Weird Tightness Across Chest

[samuridude]

"My neuro tells me it is not possible that the tumor causes this, but I wonder if he is wrong."

If your neuro said those words, then you should have great concerns about the experience and competency of said neuro. I believe the Neuro's even have a buzz word for it's description, "banding". FYI, I had this same feeling before and after surgery. It was one of the worst feeling I had.   

[Dawn]

Thanks for the feedback. I have grave concerns about the competency of the spine tumor specialist at Mayo that I have been working with. I am heading to MD Anderson to see Dr Laurence Rhines, neurosurgery, and their spinal tumor team next week for 2nd opinion. Hoping for better management of the situation. Interesting that there is a term, banding, for the symptom. huh.

[leks]

My ns called it a "hyperband".

Dawn, good on ya for getting a second opinion!!

[Dawn]

Thank you. So this "hyperband" - is it a post op symptoms or a pre-op symptom or both? I do not have a tight band feeling. Rather a burning/pins and needles feeling in lower ribs. I suppose everyone has a bit of a different experience. But it is heartening to hear other people talk of their "weird" symptoms. Our CNS is a fascinating system that seems to defy rules and expectations of physicians. Funny that patients all seem to share the understanding that symptoms, while inexplicable, are very real.

[leks]

For me it was post op.

Nerve damage is a bitch, and the burning/pins n needles you talk of is almost definitely caused by the tumor compressing some nerves.

And ye, the CNS is amazing and very complicated, their is a lot we and doctors/scientists still don't understand about it.,.

[lulu]

Hi..It has been six yrs since I had my ependymona removed. It has been a mind altering painful journey. I still have this tightness in my chest and down through my abdomen.
Horrid! I can hardly breath at times
I have a very narrow cord where they removed my tumor. Doesn"t sound good LOoking for a good Dr t9 help Me so I can move better

[mab]

I have similar pain -- a band around my chest that feels like someone is tightening it constantly, a cement truck sitting on my sternum crushing me, three daggers in my back -- one dead centre and two angling in -- one from the right and one from the left. Woke up from my surgery for a T5-T7 Intradural Spinal Meningioma 6 years ago feeling like I was being crushed to death. Drugs (Hydromorphone Contin) help mimimize the pain but it never goes away -- and the cold and walking exacerbates it. Also have numbness, tingling and itching that gets worse when I use my arms/hands too much. I'd love to get off the drugs, but am afraid to go back to the pain I had before my pain specialist got me sorted out -- it was worse than going through labour -- at least I knew it would end but this is 24/7 and never stops. I'd love to know how others with this crushing pain manage.

[nan]

I had the tightness around my waist before my meningioma surgery(T5-T-6) and for 2 and half months following surgery. It was very painful and I was afraid that it would never go away. However, It has completely gone away now -about 3 months post surgery. I am not taking any pain medications. My heart goes out to those of you who are still dealing with the waist banding pain for years after surgery, as it is mind numbingly painful. I want to offer encouragement, though, to those looking at these board that- at least on my case- the pain does go away.

[janab52]

This is a new sensation for me and I am 18 years postop. MRI shows no recurrance of the tumor but changes to the structure just above tumor site C2-C4 in last two years. Mine started as a band around the bottom of ribcage but now goes all the way up and under arm pits. Riding in the car is awful-every bump and crack makes me miserable. Local neuro says nothing can be done but adjust meds - waitng on primary to see about a 2nd opinion or referral to pain management.

[poobear]

I began having tightness around my rib cage post op. It is as though I'm in a vice that someone keeps tightening. It becomes unbearable and is quite painful. While I was still trying to work the pain would stop me on my tracks. I struggled to breathe and although I could explain to people the sensation I knew they were not relating. I am two plus years post op and the "banding" is no better. Not only do I have to deal with this sensation but the painful sensitivity of the scar and surrounding area as well, not to mention the tingling and numbness in my legs and feet. I recently had a spinal cord stimulator implanted to help with the pain after exhausting other pain management treatments. The stimulator has helped with some of the sharp stabbing pains. Would like more pain relief but will take whatever I can get. Has anyone else tried the spinal cord stimulator?