wondering what to do.

[andy]

Hi all,
        I've just had an MRI scan after another sciatic attack.
Results came back that it revelled a Schwannomas @ the L1 level which is about 1cm in size.
After appointment with my NS he suggested a follow scan in 6 months to see if its grown.
When I came out I started thinking of questions I should have asked like-

is it better to take it out now when its small.
i'am wasting time waiting 6 months because at some stage it will need to come out.
what's the potential problems after the op.

I'm 44 years old. The symptom's I have are mild leg ache and twitching in both my legs now and then.
Just wondering if anyone has  a similar situation to mine and could offer any advise.

thank you for reading and all the best to every who uses this forum!!
 

[mcguyverdan]

Any time you have your spinal column cut into, there is the potential for serious permanent nerve damage. With that said... The tumor is only going to grow and smash more of your nerves as it makes it's own space. Even if it is as they tell you "very slow growing", it is still GROWING. It is only going to do more damage every day they want to wait and see. My schwannoma was larger and lower at L5, however looking back I was experiencing symptoms last September, and went from having the feeling that I might have pulled a butt muscle in February of this year to being unable to walk without a walker and a big dose of narcotics all the time by the middle of April, and sleep was virtually out of the question. I am 50 and in pretty good shape and currently doing physical therapy and was able to run for the first time in more than 6 months this last week. I still have a numb and burning sensation in my one thigh much of the time. I am in control of my urination and bowel functions, so I am quite pleased with my outcome up to this point. My NS said he got 99% of the tumor, but I have a MRI scheduled the beginning of December to see what is left and give the NS a baseline to see if what is left is going to re-grow or if it is going to shrivel up and die (which is what I am praying for). If you read through the many posts here, you will find that most of the time, the "wait and see" only sees it getting worse, and needing surgery anyway. My NS initially suggested the wait and see approach, but they did not really even know what kind of tumor it was,, and even though they said that most of the time these are benign, I was not comfortable with the "most of the time" and "encouraged" them to GET IT OUT!!! then cut it up and figure out what is later. I pray the best for you, and please keep us updated on your progress.

[michelle]

hello Andy!on June 16th, 2015 I had a 6 centimeter schwannoma removed from my spinal cord at t10 to t12 level. above the tumor,all the way up to t1 was a large syrinx which had formed because of the compression from the tumor. the compression on my spinal cord was incredibly painful beginning in my middle back and shooting down through my hip and right leg all the way to my foot. it took the doctors a very long time to diagnose my tumor. my initial symptoms were low back pain and numbness in my right leg. My biggest regret is that the tumor grew as large as it did. if I could go back and do things differently I would have insisted on an MRI a year ago and had the tumor removed when it was smaller.the tumor nearly killed me and I feel blessed today that I can even walk. I also feel blessed that I still have control of my bladder and bowel function. Immediately after the surgery that part was questionable. Personally I would get that tumor out ASAP! don't wait until you are numb and you can't feel things anymore! the recovery is very difficult and I'm still struggling with a lot of pain. But if I hadn't done it at all I would not be around to tell you about it today. I'm 47 years old and in physically great shape. But because of the compression on my spinal cord I have permanent damage