Bone mets question

Nichola

Hi All

I have been NED for 12 years since having two recurrences (skin and chest wall). About 3 1/2 years ago I started getting lower back - sacro illiac pain on left, spreading into my buttock region at night only. I'd had previous recurring slipped discs, but this time the pain wasn't quite the same as it didn't affect me during the day, with no morning stiffness and it didn't resolve. So during a feel around the area, I discovered a distinctive hard round lump on my illiac fossa "crest" region, which prompted a visit to my doctor who also felt it and ordered an MRi on my back and illiac region: Strangely, the MRi results didn't show up the lump at all and my relief left me leaving it as one of those unexplained things of getting old. Three years on, the pain is still there, every night, sometimes quite sharp and waking me, yet hardly noticeable and only slightly achy during the day? The lump is also still there, though I can't be sure if it's grown.

So I'm wondering if anyone out there has experienced or heard of an MRi missing bone mets? Did any of you have similar symptoms over such a long time before being diagnosed with your bone mets? (My initial breast lump didn't show up on the mammo or US when I was 44, but I was told when diagnosed a year later that my breast tissue was less dense and it was then quite obvious).

I'd be most grateful if you can offer any thoughts at all, as I'm not sure what my next move, if any, should be?

Nikki

Spookiesmom

Can you see an orthopedic specialist? A spot showed up on my arm, ortho sent me for nuclear scan. It didn’t light up. Or he may have other ideas.

moth

I think you should go back to your PCP and either have more investigations or as spookiesmom says, get a referral to an orthopedic specialist.

You shouldn't be dealing with unexplianed pain for years. It needs to be diagnosed and treated.... I don't think there are many 'unexplained' getting old things actually. It's degenerative disease, or injury or soft tissue damage, or something else but it's always something, kwim? Stiffness and slowing down are things I'd attribute to getting older. ... but long term ongoing pain sharp enough to wake you, is not.

Don't give up until you get a diagnosis and treatments!

Nichola

Thank you so much Spookiesm and Moth, both your answers are extremely helpful and I will definitely get back in touch with my doctor and see if I can get referred to orthopaedics. I saw an osteopath a few months back who said my spine was straight and posture excellent, but because of my history she was reluctant to work on the area in question!