normal. It takes time to get back to normal. For example, you will feel hungrier, thirstier, and might be confused about a lot of simple things. Speak to your doctor if it is getting too much.
• The entire recovery time will take some time. That is, complete healing will take time and you should be prepared for that mentally. You can speak to your doctor and family if you are having difficulty with your emotions.

How you recover and how soon your recover will depend on the brain surgery performed and how you responded to it. If you have any questions, make sure you speak to your surgeon.