Shoulder pain and hallucinations: an atypical aneurysm story

David's symptoms - severe neck, shoulder and arm pain and hallucinations - were not typical of a brain aneurysm, which meant it was not detected until he started having seizures. After his aneurysm was diagnosed and treated with surgery, his problems were unfortunately not over, as his aneurysm grew and he later had a subarachnoid haemorrhage. Read on for David's story...

Pulled a muscle?

My problems started with severe neck, shoulder and arm pain. In late 2007 and early 2008 I found myself on two occasions in the local A&E department. Having lost the use of my arm through pain, I was told I had pulled a muscle, given painkillers and told to rest, which I did.

Hallucinations

Things then seemed to improve until March 27th 2008. I went to work as normal and started hallucinating. Getting worried, two of my friends took me home, whereupon I went to my GP. She thought it might be a chest infection and checked; finding nothing she sent me home to rest with the advice to ring her ASAP if there were any developments.

Seizures

Fifteen minutes after arriving home I had my first seizure. The GP sent me straight to my local A&E where I suffered two more seizures, one resulting in me falling off the trolley, breaking my nose, smashing four of my teeth and splitting my lip, needing four stitches.

Aneurysm, surgery and headaches

I was immediately given a CT scan which diagnosed an 11mm aneurysm (a balloon-like swelling, resulting from a weakness in the wall of one of the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain). I was admitted, waiting to be transferred to a hospital with a neurological department.

In order to stop the aneurysm from rupturing (bursting suddenly) and causing a haemorrhage (bleed), I underwent coiling surgery - an operation where small metal coils are inserted into the aneurysm through the arteries that run from the groin to the brain to prevent blood flowing into the aneurysm, reducing the risk of a bleed.

After surgery things looked good, but four days after my discharge I started suffering severe headaches. My GP referred me straight to hospital, where after another CT scan I was told there was nothing wrong and to take more painkillers until my MRI in October 2008.

More seizures

In July, despite being on anti-convulsants I had another seizure. I was taken to a different hospital and was told, "It is not worth giving you a CT scan as we will not find anything." In August I had another seizure and was taken to hospital. After a CT scan and four days in hospital I was told there was nothing wrong with the CT scan or me and to take more painkillers. Already being on 170 painkillers a week I decided that this was not a good idea.

More aneurysm surgery

October finally arrived, and during my MRI scan I noticed a flurry of activity in the control room. After the scan a doctor sat me down and told me that my aneurysm had re-grown - the size was now 23mm - and that I needed immediate surgery. After speaking to my consultant I opted for clipping as this seemed the better option. (Clipping is where the surgeon permanently closes the connection between the blood vessel and the aneurysm using a small plastic or titanium clip. Find out more in our Craniotomy fact sheet)

Subarachnoid haemorrhage

I was admitted a week later due to a virus in the hospital. My surgery was then postponed four times before it went ahead. Eight hours of surgery and nine units of blood later, I was taken to intensive care. After about four hours apparently I complained of severe headaches. I was given a CT scan, only to discover that I was suffering a massive subarachnoid haemorrhage.

I was rushed back to theatre for emergency surgery, and after a further nine hours of surgery and eight units of blood I was again back in intensive care. I was finally fit enough to be discharged three weeks later, despite my wife having been told that I only had a 15% chance of surviving the surgery to fix the bleed.

Recovery

Although this happened over two and a half years ago, recovery has been difficult. After discharge I had physiotherapy for weakness on the left-hand side of my body and dizziness and falling over was quite a problem although this has now greatly improved. Other problems include short term memory problems and constant headaches.

Other symptoms such as confusion in crowded and noisy places, confusion and difficulty with speech when I get stressed are still quite a problem, as is my difficulty in coping with emotions (I quite often burst into tears when my wife has EastEnders on the TV!)

My seizures stopped after my aneurysm was clipped, although I am still on anti-convulsants (Epilim Chrono 1200mg a day).

Having been told that the recovery process may take many years I do not feel that I would have made the progress I have without the support of my family and friends.

Also I would encourage others like me to find out as much as you can about your illness, including requesting your medical records and scans as I found them very informative. This can be done under the Freedom of Information Act, although the authority may charge for this service. The Brain and Spine Helpline can also help explain anything in your medical records that you do not understand, advise on what to ask your doctor at your next appointment, and offer support throughout your illness and recovery.

Find out more: related links

If you have any questions about brain aneurysms, subarachnoid haemorrhage or any other neurological topic, call the Brain and Spine Helpline on 0808 808 1000 or email helpline@brainandspine.org.uk.

You may also find these links useful: