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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Tarlov cyst in children
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Tarlov cyst in children
by Bobbie24, Sep 18, 2001 12:00AM
My son is 4 years old,he has had lower back pain and also pain that started in the left leg,now in both legs.It started 2 years ago and is increasinly getting worse..more freguent and lasting longer.He had an MRI and we were told he had a tarlov cyst in the lowest part of the spinal canal.We are from at rather small town and the doctors don't seem to have many anwsers for us,as they have not seen it before.I would like to know what causes it to get worse..and also what i can do to help with the pain.He is going to see a neuro surgeon,but it will be a few months from now.Also i wanted to know what the outcome of surgrey would be..i have read it is not always to the benifit of the patient.I also wanted to know if they would go away on there own i assume they won't but i was curious..Any information or answers would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You
Bobbie-Jo
Thank You
Bobbie-Jo
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Sep 19, 2001 12:00AM
First, if your doctors aren't familiar with Tarlov's cyst, then you should make sure that this is the correct diagnosis based on the MRI findings. Second, the complications of surgery include the risks of anesthesia (of course) as well as permanent neurological deficits that include leg pain,weakness, and incontinence problems. The outcome depends on the experience of the surgeon and how extensive the lesion is. Third, trauma can cause it to get worse, or it could just get worse on its own. Pain meds like neurontin designed for nerve pain can help as well as physical therapy, but not too much. Fourth, they usually do NOT just disappear, unfortunately. They can stay the same or get bigger. Fifth, surgery is not his only option. Some interventional radiologists are actually going in with a needle and draining it with the help of an XRay machine. Finally, for more info you can look at www.tarlovcyst.net. Best of luck.
