Guest guest Posted January 16, 2011 Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 Kate, It sounds like you've been through hell and I truly hope it's over. You've got a great attitude. I'm rooting for you! Kate From: Katey Fontaine Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2011 2:47 PM spinal problems Subject: Welcome from Florida Hello all, Thank you for allowing me to join your group. I am a 32 yr old female who lives in West Central Florida. For 2 yrs I had struggles with foot numbness, eventually, leg numbness, gait problems, and so on and so forth. Finally after being sent to more doctors then one can imagine. I had an MRI done of my brain and cervical spine (they were looking for MS) and a very small tip of a tumor showed up. I was immediately sent to a neurologist (2nd one) who sent me to SHANDS UF Hospital to the neurosurgens who got me in for emergency surgery. The night before the surgery I had an MRI of my Thorasic spine which showed a tumor consuming the entire dura space from my T2 & T3 spine. It was litterally cutting off my cerebrial Spinal fluid causing severe pain in my back as well as severe pain down my leg. I ended up having a 4 hr lamemectomy of the T2 & T3 spine to remove a melingiomia (Spelling?) which is a tumor rare to the spine but they usually form in the brain. This all happened on Nov. 9th, 2010. I was litterally to the point when I was bairly able to walk and I fell atl least 6 times a day hard. The surgery at first was scary b/c it was painful even on major meds but I did not regain movement in my legs for a few days. (The swelling had pushed against the nerve and they were having a hard time getting the tissue off the nerve. After about a week at SHANDS I was moved over into another hopsital to a more local rehab for a little over 2 weeks and by the time I left there I was able to use a walker and do a lot of the daily things I should be able to do on my own. (this was Dec. 2). By Dec. 10th I was using a cain to walk around and chase after my 2 kids. I was going to outpatient PT and still on all of the meds except the oxycodone and oxy cotton. By Dec. 18th I stopped using the cain b/c my gait had improved enough that I no longer needed it for stability and the feeling in my legs had mostly come back (At least the top pf my legs). By Christmas I had regained feeling in my lower legs although they still felt heavy and my incision had finally healed with minimal steri strips on it. I have a 6 " incision on my back that is about 1/2 " wide and the 21 spots where I had staples down both sides. I am still going to PT but I have lost 20 lbs since surgery and I have joined a health club where I have been doing Zumba Gold (yes I know for the older people) but it's been remarkable how well I have done). I was given the all clear on this past Wed. to drive again. I still have some numbness in my feet and heaviness in my legs but my mobility is getting back to normal and my PT is now primarily strength training. The scary part to my situation is that during surgery my blood pressure would not stablize and there was a lot of swelling so they are not 100% sure if they got the entire tumor. Also, scar tissue likes to grow b/c it was in the dura cavity so it had to be patched so the scar tissue likes to stick to it and can compress the spinal cord again over time. Which may mean more surgery. There is also a 9% chance of regrowth. I go bck in 6 weeks for an MRI to see what or if anything remains or has grown in that area. It may mean keeping a watchful eye on it, more surgery or if it is the tumor radiation therapy even though the tumor was beneign. Okay well that's my story and if anyone is in North FL I have a great Neurosurgen for you! Kate " Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. " -Dr. Seuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2011 Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 Thanks. Kate Fontaine " Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. " -Dr. Seuss From: Kate Carroll <katecarr@...> spinal problems Cc: Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2011 4:47 PM Subject: Re: Welcome from Florida  Kate, It sounds like you've been through hell and I truly hope it's over. You've got a great attitude. I'm rooting for you! Kate From: Katey Fontaine Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2011 2:47 PM spinal problems Subject: Welcome from Florida Hello all, Thank you for allowing me to join your group. I am a 32 yr old female who lives in West Central Florida. For 2 yrs I had struggles with foot numbness, eventually, leg numbness, gait problems, and so on and so forth. Finally after being sent to more doctors then one can imagine. I had an MRI done of my brain and cervical spine (they were looking for MS) and a very small tip of a tumor showed up. I was immediately sent to a neurologist (2nd one) who sent me to SHANDS UF Hospital to the neurosurgens who got me in for emergency surgery. The night before the surgery I had an MRI of my Thorasic spine which showed a tumor consuming the entire dura space from my T2 & T3 spine. It was litterally cutting off my cerebrial Spinal fluid causing severe pain in my back as well as severe pain down my leg. I ended up having a 4 hr lamemectomy of the T2 & T3 spine to remove a melingiomia (Spelling?) which is a tumor rare to the spine but they usually form in the brain. This all happened on Nov. 9th, 2010. I was litterally to the point when I was bairly able to walk and I fell atl least 6 times a day hard. The surgery at first was scary b/c it was painful even on major meds but I did not regain movement in my legs for a few days. (The swelling had pushed against the nerve and they were having a hard time getting the tissue off the nerve. After about a week at SHANDS I was moved over into another hopsital to a more local rehab for a little over 2 weeks and by the time I left there I was able to use a walker and do a lot of the daily things I should be able to do on my own. (this was Dec. 2). By Dec. 10th I was using a cain to walk around and chase after my 2 kids. I was going to outpatient PT and still on all of the meds except the oxycodone and oxy cotton. By Dec. 18th I stopped using the cain b/c my gait had improved enough that I no longer needed it for stability and the feeling in my legs had mostly come back (At least the top pf my legs). By Christmas I had regained feeling in my lower legs although they still felt heavy and my incision had finally healed with minimal steri strips on it. I have a 6 " incision on my back that is about 1/2 " wide and the 21 spots where I had staples down both sides. I am still going to PT but I have lost 20 lbs since surgery and I have joined a health club where I have been doing Zumba Gold (yes I know for the older people) but it's been remarkable how well I have done). I was given the all clear on this past Wed. to drive again. I still have some numbness in my feet and heaviness in my legs but my mobility is getting back to normal and my PT is now primarily strength training. The scary part to my situation is that during surgery my blood pressure would not stablize and there was a lot of swelling so they are not 100% sure if they got the entire tumor. Also, scar tissue likes to grow b/c it was in the dura cavity so it had to be patched so the scar tissue likes to stick to it and can compress the spinal cord again over time. Which may mean more surgery. There is also a 9% chance of regrowth. I go bck in 6 weeks for an MRI to see what or if anything remains or has grown in that area. It may mean keeping a watchful eye on it, more surgery or if it is the tumor radiation therapy even though the tumor was beneign. Okay well that's my story and if anyone is in North FL I have a great Neurosurgen for you! Kate " Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. " -Dr. Seuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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