I am scheduled to have my surgery in November (if i can make it through the head pressure and neck/shoulder pain that long). The reason I am waiting so long is because I am a high school teacher and am trying to use as little leave days as possible and prepare my students for their test in January. My real question is directed to any African American women who have had the decompression surgery with natural hair. I know it sounds superficial but I have worked really hard to grow out my hair naturally for the last year. I'm really scared of my hair getting tangled during the recovery period and having to start all over. If you have this hair type and have experienced recovery from decompression surgery (or know someone who has) please share any tips that will help me keep my hair healthy despite the fact I probably will not care much about it particularly early on in recovery. Thanks.
I would suggest speaking with your neurosurgeon and sharing your concerns.
For that specific issue, what I've found works best for my patients is to have them braid their hair, with my guidance in the pre-operative visit, so that I typically can shave 2 braids in the midline up to the inion(the bump you feel on the middle of the back of the skull). By braiding the hair, you are able to keep the rest a little more clean. Once you have recovered enough, the braids are removed and the hair washed(I use dissolving stitches so shampoo and regular hair care can begin during the immediate post-operative hospitalization.
It is a lot of work to cornrow longer hair but gives you greater control of what we shave(if your surgeon agrees with that plan).
Most of us neurosurgeons are not known for our hairstyles so you want some input into what is shaved if that is improtant to you.
Thanks so much for both replies they were both informative and helpful. I’m going to sock worth the November date just because I am in need of relief each day seems to get a little more painful. The braids seem like a great idea. I will be discussing that with my surgeon.