Cervical Meningioma Surgery & Recovery

Posted by Kaitlyn @kaitlynb, 2 days ago

Hello,
I was diagnosed in November 2024 with a relatively small Intradural Extra Medullary Meningioma. I have been having regular MRI's to keep an eye on an artery in my brain and the "lesions" from chronic migraine. The meningioma is located right at the C1 level. I am waiting to be scheduled for surgery. Even though it's small, it is causing issues (not the ones we have been monitoring though) and the location makes the wait and watch option not really the best option. Here's my question(s): has anyone here had a similar type in the same or close to location? If so, did you have surgery? What was recovery like? Any post-operative issues? My neurosurgeon told me my neck pain will not go away after surgery because he will most likely have to do an Occiptal Cervical Fusion. So fuse above my C1 down to C3 maybe C4. My husband said, "so basically the only good thing about having surgery now is to get rid of the meningioma. That will prevent it from growing. But she will still be at risk of getting another one and that one possibly growing faster? It doesn't sound like her options are all that great." My dr was super honest and said, "well, on paper, no her options are not that great. But removal is the most important to avoid further permenant damage." New friends in this group, please tell me this is the best option. Please and thank you! -Kaitlyn

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First, I’m sorry you’re in this position. It’s so difficult. May I ask the doctors believe a second meningioma would grow faster as a result of the surgery?

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Im truly a believer of a higher power, I believe in angels and miracles and prayer chains ⛓ 🙏. Along with the brains having endless areas to explore while either through meditation or dreaming focused on before you go to sleep. Ill add you to my prayer group.

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@arb29

First, I’m sorry you’re in this position. It’s so difficult. May I ask the doctors believe a second meningioma would grow faster as a result of the surgery?

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Thank you. I’m sorry, I meant to say that if he is not able to remove the entire meningioma then there is a risk of continued growth, possibly at a quicker rate. Not that it will. My husband was just trying to make a point that surgery doesn’t sound great. But that leaving it also isn’t great.

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I see. I’m in same boat although my tumor is in a different location. We know from the outset that complete removal won’t be possible. I hadn’t heard though that regrow could happen at a faster pace. I’m proceeding with surgery later this month.

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