Laminectomy in one week, questions
 

Im having a laminectomy to remove a tumor attached to the cord at t9. They can't tell if it's a meningioma or schwannoma at this point. The surgeon said it was a super easy surgery, two days in hospital with two week recovery. Is this true? Can anyone share their experience? Pain after, symptoms etc. I have rsd from a rib resection for venous tos and I'm scared to death of it spreading. Any info would be great, thank you.

A laminectomy is where they remove the "posterior arch of the vertebra" in order to get at what they're removing. So they're actually removing a bit of bone.

I've had a laminectomy so they could remove a herniated disc. I stayed in the hospital longer than 2 days, but that's cause of the disc I'm sure. I had a much longer recovery time. I couldn't go back to work PART-TIME until 4 months later, and not full=time until 6 months. The herniation was quite large, and I had a nasty case of sciatica along with it.

The surgery itself wasn't that difficult, so you don't have to be afraid of that. I wish I could answer you about the RSD, but I can't. :( I don't think anyone can, cause everyone is different. It might spread on one person, and might not on another. :confused:

I pray that it's NOT a meningioma!!! I'll keep you in my prayers! PLEASE let us know as soon as you can, ok??? I'll keep looking for the results. Please take care & God bless. I'm sure you'll be ok! ;) Hugs, Lee

Ty
 

Thanks for responding. I have what "they" call a very diseased lower back. I feel you and understand what your saying completely and that's why I'm afraid of him saying only two weeks. Were you in a lot of pain after surgery? I know the rsd will spread or it won't, I've had practice controlling my stress this past year, sometimes it works.:) One more thing, why hope not a meningioma? That's what they are leaning towards, of course I won't know anything till aFter surgery. Thanks again, I hope to hear more stories? Thank you for your prayer and hope.

Hi again ~~ YES, I was in ALOT of pain after surgery. But I think it was because along with the laminectomy, I had the diskectomy & foramenotomy, so he was "in there" for a bit longer than just the laminectomy. ;)

I'm sorry if I alarmed you by making that remark about the meningioma. :eek: After reading up on the schwannoma, THAT doesn't sound any too pleasant either!! So I guess it's 6 of one, and 1/2 dozen of the other. LOL

I do hope others will chime in with their stories. But I do think that you'll do just fine and if your doctor has any compassion at all, he'll give you adequate pain meds for after surgery. MY surgeon was a total JERK -- and only gave me VERY low dose VICODIN. :eek: I did better taking Aspirin!!! SHEESH. He was one of these arrogant, egotistical specialists. Then when I had to return to him cause I had more symptoms, he said (literally) "You can't have pain, I fixed you!" :confused: HUH???

Keep us posted, ok?? Prayers are coming! Hugs, Lee

Well . . .
 

I was told today by doctor at pre-op that;
The laminectomy is extremely painful and to please take advantage of the pain meds and he made a point to make it clear how painful
That they will be opening the dura to expose my cord
There a risk of bleed depending on how vascular the tumor is
I will possibly lose strength and feeling in my legs but was ok as long as function returns
That any damage I already have is irreversible
There is a risk of cns fluid leakage, slight risk
That it will be a recovery of 3 to 6 months, two days in hospital
A risk of paralysis although he claims he s never seen it happen because it's attached to my cord
My incision will be approx. 6 inches long
If its a schwannoma they may have to sacrifice the t9 nerve root
Etc, etc


Needless to say, I was not prepared for that. He asked if I had any questions. I felt it necessary to express my anger over the fact that I had no choice in this surgery. I thanked him for not sugar coating. I am overwhelmed and an emotional wreck, it sent my rsd into a nasty flare. How much more can I handle? Amazing. I guess my questions have been answered.

WHY ON EARTH were you told originally there was a 2 WEEK recovery period??? :eek: I did think that was a bit odd when I first read that, but what do *I* know? LOL

Good grief, it sounds awful --- but it does sound much like what I had done. They did NOT tell me that I was at risk of paralysis, or bleeding, etc.
That makes me mad. :mad: But I imagine just opening up the spine puts you at risk for that. :rolleyes:

Try not to stress out too much -- they've done surgeries like this VERY often and they know what they're doing. If they didn't, they surely wouldn't attempt YOUR surgery. They would have sent you to a larger hospital. Doctors might be arrogant, but they know their limitations and do NOT want to be hit with a malpractice suit. ;) So trust your surgeon -- you'll be in good hands.

I'll keep you in my prayers and also your SURGEON! And I'll be in the OR with you. I'll put it on my calendar so I don't forget. :D God bless & please take care. Hugs, Lee

I had laminectomy T11/12, L3-5 five years ago. There was no extra pain after the op and, after 10 days rehab was able return home. The effect was to stop further deterioration in my condition (ongoing myelomalacia and neuropathic pain) successfully.

It seems to me that back conditions such as these are very individual with corresponding differences in outcomes of operations.

Thanks to you both, means a lot.

One week post op
 

WeLl, I'm finally home after a week in hospital. My surgery was a mess. Here s the story.
1. I had to bring my MRI films or no surgery which I did.
2. I woke up in extreme pain, I was put on a diladid pca with continuous infusion, I could push for meds every ten min. Except that I reached what should have took four hours to receive in two and the med was locked out leaving me without pain med for hour and half. Pain was out of control, I was grunting, breathing approx. 50 times a min, hr 120's. The pca finally unlocked and I started receiving meds again only for it to lock up again and sending me through the hell again. Sadly I work at that hospital and when they realized who I was they started moving quickly. I was taken to the icu to achieve pain control. That was something I hope never to feel again in my life.
3. I was told that the tumor could not be found so my excision was extensive. Instead of a unilateral laminectomy at t9, I received a conventional bilateral laminectomy at t8-10. Even though they had my films and even called in for X-ray after cutting because they were told wrong location???
4. The surgeon told my husband was a meningioma but was wrapping itself around cord and was great they got all of it, no cancer.
5. The surgeons assistant told me that it may be a mengioma but had other characteristics. I asked if he meant cancer and he stated he would not discuss that with me until pathology report came back but was worried.
6. I am taking diladid every 4 hours alternating with Percocet, along with baclofen, cymbalta and vallium.
Definitely hallucinating but able to steal sleep here and there. My back is swollen and red, have staples, incision bout 8inches, have radiating pain to my stomach and now have leg weakness and right foot drop. I can't tell if my rsd has spread or not but I believe it did because of how much pain I am in despite meds.
I am angry, tired, angry and tired. I am just so mad and so tired of being in pain. Ok can't believe I got that all out wow, I'd pat myself on my back if I could. I'll write more later with photo.

Bless your heart~ It sounds like a nightmare! I hope and pray the pathology comes back ok! I'm keeping you in my prayers.

How are you doing now? I've been looking for your post, but I must have missed this. I'm sorry I did!

Please let us know how you're doing, OK?? God bless and I pray your pain is less. Take care. Hugs, Lee ;)