Should I seek a second opinion about my stroke recovery and meningioma?

Squiggylou asked...

I had recurring vertigo symptoms so I had an MRI. The MRI showed I had a stroke and have a meningioma. The neurologist insists I should worry about neither and has placed me on mild muscle relaxers thinking it would help the vertigo symptoms go away. She is sure my problems are muscoskeletal and not side effects of the stroke or the meningioma. Blood tests are negative but I continue with blurry vision and an unsteady gait. I also have daily headaches these days. Should I see a stroke specialist to reconfirm that another stroke or the meningioma are nothing to worry about.? My doctor appears to be stumped that she cannot get rid of my dizziness, headaches or blurry vision.

Expert Answer

James Castle, M.D. is a neurologist at NorthShore University HealthSystem (affiliated with The University of Chicago) and an expert on strokes.

It is somewhat hard to know the answer here without knowing the location of the stroke and the meningioma.  By age 55, it is not uncommon at all to have incidental old stroke and/or meningiomas seen on routine brain imaging.  If they are not in the right location (usually an area known as the "posterior circulation") they may not be connected to your symptoms at all.

With regards to your symptoms, you might consider seeking out a second opinion.  Additional tests such as a lumbar puncture (more crudely known as a "spinal tap") and additional imaging - particularly of the veins in the brain - may be necessary to rule out dangerous causes for those symptoms.  Less serious causes, such as basilar migraines, can also cause these symptoms.  It sounds like you need to be seen and evaluated by another Neurologist to be sure that everything has been done.