post op 1 year mri

[reinel]

I had my decompression 1 year ago may. I developed a pseudomeningocele that was 8 x 4.5 x 3 cm. My Dr said he wanted to give a full year to see if it would go away on its own or atleast shrink. I am still dealing with headaches, neck and shoulder pain. My mri as of a week ago showed no improvement in my pseudo and  suboccipital postoperative residuals, and multiple Perineural sheath cysts in C-spine, and a 9 mm lesion left anterior parietal subcortical and small choroid plexus cysts. None of which was on any previous mri excluding the pseudo.  I cant get into my Neurosurgeon for 3 more weeks. I was just wondering if someone could please help me get an understanding of these findings and if I should be concerned.

Thank you

[reinel]

Wow that sounds horrible...I am hoping they do something to fix these issues I am going crazy...I will wait to see what my neurosurgeon has to say and in the meantime I plan on calling a specialist in Sacramento, ca to get further advice. He specializes in Tarlov Cysts...I will keep you all posted

[selmaS]

  Thanks for ur info on the tarlov cysts, it seems they form in the same manor as a syrinx,....

  I did read that some of these cysts may be drained using a very fine needle....and I am sure if they choose to do this procedure it would be bcuz they feel this is the best way to resolve a more dire issue.

[czpdx]

Sorry to hear that things are so rough one year out for you. I am not familiar with the cysts, but did want to comment on the pseudo. I cannot tell you how much better I felt after I had my pseudo dealt with (and the tear in the dural patch taken care of). It was so worth it to get rid of all of that extra pressure. The thing that made the difference in dealing with my pseudo this time was that my surgeon did a lumbar drain after my surgery and kept me in ICU for 5 days laying completely flat -- zero degrees, no pillow. During that five days, CSF was drained through the lumbar drain, every hour, 24 hours per day. The draining off of fluid and the laying flat kept the fluid from building back up in that open space right away. It wasn't fun, but it worked like a charm!

[reinel]

Thank you very helpful info...do you know if they fix my pseudo if that will help with the development of more.

[hevnw8s]

Sorry...forgot to add about the tarlov cysts. They are formed from a leak in your spinal fluid. They fill with spinal fluid and are attched to your spine by nerve endings. That's why no one wants to touch them. Also, be careful if you receive any type of injections for pain. You can puncture a cyst and that could be dangerous.

[hevnw8s]

I wanted to comment on the tarlov cysts. I have numerous tarlove cysts...cervical, lumbar and sacrum. They can not be removed since they are connected to your spine by nerve endings. If you have them drained, they will refill in a short period of time. Doctor Feigenbaum, a Neurosurgeon in Dallas, is the only doctor who will operate on them...check his website. It is actually back surgey where he goes in, fillets the cyst open, drians it, fills it with a type of glue and then closes it up again. My understanding is they will never go away and throughout the years you will grow more.

I hope this helps. Neurosurgeons will tell you these cysts are asymptomatic...but they are wrong. There is a tarlov cyst foundation that can give you more information.

Good luck

[selmaS]

  Good Luck and keep us posted on how it goes : )

[reinel]

well thank for the info i appreciate it have a bit more knowledge now to take with me to my appointment.

[selmaS]

  From what I understand some can be drained with a needle only to fill back up....not sure what will help these....

If u can get ur pseudo under control it may help with these other cysts, I really have no idea....

[reinel]

Thank you for your response. I have not tried another opinion I was going to see what they had to say on my next appointment and go from there. Do you know if the tarlov cysts resolve on thier own.

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome back !

The perineural sheath cysts also known as tarlov cysts can form from inflammation tissues, which post op I am sure is the condition they grew in....most of these cysts develop in the lumbar or sacral region of the spine affecting the bowel and bladder...since urs is in ur cervical spine I am guessing it is a post op residual.....and with a pseudo and all that CSF building it is no wonder these other cysts formed as well.

Have u tried to get an opinion from a Diff Dr?