HAVE I A BRAIN OR SPINAL TUMOR?

[PHIL__0]

  Hello my name is Phill and I am 40 years old. In Oct 94 I had a 360 degree spinal fusion of L4-L5 & L5-S1. My discs were removed and replaced with carbon fibre blocks. Animal calf tissue from Germany was used to aid in the bone graft. Prior to surgery I got myself very fit and strong by working out in the gym and swimming. My rehabilitation was very quick where I was back in the Gym and swimming three months after surgery and back to work after six months. My surgeon was very pleased with the result and so was I. In March 96 I had my stainless steel implants removed and I was once again back in the Gym and swimming three weeks after surgery. Everything was fine until six months later when I noticed the physical activity was making me dizzy, feel nausea, dull headaches, neck and shoulder pain, ear pain. Since then I am unable to work out and keep fit due to these symptoms. I need to stretch my hamstrings and leg muscles to aleviate the aching back pain I now have. When I stretch my hamstrings and the nerves in my legs I have almost instant attacks of dizziness and nausea. I  also feel some sort of dull pain in the middle of my back and shoulder muscles sometimes with hot shooting pains. Two years ago I was dianosed as having some sort of small tumor in my brain (the specialist said I had nothing to worry about) and something wrong with my balance rings in my ears. At times I can feel something in my brain in various positions mainly at the top front either side and above my ears, especially the right. Sometimes I can feel spasms above my right ear. Stress is another which brings my symptoms on. I work hard and long hours and a the end of the day can feel very dizzy and nausea. It is the feelings I get in the mid of my back and neck which I cannot explain. I am an ex alcoholic (beer), have not drunk for 28 months now, and was a heavy marujuana user for a number of years. I fear my brain tumor has worsoned or I have a spinal tumor. Do I exhibit the symtoms for these and what is my likely outcome, or can somebody explain to me what it can be? Eagerly waiting for a reply.  Thankyou.            
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Dear Phill:
Most of the symptoms that you mention are quite non-specific and do not indicate the presence of a spine or brain tumor.
The brain tumor found two years ago (possibly incidentally) may have been a small acoustic schwannoma, from your description. Such tumors are usually quite slow-growing, and are frequently monitored by annual MRI scans and/or audiometry. Surgery is done when they grow sufficiently in size to impair function. Symptoms of such tumors can include hearing loss, ringing sensation in the ear, dizziness, loss of balance, and headache. You mention some of these symptoms. Contrarily, it is possible that the tumor was quite unrelated to your ear and balance symptoms.
I think it is quite appropriate for you to see your neurologist and/or neurosurgeon in a follow-up visit to address the possibility of growth of the small brain tumor.