I underwent heart surgery in July 2020, after which i suffered a stroke (i was in an induced coma for 3 weeks plus so no nothing about it).
The hospital tells me that there were no long term effects from my stroke (short term it shunted my lower jaw to the right a bit and caused my tongue to twist and swell - all of which seems to be going away now) - however, when i touch my head/ skull at the back, the left side (almost exactly in a line like the left hemisphere of my brain) is much more tender than my right side.
One of the consultants has told me this can be nothing to do with the stroke as a stroke is about neurons - but don't those neurons control the effects of touch, feel and action suitable responses, meaning that maybe the stroke has left me with a minor residual effect?
Hi Brand. It's jolly good news that you're recovering well, but isn't it frustrating when medics tell you what an emerged symptom isn't caused by, but don't tell you what might be causing it?
I've not had a stroke and I'm not a medic, but I've had a similar sensation over one side of my head. It was constant for months, but is now fading. I had a couple of procedures on the irritated side of my head, involving inserting a catheter each time into my groin and up into my head. En route, it seems it 'tweaked' a couple of nerves and hey-ho, I ended up with 'tender head' on one side. Also, I have some neck issues that aggravate nerves on the left side of my head and down into my lower jaw as well. Any unusual activity around the head/neck area is laden with risk of irritating a myriad of skull/facial nerves.
Was your stroke a clot or a bleed? If it's a bleed, I'm wondering if you've had an endovascular coil placed? That would have involved inserting a catheter through the groin, and it may have aggravated neck/cranial nerves when being directed up into the head, just as happened with my procedure.
Or, it could be that you were laying in an awkward position for a long time and nerves on the left side of your cervical spine have been irritated/pinched, which can trigger sensation running across that side of your skull as well as the left-side trigeminal nerve that affects your left face and jaw.
Based on my experience, I recommend gentle self-massage of the affected sensitive area of your head with your fingertips (circular motion) for about 10 minutes whenever the tender sensation is present. Get the blood moving over those nerves. You should notice the sensation slowly dissipate if irritated nerves are the problem. Also, it might be worth seeing a good registered physio for neck massage and targeted exercises to release any pinched cervical nerves, but check with your consultant first to make sure they're OK with this.
This strategy worked for me. I hope your head soon settles down too.
My stroke came post Open Heart Surgery - and the hospital only says there is no lasting damage - but then they are heart specialists not stroke specialists, though they do have a stroke section that was called in. All questions draw a blank from me to the effect that i have nothing to wrry about.
IT doesnt explain the sensation, i'm not trying to blame anyone, only tryingt o understand!
Glad to hear yours is fading, i hope mine will fade also.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
