Post by carol on Aug 17, 2016 20:50:09 GMT -6
Hi. I’m glad I found this forum. Thanks in advance for your help.
After a pelvic MRI, I was diagnosed in July with a 2 cm nerve sheath tumor between S2 and S3 in the nerve roots in my sacrum – most likely schwannoma. I finally got in to see a neurosurgeon this week, and he says it needs to come out. I have surgery scheduled for September 13.
I sought a diagnosis after 6 months of increasing pain when sitting, and lying on my back. In the last month, I also now have aching and some numbness in my right leg. I’m also experiencing bladder control issues. I take gabapentin for pain relief at night, and Aleve during the day.
The neurosurgeon says I’ll be in the hospital 4-5 days, then incision healing 4-5 days, then back to work. Unless I end up with a spinal fluid leak, then recovery could take up to two months. He says I should be better off after the surgery than I am now. But he says he will have to do a sacrectomy from S2 down, that he might have to fuse L5 and S1, that the tumor could be involving one or two nerves, and they both have to be removed with the tumor. But he says they aren’t functioning now, so not a loss.
I’m 53 but in excellent health, and very, very active – hiking, running, dancing, and extensive traveling. I also still have two teens at home and a demanding job.
After reading stories on here, I’m afraid my neurosurgeon is significantly downplaying the risks and how I will be functioning post-surgery. I assumed after at the most two months, I would be better than now, if not as good as new. Now, to be honest, I’m freaking out a bit. I have a second opinion scheduled for August 30, but I’m afraid this is so rare, that may be a bit useless. The neurosurgeon I’m scheduled with says he’s only seen 4 of these in his career and he’s supposed to be the best. My insurance company says they won’t pay for anyone out of our network unless no surgeon in network will take my case.
Any advice? Thanks so much.
Carol
After a pelvic MRI, I was diagnosed in July with a 2 cm nerve sheath tumor between S2 and S3 in the nerve roots in my sacrum – most likely schwannoma. I finally got in to see a neurosurgeon this week, and he says it needs to come out. I have surgery scheduled for September 13.
I sought a diagnosis after 6 months of increasing pain when sitting, and lying on my back. In the last month, I also now have aching and some numbness in my right leg. I’m also experiencing bladder control issues. I take gabapentin for pain relief at night, and Aleve during the day.
The neurosurgeon says I’ll be in the hospital 4-5 days, then incision healing 4-5 days, then back to work. Unless I end up with a spinal fluid leak, then recovery could take up to two months. He says I should be better off after the surgery than I am now. But he says he will have to do a sacrectomy from S2 down, that he might have to fuse L5 and S1, that the tumor could be involving one or two nerves, and they both have to be removed with the tumor. But he says they aren’t functioning now, so not a loss.
I’m 53 but in excellent health, and very, very active – hiking, running, dancing, and extensive traveling. I also still have two teens at home and a demanding job.
After reading stories on here, I’m afraid my neurosurgeon is significantly downplaying the risks and how I will be functioning post-surgery. I assumed after at the most two months, I would be better than now, if not as good as new. Now, to be honest, I’m freaking out a bit. I have a second opinion scheduled for August 30, but I’m afraid this is so rare, that may be a bit useless. The neurosurgeon I’m scheduled with says he’s only seen 4 of these in his career and he’s supposed to be the best. My insurance company says they won’t pay for anyone out of our network unless no surgeon in network will take my case.
Any advice? Thanks so much.
Carol