Tethered cord question

[billanschell]

For those of you out there with post-op cord tethering, I'm curious:

Can you feel an actual pulling of the cord?

My MRI radiologist's report suggests tethering; my NS looking at the films says it's doubtful, so I'm left wondering. The one thing I've been noticing lately is a soreness and minor pulling feeling in my lower back. If I bend over, as if to touch my toes, I feel it more - like it's stopping me.

The site where I feel the pulling is several vertebrae below the surgery site, which is where the radiologist thought he saw tethering.

So I'm wondering whether this soreness/pulling feeling well below the site of the possible tethering would be related or not.

Your input would be most welcome.

Thanks.

--Bill

[drummer904]

I cant actually say i can feel it, since i dont have any feeling below the surgery site. I think the tethering of the cord might be causing the muscles around the vertebre to tense up or spasm. My NS thinks that mine is causing the severe spasms from my lower back to my feet. Cant be too sure though.

[deirdre612]

Hi Bill,

I most definitely experienced the pulling sensation and tightness that you're experiencing with my tethering. None of the surgeons have been able to work out why I ended up with tethering far above the tumor site - tethered at T2, both tumors were between T7 and L2. I also had tethering at the surgery site, but it wasn't noticeable as such. Whenever I put my chin down to my chest I'd feel like something was holding me back, there was a definite tightness the further I put my head down. It didn't hurt at all, it wasn't like a muscle strain or anything, and probably why I didn't think to make a big deal about it. It was only picked up following an MRI looking for the tumor regrowth. They considered dealing with the tumor first and waiting to see whether the tethering was still an issue afterwards. I told them if I was having a second surgery they better fix it all up in one hit because I sure as hell wasn't going to go through the recovery a third time!! They eventually agreed, and detethered my cord at the same time as the tumor was removed. They put a goretex patch where the dura was removed, and I haven't had any problems since.

Let me know how you go with this, as I know not everyone has success with detethering of the spinal cord.

Deirdre