Loss of strength - 11 years post op no reoccurrences

[evergreen63]

My husband had a successful resection of a tumor at T4 in January of 2004.  He was left with internal numbness from his chest to bottom of feet.  He still has bowel & bladder issues.  He had a sacral nerve stimulator implanted over a year ago with great success and feels he empties  his bladder more completely than ever.  The downside is he can't get any more MRI's but up until that point has been tumor free.  About 18 mos. ago he was suddenly unable to stand without any warning.  He was hospitalized for two days, lots of tests including MRIs but nothing.  Long story short, went to PT and improved to back where he was, which is walking with assistance (a cane), driving with hand controls (ever since initial surgery), and generally doing good.  About 2 weeks ago, the same thing happened, loss of strength, unable to stand.  Back to hospital, more tests, nothing discovered.

Has anyone else out there had this issue?  Now he does have some arthritis in his back and it's possible the arthritis flared up and caused a nerve to get pinched?  But we don't know for sure.  He's not one to sit still for long so it's back to PT and we'll see what happens. 

Any suggestions/ideas/help appreciated.

[adrian74]

My mom had spinal cord ependymoma removed in 2013. Neurosurgeon showed me the procedure confirming total resection. Paths indicated tanycytic ependymoma (which is another rarest of ependymoma).
she is walking (dragged feet prior to surgery). Had severe UTIs, perhaps due to bladder retention. Now her bladder control is good but went bad with Amitriptyline (Elavil 10mg). After she stopped taking Elavil, her bladder function is normal but - she wakes up every 1.30 hrs during sleep. She has urgency but can control - not for too long though.

Numbness and some sort of siffness she cannot properly describe - Numbness is currently a bother problem for her. It varies though. Sometimes she complains it from waist down and sometimes she complains in feet.

One thing is bothering her currently is dysthesias. She complains that whiplash pain like electric shock and burning of back. I am not sure if this is existing in many. Any input?

thanks a lot for reading!

Hope you feel much better every day!

[muslim]

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[pringleman]

Hi Evergreen63, I just logged back on after several years as I feel I am suddenly going backwards. Not to the extent that you describe your husband as experiencing but significant changes none the less. I had an MRI and there is nothing showing. I had felt certain that there was regrowth having been through that before. Now I am not sure. That was why I was back looking to see what other long termers were experiencing.

I have always had pins and needles and general numbness but the new symptoms (or old ones returning) are total numbness and lack of strength; dragging my feet when I walk, falling over, sleepless nights from pain in my legs.

Could be just age related.