Just been diagnosed

[cazaline]

Hi, I am from the UK and have just been told by my GP that I have a spinal meningioma lower thoracic. I have had an MRI with and without contrast. All he said was that i would be referred to a Neurosurg. Is this serious? I have had numbness in my left leg and foot and pain in my groin for about 18 months now. How urgent iis this? Sorry to sound dramatic but am very very worried.

[crazycanuck]

Hi cazaline. I'm glad you have found this board. I suggest reposting in the general forum, that's where most of the activity is.

Meningiomas are most usually benign. My suggestion to you would be to research Neurosurgeons in your area (ask on the general board for suggestions and there is also a board here with NS info), meet with several to find who you are comfortable with, listen to their recommendations, search through the posts here and feel free to post your questions to the many of us that have been through what you are faced with now. You are not alone!

[stella1]

hi i am also in the uk i had a meningioma in t10 t11 of my spine in 2007,i lost feeling in my thighs and in my foot of left leg i was walking with a limp because i couldnt control my leg properly,also started having problems with my bladder as soon as this happened iwas in for surgery it took four hours. first three days after surgery i couldnt stand was too sore ,was in hospital for five days.i am not trying to scare you just saying how it was for me .even now i have not returned to work as a welder i get bad back pain and muscle cramps and spasms cannot stand for more than 45 mins without my back goin into spasm.i have also been left with numb thighs and i slight weakness of my left leg.i really hope your surgery goes great the sooner the better if you want to know more message me and i will try to help you

[dlsable]

I was just diagnosed with a meningioma spinal tumor C5-T1 and am very nervous and scared. My problems first began about 5 years ago in my right hand and right shoulder. Doctors told me it could be carpal tunnel, pinched nerve, sore muscles, etc. and never really concerned. Just accepted that my shoulder aches occasionally and hand gets cold and numb because of pinched nerve. Last February started having sensations in both right and left legs specifically in my thighs at first. Then the balance problems began thought I was being clumsy, working too many hours, etc. In August I fell and broke my ankle now I know it was due to balance. When I started physical therapy for my ankle I told the therapist about all the aches, balance, etc issues and gave me exercises for each. When I went back to orthopedic doctor at first he told me balance will take time but I insisted I am having other issues. He contacted the neurologist who thought I had ms because of my symptoms and scheduled an mri. The morning after the mri I got a phone call from the neurologist to come to his office that morning. I was prepared that I had ms and was dealing with the shock of treatment for the rest of my life. He told me not ms but a spine tumor and sent me to neurosurgeon. Today the office is going to call me with surgery date. I am very scared, nervous, etc and i worry about surgery, will my symptoms go away, get worse....I have two kids who need their mom and dont like the idea that i may not be the same person anymore. All I want to do is be able to walk around the block again and enjoy life

[MAIDA]

I HAVE MY MRI WITH CONTRAST SEPT 2011 AND NOW GOT THE RESULT MRI PALIN = IMPRESSION: 1. INTRADURAL, EXTRAMEDULLARY SOFT 6 TISSUE MASS PRODUCING CORD COMPRESSION, T10-T11 LEVEL. CONSIDER MENINGIOMA. 2. DISC BULDING WITH POSTERIOR ANNULAR TEAR, L4-L5 AND L5-S1 LEVEL.

PRIOR TO THIS 2006 I UNDERGONE TUBAL LIGATION THEN 2010 OPERATED AGAIN BY REMOVING MY GALL BLADDER. THEN THE PAIN START BUT MY HISTORY THAT I AM A HARD WORKING AND ATHLETICS FOR 8 YEARS I RUN HURDLE, LONG JUMP AND HI JUMP, PLAY BASKETBALL.