Had AN surgery 12 years ago. Does any... - Acoustic Neuroma ...
Had AN surgery 12 years ago. Does anyone have persistent itching of face and scalp, feels like nest of ants crawling on skin.
Yes I've had that, can't remember when it started but last year it was a real pain - strangely it seems a lot better now I've binned the shampoo I was using and just use Dove soap to wash my hair (whats left of it) in the shower each day. My op was 26 years ago so can't recall when the itching started. Best wishes, Keith
It might be worth getting a referral to your ENT consultant to find out whether it could be AN-related. Some people have reported this feeling and been told it is nerve regeneration but not sure if that would be the case 12 years after surgery.
Nerve regeneration is pretty much the conclusion I have come to. I know it is a long time since the op but there has also been a significant improvement in the facial paralysis over the years. Referral to ENT consultant could be a bit tricky as he is based at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead and I am in Bedfordshire and not too mobile. Was discharged from the RFH 7 years ago.
Ann you're right about nerve regeneration continuing for years, I'm sure it slows up but keeps going, mind you they don't always seem to make the right connection from some of the strange symptoms I've had over the last 26 years. Best wishes, Keith
I don't have itching, but I occasionally have a feeling of tightness and what feels like muscle spasms on the cheek omn my AN side.
This is probably formication (definitely with an "M"....if I remember correctly formica is Latin for ant). It is generally caused by jangled nerves, and if it involves face that may mean your trigeminal nerve was bothered by the surgery. If it involves scalp, might be an after-effect of scalp trauma during surgery or pressure on one of the nerves that comes off your upper neck. Maybe speak to your GP about medication to help, the ones that are used for nerve pain....perhaps very low dose amitriptyline or gabapentin (there are others too) might help? The medication will have a sedative effect at first, but that should wear off. If you are getting nowhere with medication like that, ask your GP to get phone advice from one of the local pain clinic consultants (not a referral, that'll take many months in most places!) And do make sure the skin is in good condition, as if there is physical irritation that is likely to make it worse. Don't scratch! Try washing with Dermol lotion, and Aveeno is a nice light moisturiser which contains wheat extract which might just help. Let us know how you get on!
That's very interesting, I have some Amtryptiline, I find a whole tablet makes me lethargic in the a.m. so I'll try half and see how I go. My last mri showed the nerves on my op side were all jumbled up. 26 years next week since my surgery and things keep cropping up.
