How long do you deal with a new pain before calling the doctor?

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karody
karody Member Posts: 89
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

My neck is killing me.  But, to be fair, I have pain in my lower back all the time from congenital issues, so we know the spine isn't perfect.  Three weeks ago, I had upper respiratory yuck, then a week and a half ago I fell on the ice and developed a vomiting virus the same day which landed me in the ER for dehydration (CT of head was fine, definitely a virus or food poisoning). Next day my neck started hurting- bad.  After seven full days of vomiting/diarrhea my neck still hurts even worse.  Could be from congenital, fall, virus, ....or is it the devil sneaking up?  And who do I call- my back surgeon, my internist, or my oncologist?

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  • kathleen1966
    kathleen1966 Member Posts: 793
    edited January 2014

    It would think that that CT scan would have also shown issues in your neck.  Have you been tested for viral meningitis?  It could be a virus of sorts. I would call your regular doctor and have blood work done?

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  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited January 2014

    I have arthritis in my neck.  It is possible you may have pinched a nerve or herniated a disc while vomiting.  Possibly try a day or two of Aleve or ibuprofen.  Try heat or ice, 20 minutes max at a time.  Dixie cups are great for ice - freeze them, and then simply peel the cup down as the ice melts and you massage with it.  Hoping it is something as simple as this for you.

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  • ziggypop
    ziggypop Member Posts: 1,071
    edited January 2014

    Hi karody - Sorry you've been so sick. Given that you fell one day & the pain in the neck started the next, it seems likely that one caused the other, but I certainly know that the other consideration is always there for us. From what I get reading the stage 4 threads, the general rule of thumb is that if you have an unexplained pain that lasts for more than two weeks, get it checked out. My main onc is my 'go to' doc for anything I experience that's cancer related (although if it were something like rippling of the breast, I'd see the breast surgeon). I don't bother with my PCP as she would just refer me to the onc anyway. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2014

    Hi Karody,

    Like you, I also wonder all the time if the devil is sneaking up on me.  You took a fall on the ice.  That's enough to make your neck hurt!  I'm also thinking that if you had anything going on with this beast sneaking back up on you it would have shown up on your CT?  Just some thoughts.

    Oceana

    marvelous-nicole-rodriguez.jpg (180×119)

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited January 2014

    Panic sets in. . .we can't avoid it.  Our mind goes to the worse case scenario and it keeps playing over and over.  There is so much cold and flu going around.  I was so sick with the flu.  I went to my GP.  Just her reassuring me that I just had the flu made me feel better.  I was sick for 6 weeks, but I did get better.  When I was in panic mode, I thought for sure I had lung mets.  But just her presence made me feel better! 

    Sending you a hug!!



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