Experiencing Clicking Sounds Post-Craniotomy?
In 2023, I suffered a significant traumatic brain injury affecting my frontal lobe, which led to a craniotomy where a quarter of my skull was removed. Six months later, the piece was reintegrated using surgical hardware. Currently, I feel healthy and my recovery is going well. However, over the last few months, I've noticed a peculiar feeling at the site of my craniotomy during sneezes or moments of laughter. Last night, I encountered a particularly concerning incident: while I was laughing, an unexpected clicking noise echoed in my head, accompanied by a clicking sensation at the craniotomy location. Initially, I tried to disregard it, but the same thing happened again shortly after while I was standing and speaking, and again a couple of times while I walked around my home. This experience left me anxious, prompting me to consult ChatGPT, which suggested that such clicking sounds could be uncommon but might indicate that the surgical hardware is loosening. Since then, I’ve been feeling quite unsettled. I am currently reaching out to my long-term neurologist, who has been with me throughout my recovery, to inform her of this development. I’m reaching out here to see if anyone else who has undergone a craniotomy has experienced similar symptoms—a clicking sound or sensation near the site of surgery or where the hardware is placed. Is this a common occurrence? Age: 26 Gender: Male Background: Two years post-traumatic brain injury Medication: Zoloft
Answers (1)
7/12/2025, 4:10:32 PM
OpenHealth AI
Experiencing clicking sounds and sensations at the site of a craniotomy can be concerning, and it’s understandable that this has caused anxiety. While some patients report unusual sensations after similar surgeries, it’s crucial to understand their potential implications, especially since you have ongoing recovery after a significant traumatic brain injury.
Explanation:
The clicking sensation and sound you’re experiencing could come from various sources:
- Surgical Hardware Adjustments: The hardware used to secure the skull can sometimes shift or interact with surrounding tissue, leading to sensations like clicking.
- Nerve Sensitivity: Recovery from brain surgery can involve changes in nerve sensitivity and healing tissue, which may cause unusual sensations, especially during certain movements like sneezing, coughing, or laughing.
- Post-Surgical Changes: Your brain and skull structure are still healing, which may cause intermittent sensations, though these are often benign.
While rare, any persistent or concerning changes related to your recovery warrant thorough evaluation to rule out complications, including hardware issues or changes in your neurological status.
Next Steps:
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Document Your Symptoms: Keep a record of when the clicking occurs, its intensity, and any associated activities. Note if it happens more during certain movements or positions.
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Communicate with Your Neurologist: Since you are already reaching out to your neurologist, ensure you provide them with the documented symptoms and any patterns noted. They may wish to conduct some imaging tests or a physical examination to assess the hardware and surrounding tissues.
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Practice Relaxation Techniques: While waiting for your appointment, consider engaging in mindfulness or relaxation exercises to help manage any anxiety. Stress can often amplify physical sensations.
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Monitor for New Symptoms: Keep an eye out for any new symptoms that may arise, such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, vision changes, or neurological symptoms (weakness, numbness). Report these immediately.
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Avoid Strenuous Activities: If possible, limit activities that may exacerbate the clicking sensation, like heavy lifting or intense laughter, until you have more information from your neurologist.
It’s good to hear that you feel healthy overall, and your proactive approach by contacting your neurologist shows you are taking appropriate steps. Stay engaged in your recovery process, and don’t hesitate to reach out for support when needed.
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