Terrible Leg Pain - Not mets, right???

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BlueCowgirl
BlueCowgirl Member Posts: 667
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

So since early December I have had TERRIBLE lower back, knee, and general leg pain. Since it coincided with beginning Tamox, I wrote it off as that. However, I've now been off Tamox for a few weeks and the pain continues to increase. About as bad as when I was on Taxol...Even after 10mg Oxycontin and 5mg Oxycodone, it is keeping me awake at night.

I have a bone scan tomorrow, as my MO is concerned about this...Guess I am just hoping to hear other sisters here say they have experienced the same thing and it's not mets...and also to tell me how they have discovered a great, preferably non-narcotic way to stop the pain! I know, I know, a lot to ask, but I'm aiming high and hoping for good news for a change... 

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited January 2012

    Blue, ((((((((HUGS))))))) and lots of luck with your scan tomorrow..................sure hope it's something else.

    Chrissy

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  • BlueCowgirl
    BlueCowgirl Member Posts: 667
    edited January 2012

    Thank you, Chrissy, I am sure hoping the same! Googling "leg pain at night" has given me so many other possibilities to consider! Here's hoping it's one of a million other things...

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited January 2012

    you might google natural muscle relaxants.  I would think that if it were 'cancer' it would not appear just at nite.  If you are a rider, perhaps all that jostling put a strain on your lower bones and muscles and you are feeling repercussions.  I don't know.. i ain't no doc. but i make myself and my aging husband (mid 50s) a super strong cup of chamomile tea before bed.. it really takes the edge off of our aches and pains from years of hard work.

    seriously.

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited January 2012

    Good luck on your scan tomorrow and let us know how it goes.  I hope this helps, I have terrible knee and leg pain, I usually don't take anything unless it gets really bad.  I take a hot bath and soak them and that seems to help some.  I had arthitis before BC and was told chemo would make it worse and they weren't lying....it has.  It aches from knee to hip most of the time.  I hope it's nothing girl.

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  • BlueCowgirl
    BlueCowgirl Member Posts: 667
    edited January 2012

    Ooooh! Apple! Good point! I will keep thinking about that as I await my scan results. Thank you!

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  • BlueCowgirl
    BlueCowgirl Member Posts: 667
    edited January 2012

    Jenny, thank you too. It seems weird that the pain went away after taxol only to come back recently with a vengeance, but there is a lot about my body that doesn't really make sense...Hopefully this is just another one of those things!

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  • PlantLover
    PlantLover Member Posts: 622
    edited January 2012

    Blue - I have been having bad hip and lower back pain and my doc sent me for a PET scan in Novemeber.  Nothing was found so try to keep thinking the best.  Unfortunately, while waiting for the results I googled symptoms of bone mets and one site stated that while pain may come and go, it is typically worse at night or with bed rest. 

    I am not telling you that to scare you!!  I'm telling you that so that if you google and read that don't freak out like I did because mine was, & still is, worse at night and after sitting for awhile.  My scans were clean and I'm betting and hoping yours are too!! 

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited January 2012

    Bluecowgirl, I had really bad hip pain recently, also mostly at night. My onc said it was probably arthritis or bursitis but sent me for a bone scan since the first thing we had to check for was a new tumor. Good news - I'm getting old! No new tumors so I'm on my way to the orthopedist.

    This could be what you're facing. Hope to see you at the orhopedist's!

    Leah

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  • BlueCowgirl
    BlueCowgirl Member Posts: 667
    edited January 2012

    NOT METS!!!

    I do have arthritis in a lot of places. Not enough to explain this sudden and intense pain though...But I am so much more okay with chronic pain than more cancer! Thanks everyone for the well-wishes and encouragement, I truly appreciate it, and your kind, reassuring words helped me sleep last night. Thank you all.

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited January 2012

    BlueCowgirl, that's great news!

    Yep, another person taking a trip to the orthopedist. Definitely preferable to the onc.

    Leah

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  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited January 2012

    Great news BlueCowgirl. Now go and enjoy your horse for a bit.

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  • Nordy
    Nordy Member Posts: 2,106
    edited January 2012

    Cowgirl - so glad to hear your scan was clear! My first thought was that this may be a back issue with radiating symptoms into your leg. This can often indicate a herniated disc, where the further out the herniation is, the more distal (further down your leg) the symptoms are. A sciatic nerve issue can do the same thing as well as a sacroilliac joint dysfunction. Now that you have ruled out mets, a referal to an orthopedic MD & a good manual PT may be in order. Good luck to you!

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited January 2012

    Great news!!! It probably is the Tamoxifen, SE's can get worse as time goes by according to my cousin.

