How soon to repeat scans when pain persists?

marymoir
marymoir Member Posts: 245
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I am 45 years young, and have been struggling with low back and hip pain for over 1 1/2 years (since I tried to do too much, too soon after finishing my BC treatment).  I have been to an orthopedist, chiropractor, physical therapist, massage therapist, and yoga practitioner who have tried, among other things, steroid injections, nerve blocks, and even burning the nerves that serve the facet joints.  Although I was Stage I, my tumor pathology and Oncotype showed it to be an aggressive lil' bugger (hence the Grade III and the need for chemo).  My onc. originally did not think it was possible to be bone mets due to Stage I status, but in order to ease my anxiety he has ordered x-rays, MRIs, and even a PET scan during the last year & 1/2.  All negative for cancer -- just a spinal deformity that I've known about for 20 years but never caused this kind of trouble.

During my check-up last month, onc. is surprised/concened that I'm still having pain, and asks if I've ever had a bone scan.  I told him I had (clear), but realized after I left his office that I was confusing it with the bone density test.  My last scan was a PET/CT about 8 mos. ago, which was normal.  Although the pain didn't go away after the PET/CT, that clean scan put the mets possibility out of my mind until his comment last month. 

After that rambling background, my ? is this -- could bone mets appear during such a short interval?

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Comments

  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited October 2010
    I think you are fine, you have had all the same pain in and around the time of the MRI right?
    If so, then the MRI would have shown  mets. I have the exact same issue with similar stats and can not find the answer except that the pain comes for sometimes for 8 weeks then leaves on it's own and can not make heads or tails of it. I just can not figure it out. The problem is the Lack hormones. I assume you are having anti hormone therapy? and I believe that every time we have these issues it is due to the total and immediate lack of estrogen. I have experimented and feel this is the issue
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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited August 2013

    Tamoxifen was my first thought, too.  TC can also leave residual damage that sometimes takes a long time to resolve, especially if the pain is preventing you from exercising enough to strengthen your back & hips.   Deanna

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  • marymoir
    marymoir Member Posts: 245
    edited October 2010

    Thanks for the replies!

    The MRI was in July of '09 -- I wasn't having the hip pain then, but the back pain was pretty similar then.  When I had the PET/CT in March of 2010, the pain was the same as it is now. 

    I hadn't thought about hormonal treatment or the Taxotere, but it makes sense!  The pain started about 2 mos. after I finished my TC, and about a month after I started Tamoxifen. It started after a challenging mountain biking trip, so my providers have all assumed that the pain was caused by that -- no one has suggested the hormone or chemo angle. I'm also taking Lupron, which I understand can cause joint pain (is there anything that DOESN'T???) 

    I'll call my onc's office on Mon. and see what they think and will let you know.  Thanks for the insights!!

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

    My pain also started after intense workout it is the fact that our joints can not handle the same stress without estrogen and we get injured more easily, it has happened to me 3 times now and took 7-8 weeks to heal. Each time I thought it was mets, and each time nothing, the only time I did not have this problem is when I went of anti estrogen therapy, it is so awful I have considered stopping the estrogen therapy, although I am weakly er positive, the Her2 was a much bigger thing for me, and did chemo and Herceptin

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

    Go to Stage 3 "Ok I am scared" and look at that thread Pure is talking about the same kind of pain and I have the exact too, and it is all over these boards, low back, down into the hip and into the pelvis or down the back of the leg it is all women around our age or younger that have had to have instant chemical menopause. I am 45 too

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  • changes
    changes Member Posts: 622
    edited October 2010

    Marymoir,

    Just want to echo what others have said. Since being on Tamoxifen (finishing month #4) , I hurt all the time, and I hurt BADLY if I have even the tiniest injury. For example, I have stumbled (not fallen, just tripped) and it jarred my back so bad I thought I had herniated a disc - not having estrogen is hard on the joints, unfortunately. Still, you really should talk it over with your oncologist and decide whether it needs further investigating.

    Best wishes,

    Karen

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  • QueenSansaStark
    QueenSansaStark Member Posts: 207
    edited October 2010

    Tamox and the aftereffects of chemo can leave one really creaky and achy. Frown That happened to me - I had Taxotere, too. I get an achy back after sitting for a long time and creak when I get up from sitting on the floor and it didn't happen before BC! Boo! So chances are, it's just the post-treatment creakies. Do get it checked out if you are really scared, though.

    BTW, what helps me is gentle stretching and being sure to get enough calcium and vitamin D. I had a blood test and was SEVERELY vitamin D deficient - lots of us are and don't know it - now I take 2000 IU of D a day and it's made a lot of difference. 

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