Need help with back pain question?

Options
mmm5
mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
Need help with back pain question?
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited January 2010

    Hi ladies-

    I feel like I am a broken record looking for assurances and just really tense and anxiety ridden about back pain.

    I started with an upper right annoying back disturbance 4 weeks ago, it just nagged and nagged. I brought it up to my ONC and they ordered a Thoracic MRI, I had it last week and it was clear. It read protruded disc but not clinically significant enough to cause pain. So I thought OK I will just work this out. The pain has continued and I am sick of being on Advil every 6 hours and nothing making me feel better, and that nagging inner voice thinking they have missed something.The pain feel muscular, my bones do not hurt but I know mets can feel this way. It is not there when I wake up but gets progressively worse all day.

    Now I am worried the Thoracic MRI does not look far enough and maybe mets are in shoulder or maybe because the MRI was not with contrast it was a bad MRI. But it states absolutely negative for mets. It is hard to believe concrete pain is not mets at this stage in the game with the mental nightmare this puts us through.

    Anybody?? This forum is my only sanity on some days.

    Thank you in advance for your responses!!!

    I

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lorieg
    lorieg Member Posts: 802
    edited January 2010

    mmm5,

    I could have written this post myself!  I had the same type of pain and was sure I had T-spine mets.  I had a negative thoracic MRI, but actually now feel the pain in my ribs.  The rib pain, however, feels like a bruise when I roll over on it at night or hold my baby aginst my side which scares me big time cause I know this is typical metastatic pain.  My onc will think I am crazy if I now bring up rib pain!  I did have a PET a few weeks ago that showed diffuse uptake in all my bones (chemo/neulasta affect) but nothing specific anywhere and the unehanced bones looked normal.  

    Anyway, sorry for turning this into a post about me!  My point is that I think a lot of us have pain that we normally would not think much of but throw cancer in there and that all changes!  Your pain does not at all sound typical of mets but of course cancer doesn't follow a rule book.  Maybe seeing an orthopdic specialist would help determine exactly where you pain is located??  They would typically do x-rays followed by MRI if they suspect a shoulder issue.  Otherwise talking to your onc again may be a good idea as a bone scan might help clear things up for you.

    I understand your frustration and worries, but most likely this pain is not cancer-related.  You won't sleep well until you pursue it though so I advise speaking to your onc again.

    Best of luck and hugs,

    Lori

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited January 2010

    Lori

    Do you know what bones the MRI looks at does it cover the scapula?

    Thank you for your reply, I wish you well as well!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lorieg
    lorieg Member Posts: 802
    edited January 2010

    mmm5,

    No, pretty much just the thoracic spine and a small portion of the ribs on each side...no scapula.  My T-spine MRI only commented on the thoracic spine itself although I know they can see a small portion of the ribs.  Sorry :-(

    Keep us updated.  Do you have a follow-up with your onc?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited January 2010

    what is the likelihood of mets just in the scapula, with a neg thoracic MRI and neg MRI of hip and lumbar? I am just not sure I can go through that whole thing again. I am soooo mad that they just didnt do that all when I was there.

    Scapula mets anyone ...what does it feel like?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TriciaK
    TriciaK Member Posts: 362
    edited January 2010

    Mmm5,

    I dont have any other info except if it puts your mind at ease why not request a pet/ct??

    Tricia x

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • helena67
    helena67 Member Posts: 357
    edited January 2010

    Hi mmm5

    I really understand where you are coming from - I was thinking of rib mets last night (bruised feeling on my 'bad' side - just like Lori says). But rationally (but who is rational) it is likely something else.

    Have you tried to get rid of the pain through other means than pain killes - for example a good massage by a licensed massage therapist, Or chiropractor? I know muscle tension can give severe pain and this could break the cycle.

    Take care,

    Helena.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • flash
    flash Member Posts: 1,685
    edited January 2010

    Speaking as someone who kept thinking the pain was bone mets and then attributing it to side effects, I suggest you see someone who is a spinal expert.  Someone who is othopedic and Neurosurgery.  I found out mine was from broken vertebra and disc damage NOT the mets I was worried about.  It wasn't side effects from the aromasin.  I wish I had done it sooner, now I'm working on solving the actual problem not just groping in the dark.

    good luck

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories