What do bone mets feel like? I'm worried

elise24601

Hello,

I haven't been on here for a while. Had several scares that turned out to be nothing. But I think my luck is running out now.

For 2 days I have had moderate achy pain/soreness in my hips, buttocks, lower back, upper thighs, and groin. No change in exercise habits, no injury, no other symptoms. My first thought: bone mets to the spine and/or pelvis. (My stats below suggest how high-risk I am).

I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what sensations they felt when their own bone mets were discovered - was the pain sharp or dull? Constant or intermittent? Did it respond to OTC meds or not? One side or both sides? Maybe this info could help me.

Racy

Hi, I understand your angst. Rule of thumb (Aussie expression?) is if symptoms last longer than 2 weeks you should check with doctor. However, if it gives you peace of mind, check sooner.

Wishing you the best.

Racy

Is the pain worse at night? You can google symptoms and that is one.

Micmel

it is a constant bone eating feeling of an ache that worsens with a lot of activity. It can be chronic as well, and somedays are worse than others. I just had a pain in the same place and it would not go away. It is a noticeable pain that can also mimic muscle pain. Like a strained back. All along I thought it was my excersise and it wasn’t.. I worked my back lifting over 135lbs. So I thought that was what it was. Don’t wait to get it checked . The sooner the better! Hugs ~M~

Tanmcl

I'm in a similar situation. I've had back pain for months. I've had back pain prior to my breast cancer so I wasn't really alarmed. It's kind of a dull ache in lower back, achiness in joints that come and go. My bone scan 10 months ago was clear. I had an xray via family doctor 2 months ago that showed nothing (except scoliosis). My Dr sent me for a bone scan last week and I'm driving myself mad thinking the worst. She also wants me to have the x ray again at the hospital. With a clear scan 10 months ago at diagnosis is it common it could've spread during the chemo, surgery and rads? Would my x ray have shown anything?

Anonymous

hi everyone.

Elise..I too haven't been around for a bit. I've had some incidents with lymphedema in new places but the latest is what brought me to this thread. I have the same concerns but have been living with a worsening situation in left leg for months now. You see as it got worse I thought it must be lymphedema in the leg. At first compression tights did bring relief but I am now at the quite unbearable stage with it. A constant deep ache in the leg. It is apparent now that it is the top half of left leg and goes up really high there. I could not wait to see my surgical onc. For a checkup on Monday. He ordered a bone scan for next tues. Then I see him monday following the scan. I am all over the place with it. The post by Micmel gave me chills because that sounds like my leg ache. Hoping for the best for all of us. Micmel were you dx'd all at once or were the mets years after?

Astrid.

JoE777

Micme nailed it. I had three rounds of X-rays ,one of which was in the emergency room and they showed absolutely nothing. An MRI FOUND 5 tumors. Get it checked!!!

Pipandor

I have a deep pain in my arm and the breast that had the lumpectomy is sore. I also have mild pain in middle to lower back that I chalked up to swimming the crawl a lot this summer and starting to exercise with weights. But I haven't done any of that in a couple of weeks and I recall experiencing the same pain a few months ago. My oncologist is in another city so asked me to follow up with my doctor here for tests. What tests should I be getting?

Worried.

Anonymous

any improvement elise?

JoE777

Pipandor, MRI. Mine didn't even have contrast and saw the tumors. Don't hesitate to ask

Pipandor

Thanks Joe. I will.

vampeyes

Ok ladies is it Tamoxifen or something worse.... do your bones hurt to touch? Feel liked they are bruised? Occasionally go away and then come back saying hey remember me? Maybe it's all in my head.

Anonymous

not sure vampeyes, as I don't know whaT this ache I have is yet. Tamoxifen is well known for causing awful pain. I couldn't take it

Switched to aromasin years ago. Haven't been on anything for a few years now.

I admit as each day passes I have to wonder. I have been scouring Dr. Google for arthritic type pain symptoms..MS pain symptoms...anything!

A lot of bone met descriptions say 'pain' I only found a couple that said 'ache'. This ache is pretty bad. I am taking pain killers day and nite now...not too strong..I find a quarter of a codeine/paracetemol tab really helps..or one of those ibuprofen/paracetemol mix tablets. I vary them. Anyway I am ranting on...bone scan is on Tuesday.

