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Post by Lauren on Jun 27, 2011 23:36:46 GMT -6
Hello to everyone- my name is Lauren and my mom had a schwannoma removed in 2002 from s1. Her doctor was Dr.Takeman from Stanford University. this question is to anyone who can help me. I hate to see my mom in such pain. can any of you tell me what problems who have came across since your surgery's? i would love to here and of your options and just after surgery problems you may have now. their aren't to many support groups for families that go through this stuff. i am glade to have found your site thanks.
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Post by Stephen on Jul 14, 2011 22:35:58 GMT -6
MRI RESULTS MRI OF THE LUMBAR SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST\b0 ¬
CLINICAL HISTORY\b0 : Neuritis.¬
COMPARISON\b0 : 8/8/2005¬
TECHNIQUE\b0 : Sagittal images of the entire lumbar spine were obtained with T1 weighted and T2 weighted fast spin-echo technique using the phased array CTL spine coil. Axial T2 weighted FSE images were also obtained to include the last four lumbar intervertebral disc space levels. ¬ \par ¬ \par \b FINDINGS\b0 : ¬ \par ¬ \par There is normal lumbar vertebral body alignment, height and marrow signal intensity with well maintained disc space heights. Spinal cord terminates normally at L1. There is a mild to moderate chronic vertebral body compression fracture of T11. Visualized abdominal aortic caliber is grossly unremarkable. There is no obvious periaortic adenopathy noted. ¬ \par ¬ \par There is an intrathecal, and possibly exophytic medullary inhomogeneously enhancing mass within the anterior aspect of the thecal sac extending from the inferior aspect of T12 down to the mid to inferior aspect of L1 with somewhat well circumscribed margins, possibly representing a neurogenic tumor. ¬
There is no significant disc bulge, disc protrusion, central spinal stenosis or significant osseous foraminal narrowing at any level. ¬
\par \b IMPRESSION: ¬
\par 1. FINDINGS AS DISCUSSED ABOVE, CONSISTENT WITH AN INTRATHECAL, PROBABLE EXTRAMEDULLARY OR EXOPHYTIC MEDULLARY MASS WITHIN THE ANTERIOR THECAL SAC AT T12-L1 MEASURING 2.7 CM CRANIOCAUDAD X 0.8 CM AP X 1.4 CM TRANSVERSE WITH INHOMOGENEOUS ENHANCEMENT, LOCATED WITHIN THE ANTERIOR AND LEFT ASPECT OF THE THECAL SAC, FELT TO PROBABLY REPRESENT A NEUROGENIC TUMOR. THE FINDING WAS NOT PRESENT ON THE PRIOR LIMITED MRI OF THE LUMBAR SPINE ON 8/8/2005.¬
STABLE APPEARANCE OF A CHRONIC MILD TO MODERATE VERTEBRAL BODY COMPRESSION FRACTURE OF T11. ¬
RESULTS OF MRI AFTER SURGERY
Clinical history: Spinal stenosis. Status post removal of spinal cord tumor.
Technique: T1, fast spin echo T2, and post gadolinium T1-weighted sagittal and axial images of the lumbar and lower thoracic spine were obtained. 20 ml of Omniscan were utilized.
Findings: Images of the lumbar spine demonstrate interval postoperative changes of T12 and L1 laminectomies, with prominent postoperative scarring enhancing granulation tissue filling operative defect up to the margin of the thecal sac. The terminal cord is contiguous with the thecal sac margin at the operative level, without obvious tethering although a effusion is difficult to exclude. The lobulated enhancing mass along the anterior aspect of the, cord has been removed in the interval. Minimal linear enhancement is seen along the anterior spinal artery location, without significant intrathecal enhancement appreciated to suggest residual tumor. The cord is otherwise normal in configuration and signal.
Minimal anterior wedging is noted along the superior endplate of L4 and both anterior endplates of T11, stable and chronic, possibly related to old injury or degenerative. No pathologic marrow replacement or osseous destruction is seen. Paraspinal areas otherwise appear grossly intact.
Impression: - Interval operative intervention, with T12 and L1 laminectomies and resection of the intrathecal tumor contiguous with the anterior aspect of the conus. No residual the intrathecal enhancing tumor is seen. There is prominent postoperative scarring granulation tissue extending through the defect contiguous with the dorsal margin of the sac. The terminal cord is also contiguous with the dorsal margin of the sac, making it difficult to exclude a effusion although no definite residual cord tethering is seen. If clinical question remains, repeat MRI with prone positioning may be helpful. This could be obtained at the time of routine long-term followup as well.
------------------------------ MY EXPERIENCE ALMOST 2 YEARS AFTER SURGERY ------------------------------ I had a schowanna tumor removed sept 1st 2009. Mine was fairly large... NS SAUD it got to large it busted out of the spinal cord and was wrapping around the artery going down the spinal cord. My NS said it was pretty serious
I have no feeling in my left leg in upper leg above knee... I hurt in my lower left back and up to where my spinal tumor was removed. I am a lineman for at&t.. it has been really rough for me... yes I can do many things that my job requres me to do "etc climb telephone poles" ... but I have zero relief in pain
its horrible; there are times only thing i can do is lay down if i didnt have insurance thru bcbs i would probably quit my job and look for something easier to do. if there is anything easier I could do. I am looking for anything at this point.
if getting cut again.. ill do it tomorrow I had my gallbladder removed 4 weeks ago hoping it would help with the pain.. it hasnt
I do not know what to do at this point. The pain is progressive getting worst! I do not enjoy life anymore! I really could care less if I lived or died!
I have thought about contacting a doctor that does stim cell research... to see if they may be hope of pain relief!
