Nearly one in 40,000 people in the United States develop persistent sacral pain due to Tarlov cyst syndrome. At The Metropolitan Neurosurgery Group in Silver Spring, Maryland, the board-certified neurosurgeons offer customized surgical treatments to address the cyst and help you manage your condition. They have extensive experience in Tarlov cyst treatments, and people around the world seek out their expert care. To find out more about available services for Tarlov cysts, call The Metropolitan Neurosurgery Group today.
Tarlov cysts are fluid-filled cysts that develop on the nerve root of the sacral area of your spine, near your lower pelvis. An identifying feature of a Tarlov cyst is the fibers of the spinal nerve root that’s within the cyst cavity or walls.
While there’s no clear understanding of what causes a Tarlov cyst to develop, you may be at increased risk for experiencing symptoms if you have a fall or other injury to your tailbone, which can cause a flare-up in an existing cyst.
Many people with a Tarlov cyst have pain that’s misdiagnosed as a herniated disc or a gynecological condition without proper diagnostic evaluation.
Symptoms of a Tarlov cyst often stem from increased pressure on surrounding nerves that can lead to pain and limited mobility in your lower back and legs. Other common side effects of a Tarlov cyst include:
To prevent a worsening of your symptoms, you should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at The Metropolitan Neurosurgery Group.
As experts in diagnosing Tarlov cysts and addressing Tarlov cyst syndrome, the neurosurgeons at The Metropolitan Neurosurgery Group offer the latest diagnostic testing to identify an existing cyst or other spine condition.
In addition to a physical exam of your spine, you may need imaging tests like a computed tomography (CT) scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to locate and confirm the presence of a Tarlov cyst.
The neurosurgical specialists at The Metropolitan Neurosurgery Group use several surgical techniques to relieve pressure on the spinal nerves and ease your symptoms.
Tarlov cyst surgery typically involves a sacral laminectomy to remove a portion of your vertebrae to access the cyst. Your provider can drain the cyst and resection it or close it off to prevent it from filling up with fluid again.
For the expert treatment of a Tarlov cyst or Tarlov cyst syndrome, call The Metropolitan Neurosurgery Group today.