Anyone with hardware in your spine?

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alcb70
alcb70 Member Posts: 166
edited March 2016 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Does anyone else have hardware in their spine? I have constant low grade pain due to 2 back surgeries. My previous oncologist did PET scans every 6 months for a couple years because he was nervous mets pain would be masked. I ended up with a second round of chemo, after surgery bc my cancer was still active. I worry that mess was just floating around looking for a nice inflamed place to hide for 6 months. I have flares of back pain, but for the last few nights it's been much more intense than usual; actually nauseating. (I think I recall somewhere that mets pain flares more at night). I can almost set my watch by it (9:00); very odd. I will wait the 2 weeks, but can't keep having scans all the time, or panic attacks. Not sure how to monitor this, since I'll have the back pain the rest of my life. Just wondering if anyone is in the same boat. Thanks!

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  • TeeDills2013
    TeeDills2013 Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2016

    I had a 2 level fusion in November 2014 with a plate, screws and an interbody spacer. I had almost immediate relief of all pain, but lost the use of my left arm for about 9 months. About 4 weeks ago, I started having pain, numbness, burning, pins and needles in my shoulder blades, right arm and a little in my left arm. I thought I just aggravated my neck after doing some deep cleaing but made an appointment with my bone/joint doctor seven it hadn't started getting better after a week. Had my appointment with him yesterday.  Had xrays and my fusion looked good as did the level above. The level below was questionable. I am waiting for insurance to approve an MRI.

    My pain is worse in the morning gets better then returns in the evening. It wakes me up sometimes. I  went to urgent care a week ago for bronchitis and the predisolone prescribed helped with the pain. It is now back.

    I ddidn't automatically think spine mets. I thought degenerative disc/spinal stenosis. Now just wait and see what MRI shows.

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  • alcb70
    alcb70 Member Posts: 166
    edited March 2016

    Hi Tee-

    I hate that you're having issues. Yours does sound like a stenosis issue. My neuropathy/numbness in my leg gets worse with my pain as does bladder dysfunction. I'm glad that your surgery resolved your pain. Definitely keep an eye on any new pain. Makes it easier for you to spot a difference. Mine can be hidden in my day to day pain/regular flares. Just elusive. :( let me know how your results go!

    -Andrea

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