What Should You Expect When Recovering From Neurosurgery?

Depending on the condition you have, one of the options that may be recommended to you is neurosurgery, where a specialist surgeon will perform a procedure that will remove a cancerous growth or cause of pain.

As a hospital that specialises in neuroscience, we offer various neurosurgical procedures to treat a wide range of complex health conditions, particularly in cases where alternative treatments such as radiotherapy are inappropriate.

In general, we focus on conditions affecting the brain, skull, nerves and spinal cord. This means we offer treatments for brain tumours, functional neurosurgery to help with movement disorders, treatment for pain disorders, epilepsy treatment and surgical treatment for some psychiatric conditions.

However, many people who come to visit us do not know what to expect from treatment, as whilst some people might have had surgery before, brain surgery is relatively rare as a treatment path.

With that in mind, here is a brief guide detailing what to expect after surgery, how long it can take to be discharged, and what the road to recovery looks like.

Will You Need To Stay In Hospital Following Brain Surgery?

Unlike other brain and facial treatments, such as stereotactic radiosurgery, you will need to stay in the hospital for a few days whilst you recover.

You will be given instructions from your doctor to help you prepare accordingly, including what you should pack and which medicines you may have to stop taking before your surgical appointment.

Exactly how long you will need to stay will depend on the type of procedure and how well you recover from it, but as a general anaesthetic will be required, it can take up to 24 hours for it to wear off.

How Will You Feel After Brain Surgery?

Exactly how you will feel will vary from person to person and will be heavily dependent on the procedure you have. Some people can recover remarkably quickly and have relatively mild symptoms, whilst others can take a week or more to recover enough to be discharged.

You will receive pain medications, but many people will feel some of the symptoms below:

• Headache - This is typically relatively mild, will respond to over-the-counter painkillers and will improve every day.
• Tiredness/Fatigue - This is a common side effect of anaesthesia and often expected following any brain surgery, but it can sometimes take a while to regain your previous energy levels.
• Swelling - Depending on the type of surgery, bruising or puffy swelling around the cheeks, face and eyes is not uncommon. It will gradually fade on its own, although it can lead to some sensitivity.
• Unusual Sounds Inside Your Head - These are caused by the body recovering from the surgery, but the unusual sensation within your head or close to your ear can be surprising. This tends to go away on its own after a few weeks.

Which Symptoms Can Cause Concern Following Brain Surgery?

Following surgery, and particularly following discharge, your doctor will inform you about certain symptoms not listed above that could require the attention of your healthcare team.

These include:

• A headache that gets worse or feels more intense.
• Nausea and/or sickness.
• Weaknesses in the limbs.
• Epilepsy, or changes in your seizure symptoms.
• Difficulty communicating or aphasia.
• Redness, soreness or pus coming from the surgical scar.

What Happens After Brain Surgery?

Immediately after neurosurgery, you will remain in a hospital bed whilst doctors check to make sure you are recovering from the anaesthetic, your surgical scars are healing well, any progress that has been made, and to provide pain relief medication to help with the symptoms noted above.

Once you feel a little better, the first steps towards discharge can take place, which will often involve a holistic needs assessment (HNA).

This involves checking up on how you are now and what you are expecting to need help with once you return home.

This forms the basis for a care and support plan that will help maximise your recovery once you are well enough to be discharged.

How Can You Speed Up Your Recovery?

• Be active, but do not push yourself too hard.
• Keep your brain active with puzzles, games, music and reading.
• Rest up and make sure you get as much sleep as you can.
• Opt for a healthy diet, avoiding processed meats, saturated fats and foods with added sugar.
• Do not be afraid to ask for support whilst you heal.

Explore the Queen Square website to learn more about our advanced neuroscience hospital and the surgical treatments we can offer for several neurological and facial conditions.