I looked up my life insurance yesterday...

Would you believe my 5 year wait period with Virgin is up on Jan. 30th 2019??? 3 and a half months...stressed about that too!

(Oh dear! Thank God for this place eh?)

.

vampeyes

Thanks Astrid, good luck on Tuesday. I went to the chiropractor on Friday near tears with pain, that night and yesterday I felt good. Today I tried to do a workout and now my chest is killing me again! Advil lend the pain, but not enough. I heard a chest x-ray last Monday, still waiting for results.... the Canadian health care system! Not sure what a 5 year wait is for you, Virgin over here is my cell phone provider. 🤔

Does anyone know if ALP is always high with bone cancer?

Meow13

My co-worker said hers was in the hip and pain that couldn't be ignored. I often wondered with all the aches and pain when do you know when to see the doctor?

vampeyes

I guess luckily for me I have a spot on my lung so CT next month, chest should show any bone mets in the chest....I think.

NotVeryBrave

A spot on your lung? The fun and worry never ends ... I'm hoping it's nothing.

JoE777

Astrid I have referred to it as pain but I also had a dead ache like I'd done too much or had arthritis.

I also had 6 weeks of physical therapy which was wonderful. It never hurt and I could actually walk better when I left but by late evening I would slide into pain and aches and battle with it until my next session

Anonymous

Thanks for that Jo.Sounds eerily similar..but no fat lady singing yet. (Gulp)

Vampeyes..so sorry to hear about that spot. Keep us in the loop. We will see each other through.

vampeyes

Astrid, thank you. My surgeon says he's not overly concerned about the spot abs I trust him enough that I am not worried about it. I am worried about the what feels like bone pain though, mostly because I am not use to such pain.

Don't forget to let us know how your bone scan goes.

Jo - thank you for posting about your experience I appreciate the feedback.

Anonymous

had the scan yesterday.

The technologist seemed very cheery...sometimes you can read the room lol. Al I know is my new pal unbearable ache is still here. Thinking of all of you. Hoping we all get good news.

vampeyes

Astrid I am sending good vibes your way for a clean scan.

xxx

Anonymous

thankyou vampeyes!

much appreciated.

BlueSky1969

Hi;

Today I had a bone scan in Vancouver. I've had pain in my hip for about a month, gradually getting worse. I 'm trying not to freak out, but of course I am. I've been pretty compartmentalized about this whole thing - especially the last few months. I guess the reality that this isn't a 'titch' of breast cancer has thrown me back into internal chaos. Ugh.

Anonymous

so sorry to hear that bluesky. It is really hard not to get anxious around tests..especially when past ones have brought undesired results. I read through your dx/surgery history and see no node involvement and you are on tamo. Let's hope this is just a nasty side effect and nothing else. I am in the waiting room with you and hoping we will both be doing a happy dance soon.

BlueSky1969

Thank you Astrid, that is exactly what I needed to hear xo

vampeyes

I second Astrid, BlueSky. Sending good vibes for a clean test your way too! Likely a Tamxoifen SE - the drug really is the devil! Currently I am taking a break, but now wondering what the point is if I have to go back on it anyway. Just a thought, have you tried the chiropractor or massage therapy for the pain. I find it helps lessen the pain.

Anonymous

hello again

We now have one happy passenger in our little boat. My surgeon rang this evening which was lovely...and let me know the scan did not show any cancer. 😊☺ This was via voice message and he said he would try calling again later. I didnt hear again so will go in anyway for monday appt. I want to know if anything at all showed up. I am going to have to investigate further whether thru cancer hospital or my local doctor. (GP) very relieved. I told my leg to be happy but it isn't listening darn it! 😀

vampeyes

Congrats Astrid, this is wonderful news!!!! So very happy for you. Yay!!!!! xxx

Anonymous

thankyou vampeyes!

Anonymous

further too...

Surgeon called again this morning (what a sweetheart!!) Managed to actually speAk with him. He said the scan showed uptake in the hip area and go see Local doc to sort it.

I asked how they know that is not cancer and he said apart from experience, the uptake is not actually in bone..more an inflammatory thing.

I will ask for a copy of report. Going to doc's soon.☺

update: the report says it looks like something called trochanteric bursitis. gotta get a cortisone shot guided in with Ultra sound.

such fun!