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited January 2012

    YEAH!!!  SO happy to hear the good news!

    Sharon

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited January 2012

    Blue that's great!!! Now you can breathe again.



    Love n hugs. Chrissy

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  • PlantLover
    PlantLover Member Posts: 622
    edited January 2012

    Great news!  Now go protest some more! ;-)

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  • Ellie1959
    Ellie1959 Member Posts: 316
    edited January 2012

    Glad it is not mets - Vanessa! Mine turned out only to be 2 ruptured discs and a bulge~ and I was doing my happy dance! I blame everything as you know on chemo, radiation and tamoxifen. It couldn't be that I am just getting old  that is too easy!!! Take good care - Ellie

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  • MaxineO
    MaxineO Member Posts: 555
    edited January 2012

    Great news! Given the barrels of medicines and treatments we are all getting, it's no surprise that our bodies retaliate a little bit.  Good news is always welcome here!

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  • momof3boys
    momof3boys Member Posts: 896
    edited January 2012

    Yay! That wonderful news! Hope you find a resolution for the pain though!

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  • Karina121293
    Karina121293 Member Posts: 370
    edited January 2012

    Blue, so happy for you!!!! Wonderful news and hope for all of us, who has similar symptoms.

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  • antonia1
    antonia1 Member Posts: 135
    edited January 2012

    I had the same problem and had a bone scan in November, which had shown that I am getting older, have problems with 2 discs, but no mets. Glad your scan  shows something similar.

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited January 2012

    Great news!

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  • shells43
    shells43 Member Posts: 1,022
    edited January 2012

    Yeah Blue! What a relief. I wish you could get some though, I'm sure you need some rest. My left hip has been killing me for about a month and I'm ready to go see the GP and see what he says. I think all of the treatments + no estrogen = old lady bones at 45. Poor us!

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  • LittleFlower
    LittleFlower Member Posts: 405
    edited January 2012

    wonderful!!!!  whoop whoop

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited January 2012

    Congrats Blue....so happy to hear it.  Arthritis is tough, mine comes and goes and is really bad one night and not so bad the next...I never know.  Only we would be happy about anything else besides mets...congrats again!

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  • BlueCowgirl
    BlueCowgirl Member Posts: 667
    edited January 2012
    I just looked at this thread again and wanted to thank everyone for their outpouring of support and love. Thank you all so much! Reading all of your sweet, caring, compassionate comments has totally made my day. Wonderful and very special ladies, all of you...Would like to send back my hopes and dreams that your scans are also good, that those of you whose scans were not good become better in the days to come, and that those of you suffering from arthritis or other chronic pain like mine find relief very soon. Love to all and thank you again!
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  • SpunkyGirl
    SpunkyGirl Member Posts: 1,568
    edited January 2012

    So happy to hear your news!  You should follow up with a Neurologist.  They might be able to help you figure out why you are getting so much pain.  Could it be Restless Legs Syndrome or Neuropathy?  I hope you find some answers.

    Hugs
    Bobbie

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2012

    Blue,  I just saw this thread now.  I just want to say that in the recent past my onc has always opted to scan when I've complained about severe back  and hip pain.  I guess that 's a fact of our lives now.  The last time I went thru this my onc told me after the scans showed no mets, he gave me the go ahead to follow up with pain management.  I did this and went to a chiropractor for a few weeks and just by him doing the ultra sound therapy and heat along with a few adjustments to my lower back and hip, I have been abslolutely pain free in that department even though the scans showed some sinovial cysts and arthritis. I felt so good I began picking up my pace with the fast walking for 3 miles a day again.  Unfortunately my left knee started up with a torn meniscus and baker cyst.  Have been in physical Therapy since and just had knee surgery last week. Again, the orthepedist doc said tho the meniscus was torn and shredded, there was more arthritis than was seen on the MRI.  Arthritis is painful and I know that as a former hunter jumper rider, I can't even see myself riding and jostling around and using my legs as strongly as I always used to while riding my beloved horses.  Go easy on yourself, girl, and listen to your body, when it cries out in pain.  I'm so glad you don't have mets.

    image

    Barb

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  • BlueCowgirl
    BlueCowgirl Member Posts: 667
    edited January 2012

    Aw, Shanagirl, so sorry you are going through all that.I have an appointment with a pain management specialist on Wednesday. Hopefully I will be able to get off the narcotics and on a program with PT, chiro, something that will help. Best wishes that you are feeling better soon!

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  • BlueCowgirl
    BlueCowgirl Member Posts: 667
    edited January 2012

    Spunkygirl - Thanks for the advice! I already have a neurologist for unrelated issues and will definitely ask her about this if pain has not resolved by our next appt.

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