I started noticeing this pain back in high school.. 1999. The pain got unbareable in 2007 near Jan. I was working in new orleans where I was lifting a ladder up to do normal routine work...
where the pain got so intense all I could do was throw the ladder down on the ground and lay down on my stomach across the driver front seat in my work van!
That is when I think the tumor poped out of the spinal cord!
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Post by Stephen on Jul 14, 2011 22:37:34 GMT -6
if anyone have any advice.. please email me at madd72@gmail.com
thanks
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Post by jona63 on Aug 7, 2011 22:30:43 GMT -6
hey I had a schwanoma removed from my l4-s1 9 years ago. My NS did a laminectomy with nerve monitoring so as not to cut any nerves. Nerve blocks only work for a certain time and the symptoms will come back again. I work as a work comp adjuster and you don't want to be addicted to all the opioids out there. There are doctors that will send you to pain management and that is not a good idea. You might want to check out a NS that has experience with SCT and prepare to ask questions like if how many surgeries did he do, does he use nerve monitoring, etc. do all the research before you make any decisions.
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Post by Crystale520 on Oct 7, 2011 18:17:47 GMT -6
Im very happy that i found this forum... Im very confused n scared... In 2009 While pregnant with my son i was sick n couldn't breathe.. they sent me for xray n found mass on my spine. after numerous mris, and biopsy they discovered it was a schwannoma.. long story short I went to a ns and he says i will need a thoracic surgeon because the tumor is growing out into my lungs n ribs on t6 and not down the canal.. He said he would assist the thoracic surgeon because it is on the nerve. but they would have to cut my chest n separate my ribs to get to the tumor.. After reading all the posts n the thought of them going through my ribs, im kind of opting out of surgery.. i would love 2 hear of anyone else who may have had same experience...
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Post by rick81 on Oct 7, 2011 19:05:27 GMT -6
Crystale your story just gave me the shivers. I just finished going through this experience. First off let me say dont compare yourself to any of the other shwannoma stories on this board as i did, as your tumor is atypical, very rare. I say this because its not in the canal as you mentioned and extradural. My tumor was also adjacent to my lung, splaying my ribs and hanging off a nerve at t4.
My surgery was done 4 months ago by a neuro and thoracic surgeon. Let me tell you i was scared stiff prior to surgery and i asked my doc for ativan for anxiety and that helped much. Dont be afraid to let your doc know that your worried. Im also doing much better 4 motnhs into my recovery. They went in through my back with a posterolateral thoractomy and completely resected my tumor. The rib pain is not as bad as one would think and subsided after 2 months and mine were spread and removed. Your neuro will have an easier time removing the schwannoma because its not in the canal, risk of neurological deficits is very low. The worst part of the surgery is the incsion pain.
Something tells me your differential diagnosis prior to your diagnosis was very dim and when you found out it was a benign schwannoma you were relieved, hang on to that right now Chrystale. Remember everything will be ok and if you have any questions for me feel free to ask! How old are you by the way?
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Post by Crystale520 on Oct 8, 2011 9:00:57 GMT -6
Hi Rick, thank u so much!!! I am 33.. It is very refreshing to hear a positive story. Although I cant be out of work for months... What about Pain medication? i dont wanna depend on anything to make me feel good. did ur ribs break when they seperated them? sorry i have many questions, im just weighing my options here.. why did your dr say u should have this removed? I ws very relieved 2 know this wasnt malignant, however im scared 2 death of surgery. im tired of runnign around from different dr to different dr.. Im curious to know how long this can be put off for..
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Post by rick81 on Oct 8, 2011 11:57:29 GMT -6
In terms of how long the surgery can be put off for that varies, it's really a case by case basis. Your surgeon is the one who knows that but the fact that you've known you have this since 2009 sounds like it's not extremely urgent or you'd of had the surgery by now. In my case I was operated within 3 weeks of diagnosis because there was some canal extension and it was eroding my vertebrae causing it to become unstable.
Pain medication is not an option after thoractomy unfortunately! Thoractomies are said to be the toughest surgical incision to deal with. Dont worry about the medication you will be taking them to tolerate the pain not to feel good or "high" and you most likely wont be on them for more than 6 months. I had 6 cm of both the 4th and 5th ribs removed so they are no longer attached to my spine.The last thing you need to worry about is the rib pain, that goes away quickly and no my ribs didn't crack when they were spread. You will be missing alot of work after surgery at least 3 months so you need to prepare accordingly. I'm aiming to be back in the new year and that will be 7 months of recovery at that point. I know exactly what you mean about the doctor to doctor thing. Before all this i had been to the doctors maybe 3 times lol. In the last 6 motnhs ive been to tons! I also wanna say that i look perfectly normal and no one would ever know i had this unless i take off my shirt. If you have any other questions please let me know,if I can help even 1 person who has to go through what I just did it would mean the world to me!
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mike
Junior Member
Posts: 5
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Post by mike on Nov 17, 2011 12:11:56 GMT -6
i have a 14x12x15mm within the leftl4-l5 nural formen it was found on a incidental find on a mri from a fall of a big rig. The ns said I should have it removed because it would be easier now then later. I have no pain or problems from it at all so I dont know if I should take the chance and have it removed or not.
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Post by millelacskay on Nov 17, 2011 14:12:08 GMT -6
Hi Mike - Since you are not having any symptoms related to the tumor, I would suggest taking your time and getting more opinions. If it is not growing there would be no reason to take it out and you could be worse off after the operation. I am surprised they didn't suggest a repeat MRI to see if it is stable. My L5 schwannoma was discovered during a MRI for a herniated disc but they did not operate on it for a year and a half and only then because a repeat MRI indicated it was growing and almost triple the size from the first scan. You could get a copy of the MRI and send it to Dr. Jallo and he will give you his opinion too. If you want to get more feedback on your post it is best to start a new thread in the General Forum at the top of the page. Good luck! Kay
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