A Lot of Stuff Coming Up-Venting

Anonymous

It must be this time of year that brings up a lot of feelings for me. It was the holidays that I found my BC and the rest is history.  I have not been posting a lot lately. I still come here each day to check in on everyone.  I guess my life has been crazy the last few months since Sept. when I was diagnosed with a knee injury.  At first I thought the extreme pain while taking my walks was from the usual bone pain and aches post BC treatment.  But after having such severe pain and leg totally giving way from underneath me while taking a brisk walk with DH I endend up in the emergency room and was diagnosed with a left knee Baker Cyst and a torn meniscus. I've been seeing an orthopedist and in physical therapy 3 x a week.  The pain is still significant and still walking with the help of a cain. God I feel old  I guess I'll never get back to running now.  Feeling a little sorry for myself because I am so used to being more active than I've been able to be because of this new plight.  I guess the only good thing about this is that it's totally taken my mind off the fear fo BC recurrance, and made me more focused on the fear of not getting out to do my walks.  I get discouraged because I have this inner voice telling me "well what do you expect, your body is aging and doesn't want to do what it's always done with such great ease" So anyway, Wah Wah Wah!!

Anonymous

Oh I forgot to mention, because of all the SH&T I mentioned  in my post, I still have not gone back on AI's.  Just don't want to deal with it while going thru the knee issues.

Barb

SpecialK

shanagirl - my DH was a marathon runner and had the same kind of injury you describe - with a Baker's cyst. Have they drained the fluid from the cyst and injected cortisone?  He did have a minor surgery and can run with no problem now.  I also had my meniscus removed years ago and have no problems with that knee at all.  I have run several 1/2 marathons with no problems.  My meniscus tore from the inside of the knee but was still attached at the outside - weird, huh?

lamuso

Hi Shanagirl..... I hope the New Year brings you many good things.  I was diagnoised the end of May and every year I seem to have anxiety at that time.  It will be four years for me this coming May.  Breast cancer changes a lot in our lives.  Even though I've had reconstructive surgery my body will never be or feel the same as it did before BC.  I have lymphedema that I have to treat daily or I end up back in physical therapy.  Every night I go to bed with my arm wrapped in bandages so my arm looks three times it's already big size and the bandages are itchy and warm.  I wake up and put the itchy warm sleeve on.  I recently started taking Arimidex which gave me so many issues I didn't think I would be able to stay on it.  I have since been given information on a pill that makes the world of difference and has taken those issues away.   I think we do the best we can with all the changes in our lives.  I am lucky to have a wonderful supportive husband and daughters who have helped me along my road of struggles.  Take care Barb!

jennyboog

Oh Barb, I'm so sorry you're still having problems with that knee....it never ends does it.  Vent all you want and then more if you need to.  I have noticed you a few more haven't been posting lately, I thought ya'll were taking a BCB (BC break)  Here's hoping things turn around for you in this new year.

pupfoster1

((((Barb)))

Crap, we don't get much of a break do we?  I am SO sorry this is still such an ongoing issue for you. You have every right to be depressed, it's like adding insult to injury.  I'm sure others have said this before, but have you thought about new forms of exercise like bike riding if the knee allows?  Or water therapy is supposed to be really easy on the joints.  As I mentioned before, you have every right to be depressed, but perhaps it's time (since you've been suffering for so long now) to ask for some outside help---a therapist perhaps, at the very least you'll have someone to vent to in person.  I just started w/a new one and am hoping it will help w/my anxiety issues.  Also have you tried any yoga?  Not the power type, but more restorative practices?  And meditation classes?  Anything to get your mind off of the pain.

Big Hugs to you.

Sharon

Anonymous

Sharon, you've go the right idea.  I've already started some low impact exercise.  My knee actually felt good today after PT.  Took a short walk in the sun.   I'm taking it all in baby steps each day.  PT has me doing some bike riding but nothing cardio.  That's what I really miss.  Also, my PT girl is a BC survivor. She went thru the whole bit around the same time I did, and she really gets it.  In fact she took the last two weeks off and is coming back on Monday. She has to finish her reconstructive surgery. She's recommended a BC survivor group in my area where she goes for Yoga with other Cancer survivors.  So 2012 will have some new options for me.  I'm staying up beat today because less pain today. 

Barb

NancyD

Barb, I tore my meniscus in July just as I finished moving. It felt like I would never be able to do simple things like quickly go up and down stairs or kneel, but about the end of October I realized that my recovery was almost complete. Stairs aren't a problem anymore, and if I'm careful, I can even kneel!



The Baker's Cyst might pose a different problem, but I wanted you to know that the meniscus might seem like it's not getting better one week, and then the next week, you'll find you are almost back to full range. Funny how it happens...almost as suddenly as the injury.

SharonMH

Hi   Shanagirl  Hoping you feel better soon.   Sharonh

faithfulheart

Barb,  I am so sorry you are dealing with all this extra crap,  with all you have already been  through!!!!!!!  You are in my prayers,  for peace and healing..............SOON..........Your walks will return!  Don't loose hope, stay strong!!!!

Kay_G

Shanagirl, sorry for your knee issues. I love it that we can vent here without guilt. It realty does help. I am glad you're feeling more upbeat though, and that BC group and PT sound like they were tailor made for you. Hope you really enjoy it. I am going to try a mindfulness class. I guess I will learn meditation and ways to reduce stress. I could really use it. Starts jan. 31 and then once a week for 7 more weeks. I'll let you know how it goes. I am going to be a tough nut to crack.

Anonymous

Oh thanks you all.  Each and everyone of you have said words to make me feel better. Today was not a good day.  Sometimes I think it gets worse when the weather gets colder and stormier..

Barb

pj12

Barb,



I was having a lot of knee pain just about the time my breast cancer was dx'd almost three years ago. When I learned I was going to be on arimidex after lumpectomy and radiation I was very concerned that I would not be able to walk for exercise due to my knees. I had torn miniscus in both knees, more pain in the left than in the right. And we all know how important exercise is if you are post BC and on estrogen suppression therapy.



So during radiation tx I had arthroscopic surgery on the worse knee. Got along fine but pretty busy between daily rads and physical therapy. Had arthroscopic surgery on the second, not so bad knee, a few months later. More post op paIn with that surgery but equally great outcome.



I was soon back to walking two to three miles a day and I can even ride my bike again which was not possible at all when my knees were bad. I had the usual hand pain with arimidex and some back and shoulder pain but it did not seem to bothers my knees at all. I did stop taking arimidex after about fifteen months but that decision was not due to joint pain, rather it was because of extreme weakness and unsteadiness. I fell twice just walking and called it quits! I'm on tamoxifen without significant side effects, thank goodness.



Just thought I would share my story which has had a good outcome!

pupfoster1

Hi Barb and Happy New Year to you too.  I've had a rough patch lately too, but since I just got the all clear I am just going to have to learn to live with this pain.  Easier said than done, but a new year gives us so many possibilities.  Let's lean on each other and help each other through the pain.  I'm in your corner (plus so many others)!

Love,

Sharon

Rockym

Hi Ladies, I just found out that I have a torn lateral meniscus and a ruptured baker's cyst.  I fell and twisted my left leg about a week after my last chemo.  This knee has been painful since the fall on December 1st and I finally went for the MRI a couple of days ago.  I was fooling myself for a bit thinking the pain in my leg and hip and foot were all about the chemo.  Anyway, has anyone had their knee scoped?

I can't imagine having pain like this everyday and I don't see it going away.  Of course the worst thing is that I am now in RADS everyday until the end of February and wondering how to fit in a knee surgery.  I was less scared about my breast surgery.