T1-T2 laminectomy schwannoma removal

[kelseyboy]

long story short-
unusual radiating pain to chest and armpit,
I am a powerlifting firefighter, never felt pain like this.

finally after many forms of chiro/massage/D.O.s that cracked me,
I went to my PCP and demanded an MRI.

they found a mass 1cm /1cm /1.8 cm inradullary extramedullar schwannoma absolutely crushing my spinal cord and couldnt believe I was walking.
It was wrapping that feeler nerve at that level so he removed it completely also,

I had 3 NSurg opinions in a week, surg was 5-21-13

T1 T2 laminectomy, (all 3 surg said that was the route) I went with the most experienced guy, just so happened he was the most positive and confident, said I would be back to fighting fires in 6-8 weeks and powerlifting in 5-6 months (I say if even go back to that after this)

I am 1 week out off all pain meds , I am taking some MRelaxers but I am sane.
Wound was massive, 17 stitches to close, i look like a football stitched on my upper back lower neck,

I would love to talk to ones who have had this type of removal,

Kelsey B-

tulsa ok
email for more info or pictures
[e-mail]

[Leofwen]

Hi Kelsey

What a positive post and you have a great frame of mind. In the Uk they don't rush to remove schwannomas and seem to take the watch and wait route.

Have a speedy recovery
S

[kelseyboy]

well they really didn't know it was a schwannoma until they saw it.
It was impinging the cord so severely on 1 of My MRIs that it was going to cripple me.
I mean the pain I was in was LEVEL 10 screaming pain when it was at it worst.
It seemed to come and go but got pretty constant right at the end, i don't know if when i stretched or something it was forced through the vertebral canal up and down.
mine was a nerve sheath tumor so i don't know if that helps.

Dont get me wrong, I knew this is going to be a LOSE / LOSE situation.
anytime you open the body, and damage the structure, it will change you.

I did extensive research on the muscles of the back. It is staggering the way that the back is designed, Absolutely ZERO unused space, so getting to the tumor you have to wreck some stuff.
We will see how well I heal back together, will i be the same? probably not.
I went with a decision due to the info I had on hand at the time. My wife and I made the matter of intense prayer and concern, and I am confident I was led in this direction, EVERYTHING fell together to this end.

Like you say, its good to wait and see, I totally agree.

I had been dealing with the pain for almost a year and I found the tumor in an extreme pain duress situation and needed a remedy.
I had already used a few sick days at work for my "RIB" pain, and this situation hindered me from getting up from sleeping position(responding to emergencies)
while on shift, for that is when the pain was always the greatest.

I was pretty strong before my surgery, I had lifted heavy for 15 years str8, quit for the last few years due to it being a time consuming thing.
My wife and I are volunteer ministers and I wanted to make more room for that ,
I was just getting back into lifting again reasoning that this pain I was feeling was due to some weakness, Because I always felt invincible when I was lifting heavy!

If I can regain even a decent amount of that strength back with flexibility, and not feel pain, I would be ok with that.
The pain I have been feeling the first week of recovery pales in comparison to the pain I felt before,
its also different, this is deep aching, where as that was burning torture.

As far as my positive frame of mind, thank you.

Here is my hope that keeps me positive,

Isa 33:24
And no resident will say "I Am Sick" The people that are dwelling in the land will be those pardoned for their error.

Isa 35:5,6
…The lame one will climb up just as a stag does.

rev 21:4 He will wipe out every tear from their eyes and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore, the FORMER things have passed away.

1 pet 5:10
But, after YOU have suffered a little while, the God of all undeserved kindness, who called YOU to his everlasting glory in union with Christ, will himself finish YOUR training,
he will make YOU firm, he will make YOU strong.

as well as a few others
matt11:5
matt 21:14
acts 8:7
acts 14:10

I hope everyone on this board can benefit from my experience as I have benefited from the ones that I have read.

KB-

[Leofwen]

Fantastic uplifting post and I am not religious



X

[kelseyboy]

almost 5 weeks out, helped my wife rotate the matttress, wasnt too bad,
dr still says no more than 20lbs, in physical therapy for 3 more weeks.

starting to return to semi normal, cooking, bathroom activities, washing my hair with 2 hands, dressing myself in a suit, (was near impossible to do this before without help from wife).

cant "weight" to return to work and hobbies

KB-

[lw]

Congratulations on your recovery Kelsey! It sounds as though things are progressing really quickly for you. I seem to remember that it's not being able to do the little things in the early days that get to you. It drove me mad not being able to wash my hair or bath. Another thing was dropping something on the floor and not being able to retrieve it.

The fact that you're doing so well after 5 weeks is definitely encouraging - especially when the doctors tell us recovery can take up to two years. Keep at it!!

[Shannon]

Reading your post is like listening to my own story.  I had same tumor, same pain, same level, same procedure and it will be 20 years in September!  At 44 years old, I have good news to report - you will be able to live your life to the fullest!  I had annual MRIs for 7 years with no limiting issues.  They do show some degenerative disc disease which I feel will become an issue down the road, but I feel it is a small price to pay.  I have no feeling in my upper back and underneath my armpit as lingering issues and sometimes I will overdue it in the garden and not know it until the tension in my shoulders is overwhelming.  I was able to have two successful pregnancies without upper back issues and I was able to care for them as infants.  My biggest post surgery issue has always been holding things in a static position or overusing the muscles in my back which are probably pretty weak.  I am sure the laminectomy procedures now have come a long way since 1994.  Good luck to you and I hope in 20 years you have the success in life that I have experienced post schwannoma!