Just for reference so the question makes some sense, I am a correctional officer and my Sr. Officer asked me about life after surgery. The way he posed his question left me wondering if I will be able to return to my job.
I have not yet seen my NS, but the neurologist said I am definitely in need of the surgery because of my symptoms and I have already developed a cyst in my spinal cord.
I understand that part of the skull will be removed to allow for alleviation of pressure and that the dura may be opened and patched if the bone removal is not enough.
He asked me what they do once they remove the piece of skull and am I forever going to be vulnerable in this spot (he said "kind of like a baby's soft spot at birth")?
Now I am very worried about whether I will have the ability to do my job after surgery. I am currently working in a modified duty position in which I have no inmate contact.
Any answers please? I feel like this is a dumb question but I can not find anything on the web that helps answer this question
I have had the surgery and the place they took the bone out has the dura covering it which isn't much compared to bone, but according to my NS as I did ask about this same thing it is in a spot that someone would literally have to go directly underneath your skull to hit ever- little to no possibility of it being too vulnerable. It is for awhile afterwards I am two months out and it is still pretty sensitive so I am just careful. What is your main concern about not being able to do your job? Hope this was helpful at all but it is scary to think about! I think over time it is not too sensitive and after going through it you will be strong and tough to not let it affect you :) Let me know if you have any other questions I could help with possibility!
I asked my doctor about this when I had my surgery. Your incision area doesn't put you at any higher risk than anyone else. Your eye sockets are much more of a vulnerable spot, and we all have those. It's not like a baby's soft spot.
I agree that the most likely thing to make you unable to do your job would be weakness during your recovery stage (which can be months, for many people). Or if you end up having some surgical complications or if the surgery is unsuccessful and your symptoms are not relieved.
If you have a good recovery and your symptoms are alleviated, there isn't any reason you cannot do your job just like you did before. If anything, you might actually be able to do it better if your symptoms are gone. Good luck with your surgery and recovery!
If you look at pictures, the skull is kind of a horizontally oblong circle plopped on top of the jaw. The foramen magnum, the hole where our spinal cord comes through to our brains (and where our brains are falling out!), is on the bottom of that backside-protrusion of the skull. The piece of bone they cut away is up under that "shelf" if you get what I'm saying. So unless you plan on running backwards through the woods with your chin tucked down on your chest, you should be all right. :D