Surgery Log 2013 – Meningioma

February 17, 2013

Well, lo and behold, the MRI ordered by the D.O. in the practice revealed a thoracic meningioma at T3. My question is why the hell the surgeon did not explore that possibility too. I read an article on the Internet “Paraplegia due to missed thoracic meningioma after laminotomy for lumbar spinal stenosis.” It says, “Surgeons should know that a silent meningioma can aggrevate neurological symptoms after lower lumbar spine surgery and should inform the patient.” OK, apparently my neurosurgeon did not know that. All this time, her PA and nurse kept saying that they have never seen anything like this before. Well, you are a nurse, not a surgeon so don’t say that to me. Her PA kept smiling at me and saying there was nothing more they could do. When I asked if there was additional testing they should be doing she said, NO. What the blank (not the real word) are they thinking? Secondly, all this time I was not getting better should have alerted them that maybe they should do an MRI of the thoracic region. This to me is negligence based on not ordering the proper tests, not knowing that a silent meningioma can aggrevate symptoms after a lumbar laminectomy, and just dismissing me. If the D.O. had not been a good doctor, who knows how much longer I would be suffering. After a month of me getting worse, she should have ordered an MRI of the thoracic area not one of the area she already operated on. I have an appointment with her tomorrow, but I do not want to use her as the surgeon again. But, I absolutely need to have this taken care of ASAP because I am suffering and cannot continue to live with this pain, stiffness, lack of balance, and not being able to walk properly. It is a nightmare that I hope will end soon and there will be a good ending finally.