Hello everyone, I was hoping someone with a BA on the PICA and vertebral artery could join in a discussion and let me know what treatment you had to repair your brain aneurysm! Mine is a 8mm pica located on vertebral artery. I live near Boston. I have had many many opinions and have heard some very different opinions from the doctors in Boston. NY, Barrows and Johns Hopkins. They range from coils only to coils and PED and now clipping. Anyone, and I understand there are only 2% of us with the pica location, that could chime in to give me your experience with surgeon, treatment and results would be much appreciated!! Stay well and thank you!!
Hi lady, you are indeed a member of an elite group. My husband had a pica aneurysm, althiugh his ruptured and was clipped. There are a couple of other folks on this site with pica aneurysms. Give them a liitle time to check in. Wishing you success with whatever treatment you use.
I know nothing about PICA, but I am local to Boston. Have you heard of Christopher Oglivy, Beth Israel or Aman Patel, Mass General? Both are (top doctors) excellent neurosurgeons, who could advise you.
Judy In Ontario said:
Hi lady, you are indeed a member of an elite group. My husband had a pica aneurysm, althiugh his ruptured and was clipped. There are a couple of other folks on this site with pica aneurysms. Give them a liitle time to check in. Wishing you success with whatever treatment you use.
Thank you Judy!! I pray your husband is doing well!!
Campanile said:
I know nothing about PICA, but I am local to Boston. Have you heard of Christopher Oglivy, Beth Israel or Aman Patel, Mass General? Both are (top doctors) excellent neurosurgeons, who could advise you.Thank you but I have been to both of them. I just wish I could find a doctor that is skilled in treating pica (unruptured)
Hello Lady , as you already know in my email to you earlier, my 8mm wide-neck PICA was treated by Dr. Howard Riina up at NYU Langone medical center with a pipeline flex. So far so good , Going up again in January for my first MRA since my since my 6month follow-up angiogram last January and an appointment with him. I just celebrated my one year Annie-versary on July 21! Hope you’re able to sort through all the information and make a decision – – you will feel better when you finally pick up plan and follow through, because living with it can be quite unbearable at times. Keep me posted, Patty
Hi Lady,
I had a ruptured PICA /SAH 2.5 years ago. The size was approx 10mm by 8mm. My options were limited as the ambulance took me to my local hospital, Washington Hospital in Fremont, CA. But, I was fortunate to have a great neurosurgeon Dr. Jeffrey Thomas who coiled the aneurysm. He is skilled in both craniotomy (clipping) and minimally invasive surgery (coiling). PiCA procedures are complex as it arises from vertebral artery. As I understand, consideration on the procedure depends on the location and whether it is wide neck. UCSF pioneered many procedures in this area (coiling, stent assisted coiling, pipeline). I have met patients from around the country who had Dr. Lawton/Dr. Christopher Dowd) operate on them. However, there are benefits of having the surgery close to your residence from a support point of view as well as post surgery follow ups. Also, friend WorriedBrother on this forum. His sister was recently diagnosed with an unruptured PICA aneurysm and was looking for a NeuroSurgeron skilled in brain/neck surgery. BTW, how were you diagnosed? Prior to my aneurysm ruptured, I had stiff neck but ignored it. Best of luck to you and I hope that you find an excellent neurosurgeon. Feel free to reach out anytime.
Hi, thank you for responding. You were very lucky to have such a skilled surgeon! I began experiencing vertigo, balance issues and migraines. It was an incidental find. It is 8mm. Has WorriedBrother found anyone for his sister? Again, thank you so much for replying!!
Hi Patty, yes I remember you also had a great surgeon!! I am so glad you are doing well!! Was your BA gone when you had your 6 month check-up?? Please keep me posted and good luck on your MRA.
Patty said:
Hello Lady , as you already know in my email to you earlier, my 8mm wide-neck PICA was treated by Dr. Howard Riina up at NYU Langone medical center with a pipeline flex. So far so good , Going up again in January for my first MRA since my since my 6month follow-up angiogram last January and an appointment with him. I just celebrated my one year Annie-versary on July 21! Hope you're able to sort through all the information and make a decision – – you will feel better when you finally pick up plan and follow through, because living with it can be quite unbearable at times. Keep me posted, Patty
Yes, completely occluded! Best wishes, Patty
So happy for you!! Thank you Patty!
Patty said:
Yes, completely occluded! Best wishes, Patty
Lady,
I am not sure whether WorriedBrother found a good neurosurgeon for his sister. I believe that her sister lives in Israel. During the Bay Area Aneuryms and AVM walk, I met a couple of survivors who lived out of State who specifically sought out Dr. Michael Lawton and Dr. Chistopher Dowd to perform surgery on unruputured PICA. However, I believe that you can find an excellent surgeon in the East Coast. Has the doctors diagnosed the aneurysm as the cause of the vertigo, balance issues and migraines? Unfortunately, I developed chronic vertigo/double vision as result of the rupture. It is only controlled through medication and prism glasses. One thing that really helped me get through the disability is keeping a journal. I shared my journal with my physicians which was helpful in determining the diagnosis as well as develop my own recovery plan on what works and doesn't. Best of luck.
