- conflicting answers

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I'm glad you're finally getting some answers, but they sure do raise a lot

more questions, don't they. I've also been told to be careful with my back,

and that it is more " sensitive " than normal backs due to my SB and tethered

cord. The way it was explained to me was that, it would take a lot less to

paralyze me than it would a normal person. Not a happy thought, of course,

but that made me understand what this condition meant for me.

I've also experienced frustration with the fact that my TCS means that

symptoms come and go as they please. I've had some terrible days with

neuropathic pain recently, accompanied by tingling and what feel like

electric shocks running through my left leg and foot. I've considered what

might have caused this, but can't seem to come up with anything. I haven't

fallen or exercised strenuously, or anything like that. As someone else

said, many of our symptoms seem to have a mind of their own. It takes some

getting used to, that's for sure.

One thing I did want to touch upon was what your doctor said about the

lipoma and how it couldn't grow. I was told exactly the opposite by my

neurosurgeon. He said I should be careful about my weight in the future

because if I gain a lot of weight, the lipoma (being fat) can also grow. It

frustrates me that you were told one thing and I was told another. Who is

right? I'm sure if I asked my doc and you asked yours, they would be say

that he was correct.

Best wishes for success with the steroids. Let us know how it goes!

As for me, as far as I know, my second detethering surgery is still

scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 10th. I sure hope I go through this time. I'm

dreading a third cancellation, but trying hard not to think about it too

much.

Take care,

Debbie

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004 21:50:36 EST

From: mysticalcove13@...

Subject: Re: Terrifying MRI results

I met with my neurosurgeon today. He told that my MRI looked as he expected

it would. Everything looked fine. He feels the radiologist read it wrong.

He said the object the radiologist labeled as a cluster of tumors was the

remnants of the old lipoma which was removed in 2000. He said the remnant

is not growing. He said that the fat in fatty tumors is a different fat

from that which we gain as flab...therefore as we gain weight there is no

effect on the lipoma. He said he cannot say definitively about my back but

believes that I have irritated the nerves. he said my back isn't a

" normal " back and therefore is

weaker and should be treated more carefully. He thinks I have " injured " or

" overworked " it and in doing so have " irritated " the same nerves involved in

the tethered cord area - because that area is weakened from the surgery. He

has put me on steroids for 12 days; I return in 2 weeks. If all is better,

great; otherwise, I guess he tries again.

I haven't sustained any injuries. I don't think I overwork my back. I

always think I don't do enough. He also said I should get used to this as I

will go through this " intermittently " due to my history. I'm confused. I

will see how it is at the end of the steroids.