How long does it take for an adult to recover from shunt surgery for hydrocephalus?

Week: If the shunt is working appropritely then the intial symptoms , ie headache, ataxia, bladder issues will resolve quickly. The obdominal incision whether open or laparoscopic will become increasingly pain free over that same week.

Variable: Surgical recovery - wound healing and such - a few weeks. The elderly with normal pressure hydrocephalus (nph) often have co-morbidities such as diabetes, heart disease, inactivity and poor eating habits which means they usually take a couple of months to get back on track and feel entirely well.