Referred Pain & Numbness (back/arm/hand)

dltnhm

In January I had an MRI because I had been experiencing some ongoing back pain in my lower back region. The MRI came back clear - well, no tumors, other things are present). I was put on a steroid pack and that alleviated most of the pain. I'm a runner and walker (25-35 miles per week) but I laid off all of it through the Winter. Finally I couldn't stand it any longer (not walking/running) and so out I went. I walked and ran through the pain and eventually it was gone. Saw my PCP (May) and my Oncologist (July) for regular appointments and had no back pain to report. Just filled them in on how it had gone away.

End of July/ beginning of August ... lots of car travel over several weekends and different beds and such. And one fabulous night of dancing at my husband's cousin's wedding. The pain is back in my lower back - spine region as it was in December and January and I have shooting pains going down BOTH legs. We were going to CO at the end of the week so I saw my PCP (actually a resident) but my PCP was there too. We talk about the fact that in January the resident had not ordered an MRI of my whole back - just a particular area. She thought it might be prudent to do another MRI of the entire area. PCP believed we should start with the steroid pack. Almost as an afterthought I mention to the resident that I've been having pain in my upper back on the right side - scapula region. But I pretty much dismissed it as possible compensation for the lower back and such. We decide to go after the lower pain.

Steroid pack works wonders. I can walk and run without pain. My shoulder still hurts but I still dismiss it those few days leading up to our flight to CO. CO was incredible - hiking, walking, some running .... and my lower back is fabulous. I am thrilled. The upper right however is worse, the pain radiates to my shoulder and down the outside of my right arm to my elbow. Once we get home, the pain is also going down the outside of my lower arm, and I have intermittent numbness and tingling in my little finger and ring finger and the side of the palm closest to those fingers.

I put off seeing anyone until a week passed. I have been out running and although my pace was slower, my back was fine - but my upper back, shoulder, arm, etc ache during the walking and running. I am going to get in to see my doctor tomorrow.

So ... I've read up on 'referred pain' (possibly the problem is indeed in my back and it's causing this pain to the other areas even though my back no longer hurts). Based on my symptoms and some other possible culprits it could be something else. The things is (as far as some of the others - there was NO trauma - not to my back and not to my shoulder) ... so that rules out quite a few things.

Just wondering if anyone out there has had any experience with this type of pain ... I hate that my mind leaps to what might be lurking in the spine that could be causing spinal cord compression or the like. I realize that there could be other reasons for a pinched nerve that have nothing to do with mets.

Talk to me people!

Diana

Obxflygirl1

I had the same symptoms 5 years ago. An MRI confirmed herniated disc in my upper back. Think it was CV 5 and 6. The pain radiated down my arm and left my hand and fingers tingly and numb. The pain in the shoulder was unbearable. Surgery relieved all pain. Hoping they find a solution for you

dltnhm

Thanks for responding Obxflyinggirl1 ...

It helps to hear from real live people who've been through similar stituations. Reading the clinical descriptions just isn't enough. I hope it's not something requiring surgery - but I'd take a herniated disc to something else.I am amazed at the level of pain I've had today - nothing is touching it and I think I've a relatively high threshold for pain.

Thanks again!

vlnrph

My herniated disc several years ago was in the typical lumbar/sacral region resulting in a weird numbness down one leg. Not much pain but it was difficult to stand & walk. A series of steroid injections into that area of the spine resolved the problem which has not returned. (I twisted while lifting a loaded snow shovel, realizing as I did it that I was not practicing good body mechanics!)

Back surgery would have been my last resort. Nice to hear obxflygirl had a successful procedure. Once we turn 50 it just seems like so many things start going wrong - I'm beginning to understand why my mom and her friends talk about health issues all the time. At least I don't have my doctor on speed dial, yet.

Hopefully these acute symptoms won't disrupt Diana's sleep too much. It's hard to heal when you can't rest properly. Since her mastectomy was left side and the affected shoulder and arm are on the right, I don't think the fact that lymphedema can cause achiness without obvious swelling would apply however it's something to keep in mind whenever a person has had axillary node dissection. Is physical therapy an option?

dltnhm

Thanks for chiming in vlnrph

I abhor the number of things that have 'gone wrong' or need more attention now that I'm in my early 50's but I refuse to take it lying down and admit defeat. Not suggesting that you do that. I think that I zoomed through my mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation in many ways compared to others. But I have felt like the last 6-8 months have hit me especially hard in a different way. Of course whenever I am sidetracked from my mileage, I find that everything suffers (as it's pivotal to my social, emotional, physical health).

Would love to have restful sleep tonight

Good catch on my diagnosis and my age too. I can tell you are well read. I've never updated my profile with the new system because it seemed to make everyone's posts long and hard to read. But I was limited to the number of characters in my sig line so I tried to make it decipherable. I see you did too.

vlnrph

I don't really like the long laundry list of diagnoses & treatments new members end up with either.

Were you able to see your doctor earlier this week? You have my permission to allow yourself "virtual" miles until things get back to normal. Visualize/imagine doing at least part of your usual run. Another advantage to this method: no bugs in your teeth!

plumster1

Dlt- your symptoms sounded very much like the "frozen shoulder" I had. 3 months of physical therapy fixed me right up. Hope your pain resolves too

Cjs47

Hi,

I had a double mastectomy in June with 21lymph nodes removed on right side. No cancer present at that time. I had radiation and am almost done with herceptin and am on tamoxifen. Since September I've had pain in my upper back on the left side that is getting worse especially with exercise or any physical activity. Doctor and nurses all say it's muscular but I know muscle pain doesnt last that long. I finally convinced doctor to do a bone scan which is scheduled for Tuesday. Has anyone else experienced this