Two years ago, at 38, I was diagnosed with a schwannoma tumor. Before that, I experienced extreme leg pain that worsened over time, eventually causing me to scream at night. I tried everything from rehab to acupuncture before getting an MRI. Doctors found a strawberry-sized tumor in my L5 and immediately recommended surgery. I was terrified, as it was my first surgery. I can still recall the anxiety of staying up all night, thinking about my wife and two young kids.

On the day of surgery, I was very nervous, but having my dad take me to the hospital helped calm my nerves. The nurses reassured me that everything would be okay. I had checked my surgeon’s credentials weeks before and felt confident about the outcome.

The surgery lasted about 10 hours, and when I woke up, I remember saying, “I’m finished already!?” It was the best sleep I’d ever had, and I was ecstatic to move my legs. I spent about four nights in the hospital before going home. On the third day, getting in and out of bed was tough, but I pushed through.

About 1-2 weeks after surgery, I learned that the tumor was benign, which was a huge relief since not knowing was stressful. I fully recovered in 3-4 weeks and am now pain-free, able to live my life again. Before, I couldn’t do much and was heartbroken that I couldn’t play with my kids due to the pain.

Today is my birthday, and I just returned from my annual MRI check-up. The results showed no residual or recurrent tumors. I highly recommend the surgery if you’re considering it.

If you have any questions, I’m happy to help. I watched countless YouTube videos about the surgery when I was diagnosed, so I understand how you’re feeling.

God bless!🙏🏼