Pain management

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Rainedrop
Rainedrop Member Posts: 70
edited August 2016 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

hi ladies!

My cancer has diffuse mets to the spine and for the last couple of months I have had horrendous pain down my leg into my foot from an arthritic L5 C1 joint. It is not related, I don't think, to my mets. I can't get any doctor to help me because of thecancer. They all want to give me pain medication which I want to save until the cancer actually hurts. I know that day will come. Any thoughts?

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  • Bluemnm
    Bluemnm Member Posts: 1,078
    edited August 2016

    Hi Raine, sorry to hear about your pain. Have you been to a pain management doctor for it? Years before I had cancer I had neck pain due to denegerative disks at C5. My pcp did the same and only wanted to prescribe pain meds. I went to a pain management doctor who gave me options of doing PT or giving me I believe an epidural shot. I had the same issues with shooting nerve pain. I personally decided not to do the shot but it seems to work for most people.

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  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited August 2016

    I have osteoarthritis of the spine and hip. I took Tramadol for years, and decided I was done with it. When pain gets very bad, my onc said I can take two ibuprofen, in two hours take two Tylenol, and in two hours take Aleve. Light exercising and stretching might help. Have they offered PT? Just try to stay ahead of the pain.

    Sending healing hugs!!

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  • Rainedrop
    Rainedrop Member Posts: 70
    edited August 2016

    I'm taking Aleve twice a day and Tylenol 4x and it doesn't seem to touch it. I kinda horned in on my husband's pain management appointment and asked point blank if he would treat it. My mo seems very focused on only the cancer and its treatment. I see him a week from Monday and I am going to ask him to refer me to someone who will help. I have thought about pt, and will pursue that option a well. Thank you for your advice. I really appreciate your support

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited August 2016

    Raine-Wells, I understand how you want to "save" pain medication until the cancer hurts, but you're in pain NOW. There's no reason why you should live in pain, regardless of whether it is related to your cancer. If the mets were in L5 would you be more willing to take it?

    Can the orthopods help? Or PT (as others have suggested)?

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  • JFL
    JFL Member Posts: 1,947
    edited August 2016

    Cymbalta. It works great for joint pain/run of the mill spinal arthritis/pinched nerves/bulging discs and also helps a bit with bone pain from mets. Great alternative to pain meds if you are not interested in those.

    Would also recommend ice packs on the vertebrae that are the culprits, stretching and mild exercise, and heating pad on painful/tight/tense areas.

    I hope you find relief.
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