Pain and Other Things

1…457910

Comments

  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited October 2016

    My cramping in the legs, feet, and hands left when I started Innovix Magnesium, quick absorb, 2 per day, 1 in the am, one in the pm, from Amazon, but it won't fix bulging discs.

    Meow please get the scan soon!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited October 2016

    I hate the weekend. I was told by doctor on call to go to emergency room. I think I can hold off until Monday but I just can't help feel this is it for me. It will never get better. The pain has taken a great toll on me.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited October 2016

    I read they make more mistakes on the weekend. Plant yourself at the door Monday morning, except call ambulance gets you through sooner

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2016

    Meow ~ Dang. I've been where you are at and it sux. Herniated discs and mets both can be unbearable. I know it's hard, but you won't know what all is going on until you get an MRI. Does your ER do scans on the weekend or would you have to wait until Monday? Scan or not, the most important issue is your pain. Go to the ER now and let them help you. They can give you an injection to ease any inflammation and keep you comfortable until you can see your doctor. The hospital will also give you an RX for something that will work better than what you've been taking. That is what I had to do. My husband literally had to drag me in.....I didn't want to go. Very glad he did. The ER doc was excellent and was able to "patch" me up enough to stay comfortable until I could see my own doctor.

    This is Halloween weekend - go to the ER as early as you can. The later it gets, the busier it will be.

    GO!

    And then come back and let us know how you are doing.

    (((hugs))) and positive, healing thoughts being sent you way ✝

    ~ Shep

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sorella
    Sorella Member Posts: 107
    edited October 2016

    Tomorrow is Monday so I will call my team. It is five weeks since my lumpectomy and nodal disection. I start chemo Nov 7th and am really getting worried about having to deal with the pain I am still experiencing on top of the chemo. I am numb in some areas and have needle like pain in others. I have only motrin as I felt like the 60 percocet I used over the 30 days or so was enough already and never asked for more. I do pain meditations, exercise, swim, walk etc but seems like by 4 pm, the pain is always there some days worse than others. After crying some, I meditated and took an ativan. I will also take motrin and have a bath but am very frustrated! I have thought about acupuncture (afraid of the needles) massage, etc. Just feeling hopeless about now!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited November 2016

    The awful pain is gone, I have been icing my lower back. I have some soreness on left side but I have good range of motion. Mri is on Friday afternoon, my chiropractor does not think I have mets to spine. But we are doing the MRI anyway to see what's up. I hope Im not getting my hopes too high.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lita57
    Lita57 Member Posts: 2,437
    edited November 2016

    Just watched our local news on symptom relief for cancer TX SE's. UCSF Benioff Ctr says massage really helps with nausea and others. They are trying to get it for all patients.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited November 2016

    The painful truth about NSAIDS

    http://www.mercola.com/infographics/nsaids.htm


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited November 2016

    I received my results sort of, no cancer is what I heard. My spine is very young for my age loaded with water? Really the only thing I heard was no cancer. I feel a little sore on my left side but getting better.

    I believe the terrible excruciating pain was alleviated by ice packs. I had swelling pinching nerves.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited November 2016

    Congratulations on your good news Meow

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited November 2016

    Thanks I was very relieved.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited April 2017

    bumps


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited May 2017

    Bump


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MameMe
    MameMe Member Posts: 425
    edited May 2017

    This is a very useful, enlitening topic, many thanks to you, Sas, for the work. I am looking for info from other bc pts. about a recent increase in pain. I have had stage iv bc for thee years with no pain, but a scalp met has really been hurting in the last two weeks. I started Doxil this week on Monday, as the onc. feels that this is progression. What I don't know is, where is the pain coming from? Scalp? Skull? Brain? I was given an rx for 40mg prednisone, which after one day, has not improved the pain. I would love some guidance in finding discussions about prednisone and about cranial pain from mets. Many thanks. Mam

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited May 2017

    Mame of the infamous star I hope? Hi. Is the met's external or internal? Either way I suggest the following. But I have to go back and see if I wrote it already BBL

    Okay found what I was looking for on page 3. Starts with a post dated feb27th. It's on dilute bleach baths then follows through to a post on a 10% bleach solution ( 1 part bleach to 9 parts water) for a scalp wound. The whole description is in that section. Odd that I would suggest that you consider this, but if it's external scalp there are many bacteria in the scalp. This would clean up and bacteria on the scalp. Take all the precautions I suggested. All the info is in the public domain, so I'm not practicing medicine without a license. Read the whole section several times>>>then ask me questions>>>then get doc permission.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited May 2017

    Mamie, Your question "Where is the pain coming from?" The scalp is very vascular and has oodles of nerve endings. So, when you say scalp, but latter say is it scalp, skull, brain, you have me a bit confused.

    I have nothing in the trick bag for skull or brain. But the scalp as I have said has oodles of nerve endings. The wound that I described having on page 3, was healed with the 10% bleach solution after 5 weeks of failed antibiotics. YAY. BUT their is a dime size area of hair loss and a neuralgia/neuritis that is intermittent.

    Neuralgia is pain or unusual feeling at the nerve ending or along a nerve. Neuritis is pain at the terminal end or along a nerve that is inflamed or more painful than neuralgia. Basically, they are the same, but "Itis" describes a more intense situation. It's like the bad brother of neuralgia.

    Either can be constant or intermittent. Either can be triggered by Cold, hot, touch, pressure i.e sleeping on it, hat), wind.

