Post by doug on Jan 12, 2010 15:47:58 GMT -6
Hi! I had surgery in September to remove a Schwannoma from my thoracic spine (T-3). It seemed to go well! Prior to surgery, I'd been dealing with surface numbness (paresthesia) in both legs for about 9 months; this largely cleared up following surgery, though it did take a bit of time and I still experience traces of it.
However, in recent weeks/months, I've started experiencing symptoms in my L leg, back (thoracic area), and L arm that I describe as buzzing, quivering, jittering, or vibrating. The symptoms come and go, but are especially a problem at night, causing sleep disturbances (light sleeping or early waking). Initially, in the first 5-6 weeks of my recovery, these were virtually non-existent, but now they seem to becoming more persistent, which causes me a fair amount of anxiety (the spectre of ongoing sleep problems, and of feeling old before my time).
I'm wondering if there are any recommended treatments for this condition, or alternatively, if it's just a phase of my recovery. In December, I saw a physical therapist, and was given exercises for the trapezius muscles, some manual therapy, and a single "neural flossing" exercise. Unfortunately, this had no impact. (I still do the exercises; I also run every other day, weather permitting.) I'm trying to keep in touch with my surgeon about this, but I'm not sure what more he has to offer.
It's now been well over 3 months since my surgery, and it scares me to see these symptoms "settling in." For now, I guess I can console myself that maybe I'm a slow healer; after all, my surgical incision is still not fully healed. But I don't know...
However, in recent weeks/months, I've started experiencing symptoms in my L leg, back (thoracic area), and L arm that I describe as buzzing, quivering, jittering, or vibrating. The symptoms come and go, but are especially a problem at night, causing sleep disturbances (light sleeping or early waking). Initially, in the first 5-6 weeks of my recovery, these were virtually non-existent, but now they seem to becoming more persistent, which causes me a fair amount of anxiety (the spectre of ongoing sleep problems, and of feeling old before my time).
I'm wondering if there are any recommended treatments for this condition, or alternatively, if it's just a phase of my recovery. In December, I saw a physical therapist, and was given exercises for the trapezius muscles, some manual therapy, and a single "neural flossing" exercise. Unfortunately, this had no impact. (I still do the exercises; I also run every other day, weather permitting.) I'm trying to keep in touch with my surgeon about this, but I'm not sure what more he has to offer.
It's now been well over 3 months since my surgery, and it scares me to see these symptoms "settling in." For now, I guess I can console myself that maybe I'm a slow healer; after all, my surgical incision is still not fully healed. But I don't know...
