A 37-year-old woman was diagnosed with Tarlov cysts, an unusual kind of growth in the spinal region. She also experienced lower back discomfort with mild radiating pain down her left leg. The patient researched this type of cyst further and was disturbed by what she found. She wondered if the Tarlov cysts were causing her back pain, and if they would require special treatment or limit her lifestyle in some way.
After reviewing her file, the Expert Medical Opinion specialist concluded that the Tarlov cysts were not related to her back pain, and had probably been present for some time. He was able to reassure the patient that the cysts would not affect her lifestyle and did not require surgery. He answered the patient’s questions about Tarlov cysts in detail, recommended a regimen of “watchful waiting” and assured her that he would re-evaluate her case if symptoms worsened in the future.