For the past 2 years I have been to see a Physician Specialist 3 times as I have been experiencing pain under the coccyx which intially could be numbed with one headache tablet then it got so bad that I was taking 2 Myprodol and 2 Cataflam and still no relief. Funny thing that it ONLY occured at night, the pain would wake me from my sleep. The other thing is that it always happens if I have diarrhea. So I was told for the past two years that I have IBS and I am too stressed!!!! Until one day the pain was so unbearable that I took myself off to the outpatients trauma unit at my local hospital and was given a jab and told to go home and see my doctor again. So I decided to go to a new doctor who sent me to a Gastrointrenologist for a Colonoscopy which came back normal he then sent me for a MRI and yes there is was a Tarlov Cyst 4cm in the spinal colomn, now I must go and see a Neuro Surgeon. My question is why do I almost always wake up at night with the pain? and if I have an upset stomach I know that I am going to get the pain FOR SURE - why is that???
Wendy - South Africa

Hi Wendy!

Welcome to NeuroTalk! You'll find this place to be an enormous resource for support and information.

You might want to take a look at the Chronic Pain forum and do feel free to start a thread of your own. Jump in anywhere, you're always welcome.

Chronic Pain forum is here:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=10

It's really nice to meet you. And that's a very interesting question you've asked. I suffer from chronic pain myself, although for a different reason, and I have noticed that many times an upset stomach is followed by a flare of pain. I've always wondered why, and I've asked a lot of docs, including two gastroenterologists, but no one can seem to give me an answer. I hope that you're luckier than I have been. Good luck!

Idealist

Hi Wendy. Very nice to meet you.

You may also want to visit the Tarlov Cyst forum. It's right here. http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=73.

Wendy,

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. It is great to meet you. Here you will find a number of people to help as they can.

Hope to see you in all the forums.

Darlene

Hiya Wendy, welcome to NT! I see you've already been given the links to the forums you need, but don't forget... we have a lighter side to us, too! There is a great Social Chat area, with a sub-forum of yummy recipes. We also have a pets forum (for sharing and bragging, lol), and a Creative Corner, for the artistic side of you.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=35 (Social Chat)
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=61 (Creative Corner)
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=62 (Our Pets)

hey there thx for your reply - i want to find out what is the recovery period after having a tc removed? how long do you stay out of action?

Hi Wendy and welcome to a fellow South African I havent lived there for a long time, but my family are still in Cape Town

the best place to find answers re Tarlov Cysts is the subforum we have for it. It isnt yet very active, but does have a few regular members checking in there
here is the link again
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=73

Hi again Wendy. Glad to see you are still here.

I think Tarlov Cysts are receiving more attention than they used to, as with a lot of illnesses. I've been checking around the internet and found some information that might be helpful to you.

http://www.tarlovcyst.net/faq.htm#Wh...p_restrictions

http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/wha...lov_cyst06.asp

Hi Wendy,

Welcome, I see you have met the gang!

Sorry that you have been having so much trouble lately but glad that you have some docs that were able to diagnose you.

I am sorry but I cannot anser you question about recovery from surgery.

But I think I can take a stab at the first one why the stomach and the pain are related. I also have IBS symptoms and went through ton of gastro and neuro tests. All the gastro tests some back normal which was frustrating. So I did some research and talked to my gastro and neuro and they agreed that it was the nerves, not just stress. But that is why some docs just say IBS is caused by stress. Now the stress doesnt help but apparently the brain and the stomach have the same pain receptors. Matter of fact your gut actually produces serotonin as well the brain. The brain and the enteric nervous system which is in your gut are connected.

Which is why in the beginning your headache medicine would help both. But I am guessing that after a while the pain receptors multiplied and the medicine was not enough. Plus I bet the inflammation in that area from the Tarlov cyst could be contributing.

Anyway my IBS and the diarherra is caused by too fast of nerve conduction. The gastro and neuro concur that a med that slows down the nerve conduction in very low amounts help the IBS and diaherra.

Well I wish you the best of luck with your surgery and will be checking back to see how you are doing.