What does metastasis to bones feel like?

Misty879

Hi all,

I'm concerned about this lower back pain I have been having for the last 4 days. I have thrown my back out before, but have always known what I did to have that happen, but this past Sunday it just started hurting and it hasn't gotten any better. It is right at the base of my spine and I have taken Tylenol and have done back stretches that I have used in the past when I have thrown out my back, and nothing is helping. What would spread to the bone feel like? This feels like I threw out my back as I have done in the past, would it still feel the same if it was cancer? I bother my MO and PCP with every little symptom so am trying to wait and see if this pain goes away or not, my MO says to call him with symptoms that persist, don't get better and/or get worse over a 2 week-month period of time. But this is really freaking me out. Usually when I have injured my back it magically goes away after about 3 days, but this is day 4 and it hasnt so now I am getting worried. Does anyone on here know what bone mets feel like and do they feel different than pulled or strained muscles? How can you tell what is in your bones and what isn't?

Starlo

Hi Misty, I'm sorry you're going through this pain and anxiety. I have not had bone mets, but on days 3-9 of each chemo cycle I have Zarxio injections, which cause me bone pain. The first round I didn't know what to expect and the bone pain was so similar to the times I have herniated discs that I wondered if I had herniated a disc without realizing it. I've also had back strains/muscle spasm, and for me the difference between a muscle flare up and the bone pain is that the muscle pain can be exacerbated or relieved by stretching or massage, and the bone pain is all internal - moving can make it much worse, but there's not a position I can get into that makes the pain go away. Good luck, and I hope you get some physical and emotional relief soon.

Micmel

bone mets for me... feels like little termites eating away at my base of the spine. Then other times it feels like I have been bending all day long and I need to rest my back. There is a constant ache or slow progressing weakness that isnt felt everyday.. it can also start chronic... the pain does not have to be constant.... but imho. Four days is way too early to gage something like bone mets. Don't freak yourself out. Stress isn't good and may make every ache more noticeable! Calm down and wait a few weeks. If it doesn't go away, then call a doctor. Like they said to me. Every ache you had before cancer. Wasn't cancer. So.... it isn't always cancer. Just keep an eye on it! Hugs ~M~

KBeee

Slso try to remember if you did something like sit-ups or crunches. They can cause that pain. Give it 2 weeks, hoping it dubsides