Whew! Another gut ck. listened to

iodine · October 2007

iodine · October 2007

Last mid July I had acute onset of left laterl thigh pain, very severe. Lasted several days and I tried everything even some cortisone injections. Finally saw a ortho, films showed back spasm, got muscle relaxants, pain meds. Worked a little, went back when I began numbness over front of thigh and over to groin.

Went for MRI, incidential findings of hematoma between spine and dura (sac holding fluid and cord). HUH! No good reason why.

Neurosurg consult: repeat MRI in 3 weeks, see if it is absorbed and if a source of bleed can be found.

Repeat MRI, no real change. Recommend: surgery to suck out blood and biopsy any lesion found to rule out mets of bc. WHAT?

If only blood, only small surgery with 2-3 weeks recovery.

If lesions found, big surgery, over 2 months recovry and lots of lumbar spine removed to get lesion and then see if its cancer or not. Likely not, but it'll be removed. Oh, goody.

Not exactly a win, win situation.

by now my back and leg symptoms are gone and I'm not having pain or numbness any longer.

Requested 2 and 3rd opinons. Went on vacation to think it over. Hospital forgets to send MRI to Fla for opinion (thanks a lot)

University forgets to send it around to it's specialty docs for review (thanks a lot) So 3 more weeks go by. (glad it's not a real emergency!! folks)

Anyway, they all agree that it's a bleed (hematoma) and to leave it alone since all the symptoms are gone. Feel that it's 99.9% NOT mets. and we can ck it out in 3-4 mos if we want to, to see if it's absorbed or not and if a lesion is actually there.

My sweet little gut was telling me all along---no way, no how was anyone going to slice and dice my spine just to "see" if we had anything there. Not with the long term side effects of back surgery and possible complications of same. So--unless I have more symptoms I'll consider another MRI after the first of the year to see it's all gone or not.

I've wanted to bring this up here several times but just didn't have the heart to do so. I more angry than anything that I had so few choices and so little information. Now I have info and can get it off my "back" . Pun intended!!!!

tawyna1 · October 2007

hi,

one good sign is you are not having symptoms any more that is real good.

Anonymous · October 2007

Dotti, so happy to hear that you listened to your gut instincts. Back surgery is indeed a hard, hard surgery. My husband had a neurostimulator put in with a paddle (don't know if this is the spelling) and he had pain for quite some time. And this surgery is NOTHING like REAL back surgery. The first stimulator they put in (the lead fell down) was nothing compared to the second.

He is trying everything besides REAL back surgery. LOL

I'm more happy that it is not mets. It's a scary feeling to think that it could have been. I'm so glad you're feeling so much better and hopefully will continue so that you won't need anyone slicing and dicing on your spine. However, knowing you you'll tell them where they can go. lol

Shirley

LisaSDCA · October 2007

Dotti, thank goodness you moved slowly and listened to your gut, your heart, your good common sense, whatever! And thank the Lord for your healing.

Now, no more full-contact rugby for you! Wink

Lisa

JoanofArdmore · October 2007

Wow, Dottie.You sure have been carrying a scarey load.Happy at the decision, which I agree with intensely!

The hemotoma.It gave you the EXACT same symptoms as my slipped disc did almost 20 years ago.Must have been in the same place.

Lucky you that the bleed has ben absorbed and is no longer pressing that part of your spine.My disc kept pressing.I was offered a lamenectomy.My daughter, in nursing school then, wasnt pleased with that option.With backs, there is big chance of surgery not helping!

Me, I apparantly "walked funny" for years, to take the pain away.And my peculiar posture was the cause of my first arthritis of the knee, with the other knee to follow, because of compensation.House of cards!I wish now that I'd seen a chiropracter!Hindsight is always20/20.

As for you, I think you've made a marvellous choice. And I congratulate you on not rushing rashly into .back surgery!!(To SEE, indeed!)

hugs, j

TenderIsOurMight · October 2007

Wow, that's a big pain in the back!

So glad you road this out where others may have lept. Makes no sense for it to be solitary mets between dura and spine presenting with bleed without other areas of dura and body being involved too. I mean, that's just not likely.

Those NSAIDS can do weird things to our platelets; I wonder if your job, if physical, contributed some.Or maybe you had a small vessel weak spot that bleed, and contained itself and healed over.

You're approach was smart. Tincture of time at these unusual presentations may be the best route as you say to avoid "slicing and dicing" and not jump to everything is the big C.

Glad you're back with us some, we've noticed your absence. Try not to worry and post when you wish. And be careful at work, or take some time off.

Missed you,

Tender

gracejon · October 2007

OMG! What an awful experience and worry. So glad you held on. Prospective surgery would have been scary. Hope the scare and symptoms are permanenttly gone. Hugs.

VickiTN · November 2007

Oh, Dottie! I'm so sorry that you've been having all this worrying going on with your back...But, I'm so glad to hear that your pain is gone - and that it's not anything serious.

Praying that everything stays well for you!

hugs,

vicki

Beesie · November 2007

Yikes, the life of a post-breast cancer patient. I'm so sorry that you've been going through this. First the pain, but then the mention of "mets". How scary. And what we all fear.

It's good that you took your time, followed your gut and didn't let them rush you into surgery. Fingers & toes are crossed that you don't have any recurrence of the pain and can hopefully forget this whole thing (or at least, move it to the back of your mind!).

AnneW · November 2007

Wow, Dottie, what a roller coaster!

Good thing you're in tune with your body. It's so easy to get caught up in the emotion of the what-ifs and maybes. And when you visit surgeons, well, they cut. It's what they do.

How did you get the hematoma there in the first place??

Anne

Blundin2005 · November 2007

Hi Dottie!

You're a wise woman and your gut is too....thank god! That was a full plate and then some for you to carry. Glad the pain is gone.

I agree with you completely....back surgery is not something to jump at. I thought "rule out" surgery was a thing of the past. But I guess if they can't get a visual through technology or confirmation through chemistry, and the risk was mets...they wanted to be certain for your sake. I'm really happy for you that the episode passed.

I look for you and missed to read you ....

Whew! Another gut ck. listened to

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