I just recently had a occiptical craniotomy to have my AVMs removed. Now my head is numb in areas that are no where near the incision site. I told my doctor, but he said there is really no way to tell at this point how soon the numbness will subside. So, I was wondering if anyone can tell me at what point their numbness finally went away because its very annoying and inconvenient.
I havent had a craniotomy but have had gamma knife with the screws and halo put into you head. The 1st time no problems. The 2nd gamma I have had numbness in the middle of my head where the screws where not located. I was told it could last up to 6 months and slowly you will start to see a difference. I have already noticed it is going away but its still there. I hope this helps and pray you start to feel the numbness go away and not last more than 6 months!!!
I also haven’t had a craniotomy but I had Gamma Knife one time and I had numbness in the crown of my head (not where the screws were) I think it may have lasted mabe 3 months.My doctor also said it could last 6 months or even up to a year.I hope you are starting to feel better and I hope that numbness goes away QUICK!!! I know how annoying it is.
Hi, Iysha. I had a craniotomy and had the head numbness too. The numb spot moved around to different locations on my head (that wasn’t the incision area). I told my neurosurgeon about it at my 6 month check-up/follow-up appt. and told him that it didn’t really feel like ‘skin’ (rather like a burlap sack) and he agreeingly smiled and assured me it (having the numb spot) was fine. It seems mine lasted for several months, then I just noticed I’d get ‘tender to the touch’ areas on my head (places that weren’t injured/bumped/etc. - there was nothing that occurred/happened that would promote any ‘soreness’). Eventually (by my 1st year), all subsided for me.
Not so much numbness but for the first 24 hours after surgery I heard sort of scratching noise. Almost like I could hear the skull meshing together again. IT WAS VERY ANNOYING…hope your problem clears up soon!!! Should mention I have worked as a Flight Attendant for years. Whacked my head numerous times in turbulence…having numbness has its advantages! Praying for you!!!
I had surgery Jan 4 of this year. The numbness in my head lasted until the fluid build-up that I had under my skin went down. Also, once they stopped the anti-seizure medication that they started as a prophylaxsis after surgery the numb feeling I had also went away. (They had me on the anti-seizure meds for 7 days post-op as I didn't have any seizure after surgery)
I had a craniotomy in August of 2010 and there are spots on my head that are still numb, so I'm hoping they go away soon. I have a couch with a hard piece on the back and I had been leaning my head against it for a few HOURS and didn't notice. My hairdresser said to massage the area, that might help. Have you ever seen those scalp massager things with all the copper wires? I've been using one of them and it feels really good and tingly, I hope it gets the blood flowing again!!
http://www.amazon.com/Heavens-Therapy-HTHW-Wizard-Massager/dp/B0006VSWGM
I still have some numbness in my face and along the right side of my head and there are spots that are hypersensitive. A friend of mine to me that your nerves grow back at a rate of up to 1mm a day. Give it time and I figure if they never grow back so be it. I will take life with numb spots over not life any day. I hope you are doing well otherwise.
Hello Lysha,
The mumbness on side of head, not on incision lasted about 1 year.
Mumbness on both legs from the knee down to the feet hasn't gone away, to this day from 03'. Nobody know why.
But at least I'm alive. hope yours heals soon.
Have a good day.
Hi Lysha,
I had my craniotomy on May 2009 and still have numbness with intermittent pain sensation in areas that are not near my incision site. I have been told to massage the area to 'retrain' that area to touch since I sometimes perceive light touches very painfully and hard touches not at all. I hope you are doing well, and on the bright side I find this a minor inconvenience considering that I am alive today to see my 2 beautiful daughters grow up.
I had numbness after craniotomy. It went away after 6 months.
Hi Lysha,
I had a craniotomy back in January this year and the feeling has only recently returned on my head (and i was the same - areas no-where near the incision were completely numb - but not now). So don’t worry - i doubt you’re far away from regaining the feeling x
Hi, Lysha,
Thank you for asking about this. I hope, 8 months later, your numbness has gone away. I had an embolization of a fistula and avm 10 days ago and 1/3 of my skull is numb and tender to the touch. My doctor said it’s not uncommon and could last weeks, months, or forever. It’s reassuring to hear many saying that weeks/months has been their experience. I, like you, find it very aggravating, perhaps because it was unexpected. I AM glad to be alive, but do hope I won’t forever be a genuine numbskull! 
Susan
mine stayed with me for about 6 months and my hair fell out where the numbness was. best of luck Pamela