Lady, 2 Fught is correct as far as Dr. Michael Lawton on the West Coast is concerned. He was on my list as well, but not likely choice for me --as I wanted to stay on the East Coast with my family. Dr. Nelson, from NYU where I had my annie treated is the pioneer of the pipeline and I have seen recently that he has assisted on difficult cases at other hospitals, even out-of-state. Perhaps you could look into that?
No the doctors just said if the aneurysm is pressing on a nerve then it could cause balance issues but he said migraines have nothing to do with it!! I of course don't believe it. Thank you for your reply!!
2Fight said:
Lady,
I am not sure whether WorriedBrother found a good neurosurgeon for his sister. I believe that her sister lives in Israel. During the Bay Area Aneuryms and AVM walk, I met a couple of survivors who lived out of State who specifically sought out Dr. Michael Lawton and Dr. Chistopher Dowd to perform surgery on unruputured PICA. However, I believe that you can find an excellent surgeon in the East Coast. Has the doctors diagnosed the aneurysm as the cause of the vertigo, balance issues and migraines? Unfortunately, I developed chronic vertigo/double vision as result of the rupture. It is only controlled through medication and prism glasses. One thing that really helped me get through the disability is keeping a journal. I shared my journal with my physicians which was helpful in determining the diagnosis as well as develop my own recovery plan on what works and doesn't. Best of luck.
Lady,
There are several of us on this board who suffers from dizziness, migraines, tinnitus and other ailments associated with both unrupturred and ruptured aneurysm. Initially, I was diagnosed with a vestibular migraine. It follows the neural pathways of the vestibular system.
http://vestibular.org/migraine-associated-vertigo-mav
I was reevaluated by another specialist and diagnosed as a central vestibular issue.
Best of luck to you. As Patty mentions, family support is really important during recovery. I am sure that you can find a PICA brain/wide neck surgeon in the East Coast.
Yes, I also have suffered with occular migraine’s, random bouts of dizziness, and tinnitus all of my adult life. I wonder if it’s all somehow related to my aneurysm. My tinnitus has gotten a lot better since my surgery, although anxiety makes it worse and perhaps that’s why it was so bad before my surgery. I haven’t had a migraine since my surgery nor a bout of dizziness-- although it took me a long time to recover from my and balance issues with the help of therapy. And 2Fight, I have not forgotten you! I do the best to dictate on my phone for these short messages, but I would like to address your email to me by using my laptop and typing which is what I’m best at. I have been meaning to get it repaired and was ready to do so this past Wednesday when we had to rush our family golden retriever off to the vet hospital. He’s been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and now my days are full caring for him right now, and I’m also recovering from some complications from my carpel tunnel surgery. But I do have some information that I want to share with you when I’m able to email you directly. Thanks for being patient! Lady, keep us posted as you gather more information.
So sorry about your dog, they sure are part of the family! Thank you Patty for your reply and I will keep you posted.
Patty said:
Yes, I also have suffered with occular migraine's, random bouts of dizziness, and tinnitus all of my adult life. I wonder if it's all somehow related to my aneurysm. My tinnitus has gotten a lot better since my surgery, although anxiety makes it worse and perhaps that's why it was so bad before my surgery. I haven't had a migraine since my surgery nor a bout of dizziness-- although it took me a long time to recover from my and balance issues with the help of therapy. And 2Fight, I have not forgotten you! I do the best to dictate on my phone for these short messages, but I would like to address your email to me by using my laptop and typing which is what I'm best at. I have been meaning to get it repaired and was ready to do so this past Wednesday when we had to rush our family golden retriever off to the vet hospital. He's been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and now my days are full caring for him right now, and I'm also recovering from some complications from my carpel tunnel surgery. But I do have some information that I want to share with you when I'm able to email you directly. Thanks for being patient! Lady, keep us posted as you gather more information.
Thank you 2fight! Mine is narrow neck which makes it more challenging because it branches off the vertebral artery on pica location!
2Fight said:
Lady,
There are several of us on this board who suffers from dizziness, migraines, tinnitus and other ailments associated with both unrupturred and ruptured aneurysm. Initially, I was diagnosed with a vestibular migraine. It follows the neural pathways of the vestibular system.
http://vestibular.org/migraine-associated-vertigo-mav
I was reevaluated by another specialist and diagnosed as a central vestibular issue.
Best of luck to you. As Patty mentions, family support is really important during recovery. I am sure that you can find a PICA brain/wide neck surgeon in the East Coast.
Patty,
No Worries. I have a cute fox dog and she has been so helpful for my recovery. I am sure that your Dog was there for you. Just email me when you are free.
Lady,
On Sept 19th, there is going to be an Aneurysm panel at UCSF with Dr. Lawton and Christine J. Buckley, Executive Director of Brain Aneurysm Foundation. If there is an opportunity, I can ask who is the best neurosurgeon in the East Coast in treating PICA/vertebral aneurysm as a narrow neck case. Take care. I hope that you find the best surgeon.
Best Regards