I had gamma knife on September 30,2013. Still having bad pressure headaches and balance is still off. Feel worse now then before the GK.

[Nks425]

Had my bleed on April 25th was starting to feel a little better before the GK now I feel I have went back instead of forward

[kjg001]

Crumbs I know nothing about the gamma knife and what it does I have pressure headaches and balance issues from SAH in feb, just rolling with it and hope to go back to work next year.

[Nks425]

Thanks Kig001

[deedeex]

Hi could I please ask what Gamma Knife is, havn't ever heard of it, and im sure anyone else here who hasn't would be interested to know, for future reference, should anyone else have it that was to come here to chat, we can all say, yes we know all about that, anyway pleased to meet you, im Dee I had a SAH 2010, witch led to a Stroke, with left side weakness, but with support and help from going to the Headway groups, it has made a huge differance, to how I cope with my new way of life now, Ihope where ever you are, your able to attend a Headway group, I couldn't be without mine now. well again Hi and welcome, will no dought speak to you again soon, take care, keep well godbless hun dee x

[Nks425 in reply to deedeex]

Dear deedeex,

I hope this helps sorry for the delay

Gamma Knife Radiosurgery is a non-invasive neurosurgical alternative used for the treatment of malignant and benign brain tumors, vascular malformations and trigeminal neuralgia. The energy of 192 narrow beams of cobalt radiation is focused on a specific target within the brain. Individually, these low-density beams are too weak to cause any significant damage; however, when they converge on the target, they arrest growth and destroy abnormal cells. Healthy brain tissue remains safe and intact. Gamma Knife offers a safe and effective alternative to surgery and whole brain radiation. Gamma Knife Perfexion is the world's most advanced system for stereotactic radiosurgery in the brain.

[vjones2 in reply to Nks425]

were is it i can get seen in uk for this i feel like want big hole in head lot days from pain after sah/stroke 2 pain killers a smartie be better i got told oxegen therpy but im on border wales they said im not able have it here if theres somehwere near old friends i can stay with them ise there post code but my friends from school all over a land mark area please

[Nks425 in reply to vjones2]

I have tried Topimax for the head pain did not work for me. I am now on Gabapentin 300mg and have been for awhile. It's ok I am still not back to where I was before the GK. I have been told Oxygen therapy is not something for me they believe it would not work for me I disagree with them so I keep pushing for it every chance I get. I am now back in the US. Thanks for reply.

[Nks425 in reply to Nks425]

It's 2016 and  I'm still suffering from the head pain. I don't like saying headaches because people have a preconceived idea in their mind about that. My pain increase when I bend my head down. I didn't realize how often we bend our head down  to eat,wash dishes, cut stuff for dinner... I have tried HBOT(oxygen therapy)  it helped lessen the pain for about 6 weeks. Never gone but much more manageable. I had the shots in the back of my head no help. They found mild swelling took steroids for about 2 weeks swelling gone but still have pain in my head. I just had a MRI/MRA nothing is showing up to where they can say that might be the cause. My AVM is gone. I was very blessed it went away in 2 years from when I had the GK surgery. Now if I could get rid of this pain. I take gabpentine 300mg 1 pill three times a day. It helps me to function but there still very difficult at times! If anyone has any suggestions please respond!!! Thank you 

[Gpollard in reply to Nks425]

Is this a viable option for migraine headaches?

[Nks425 in reply to Gpollard]

To be honest I don't know. I had my Gamma Knife Surgery for the AVM in my cerebellum.

I have found out what causes my head pain. When they did the GK there was no neck support. My head was in a head frame and hooked to the machine for an hour and 20 minutes. My head is not on straight ( my family likes to joke that it never was) but seriously it's off and the increased head pain when I bend my head down is due to the spinal fluid not flowing freely. The only thing I have found that works my head pain is a treat called

Atlas Orthogonal look it up and see if it can help you. It's said to be great for migraine sufferers.

It's performed by a chiropractic but no manipulation. Make sure to go to someone who is credited to use the machine. There is a listing of certified chiropractors. Like where I live only one in town. It's made a huge difference. When my head is on straight I feel really good when it's out of alignment I know and go in right away

I hope this helped!

[B_S_A]

I had gamma knife for my AVM, same happened to me, but it settles down after a while

[Nks425 in reply to B_S_A]

Thanks B_S_A I will try to keep this in mind.

[Nks425 in reply to B_S_A]

I’m still waiting for the head pain to stop! BSA are you headache free?

[B_S_A in reply to Nks425]

Mine are still here...they're just less often!

[Mick1971]

Hi Nks

I know mine is not quite the same situation as yours. I had an SAH due to a ruptured basilas tip aneurysm on 19th April this year, it was coiled. I felt like I was making really great progress feeling stronger everyday for a few months but I feel like things started to go back downhill about 6 weeks ago and now am on new medication and have a 'monthly slot' with my gp. Physically I'm not in bad shape, it is mentally (confusion, balance, severe head aches, memory loss etc) that seems to be going backwards. I am however told that it is still early days and this is to be expected. The neurosurgeons seem to talk about a one year timescale while things are still healing and that simptoms can be variable.

[Nks425 in reply to Mick1971]

Thanks Mick 1971

[Codarion]

I had gamma knife surgery in November 2012. Fortunately I haven't had any headaches (before or after), but I'm afraid to say that even a year later I still have balance issues. But as I understand it, it's a slow process - even now the the radiosurgery is still having an effect, the doctors involved still can't say whether it's been successful or not.

I was told however, that if the balance thing became a problem, there's a type of physiotherapy that can help, that may be something you want to discuss with your doctor.

[Wazza84]

I have the same headaches and balance problems after radio-surgery (03/10/2013) I’m told off my GP that headaches will come with brain haemorrhage and radio-surgery.. I find paracetamol are the only solution for my headaches