    Perhaps, an analogy can help. Shingles neuritis. The virus causes inflammation along one or more dermatone planes. Shingles runs it's course. But what can happen is the nerve in a dermatone plane is so insulted it becomes a chronic source of pain. Think of neuralgia pain and neuritis pain as being on a spectrum zero to 180 degrees

    Zero(no pain)>>>>>>neuralgia>>>>>>>>>>Neuritis 180degrees

    One of the treatments for shingles neuritis is trigger point injections done with Lidocaine and sometimes a steroid like prednisone, done by a pain management doc either anesthiologist or neurologist. The importance of a pain management doc is they are skilled in the nerves and the drugs. It's become a subspecialty because it is so technical.

    This is going to seem way off the wall and your doc may just roll their eyes. Share this observation with him. I put up with and still put up with the neuritis/neuralgia spot on the scalp. BUT When I got the shingles shot about 6years after the original scalp problem. For a length of time that nerve site was interestingly active. It was days, but don't remember exactly how many. Then it became quieter and less irritating. There should have been no connection between the two scientifically, but their was something that happened. My science mind says it was activation of the immune response. The immune system recognized that something was wrong at that site and worked on fixing it. Would have loved a total fix, but was happy with the fix I got. :)

    So in summary

    1. if it's external, try the 10% bleach solution as described on pg3. If there is any bacterial contamination of an external site it may make the site less irritable.

    2. consider evaluation for trigger point injections by a pain mgt doc. Localized prednisone is less harmful to the body than orals (long story),and better for control of a singular misbehaving nerve.

    3. If you haven't had the Shingles shot and it is not contraindicated, have it. It's a two for one chance. Shingles disease in a reduced immune state can be fatal or more serious than someone with a non compromised immune state. We as Cancer patients are at risk when we are not immunized against Shingles pre initial surgery and treatment. So, if you aren't immunized and the doc says okay, you are better protected and it will be interesting to see if it has an affect on the pain in the head

    Please, discuss all of this with your doc. Also, do me a favor and post back. Even if your doc thinks I'm fruitloops. :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MameMe
    MameMe Member Posts: 425
    edited May 2017

    Thanks so much for this, I need to go over this and understand the things when I am more rested. I will respond once I get the whole picture, tomorrow or Monday latest

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited May 2017

    Mame, my suggestions are really infection and inflammation related. Won't do anything with the cancer. But if it helps cool down a nerve or two that would be nice. Very nice.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited May 2017

    Other thing: Serotonin Syndrome. I thought this was a very nice complete look at the syndrome

    http://www.modernmedicine.com/modern-medicine/content/ce-deadly-serotonin-syndrome


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MameMe
    MameMe Member Posts: 425
    edited May 2017

    Sassy, I have been in to see the onc. team, and the plan is to assume for just this next three weeks, that the scalp mets are causing pain due to cancer growth, and should be responding to chemo before too long. If it gets worse, they will order a brain mri, any time, but I had one last July and it was clear. I am to take prednisone at 40 mg for two more days, with advil as needed, and they will call me Wed. to discuss any needs for increase or decrease. I feel relief at being heard and. at having a plan. I have crunchy neck bones that also could be involved in nerve constriction, and will be asking more about that when I talk with oncology again. That is the update for now. I read the whole thread and am very glad you are sharing so much of what you know and what you find out. You are a valuable information source. Big thanks

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited May 2017

    Mame excellent news re:the PLAN. Life is so much easier with a plan. Even when life throws any curve at us, if we have been following a basic plan, we can manage it so much better. Thanks for the compliments re the thread. It's a mish mash of old and new posts. I wish I had done it from the beginning. Thanks again:)


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited May 2017

    Whoa Nelly, MAME yoohoo, What's the plan on prednisone. You need to be weaned. Your adrenal glands will treat you like you were a steroid weightlifter that suddenly stopped roids. i.e you can get into serious trouble with out weaning

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lita57
    Lita57 Member Posts: 2,437
    edited May 2017

    Yes, weaning off steroids is important. You cut the pills in half and in quarters. Take 3/4 of a pill for a couple days then half a pill, then a quarter of a pill for a couple days. You can usually wean off in 5 to 7 days, but do not stop abruptly.


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MameMe
    MameMe Member Posts: 425
    edited May 2017

    Thanks for the steroid advice, Lita and Sassy, I am going to dscrease the dose very gradually as you suggest. I started prednisone on Fri., so its just been my fourth day taking it. I plan to discuss dosage changes with the onc.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited May 2017

    Hi Mame, yes discuss weaning dose with doc. Slower the better.

    Lita, you may have been put on that weaning schedule, but doesn't mean it works for all doses. At 40 mg it would be way to fast. Besides any recommendation always should be qualified with recommendation to discuss with a doc. Thanks for your input.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited May 2017

    Bump


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited July 2017

    Duh....................it wouldn't let me submit. I dislike blue lines

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited July 2017

    Post a reply

    A few seconds ago sas-schatzi wrote:

    Other Things........Post operative Ileus. i.e bowel shutting down.

    Consider chewing gum to prevent post op ilieus(((((((((((((((hahahaha)has science behind it .

    http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/807022_1

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited July 2017

    This is the most recent info

    Factors Affecting Wound Healing

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2903966/


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited July 2017

    I'm humbled by the viewings, thank you

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories