I had decompression surgery on 1/19/17. On 2/20/17 I got my hair down and sat in one of the sinks they use when they wash your hair. We put a towel down and I did not put full pressure down on my neck. I just realized today that after that my symptoms started returning. Now I’m wondering if I could have caused a compression again by doing that. Thoughts???
Hi, so strange how you think you have problems because of the salon sink. Growing up when I would lay my head on those sinks I would have such pain and weakness in my neck and head. Sometimes I would have to put my hand behind my head to help hold it up in the sink. I think I started to shake. When I saw my Chiari Dr I told him about this problem I had my whole life with salon sinks. I have Chiari and CSS.
I personally don’t think this caused the cerebellar tonsils to herniate. You probably have weak muscles, stretched ligaments and tendons, and swelling from surgery yet. You may have put some pressure on your spinal cord. Don’t use the sink again. Give yourself time to heal. You had a lot of trauma from surgery. Many patients have sysmptons reappear even after successful surgeries. The brain and spinal cord are so delicate and control so much. Chiari doctors are still trying to find the best procedures for each patient, since we all have different problems. Wishing you heal fast. Tina from WI
I would let your hairdresser know of your Chiari. My Dr told me to let my hair dresser know and find alternative methods and to not bend my head back and rest on the hard sink against the base of my skull. I had my hair done 16 weeks after surgery and just kneeled in the chair at the sink forward. My hairdresser was great about making the adjustments.
Definitely never bend your neck back again into the sink. However, in my opinion I don’t think it was probably the cause of your symptoms starting to return. My guess is that you just aren’t fully healed yet from your surgery, seeing as it was only one month later.
First, I started with kneeling on the chair and putting my head forward into the sink, but then realized that hurt me as well. Now, I just go to the hair salon with my hair wet, and if they need to squirt it down again, they do.