Can a CT scan detect a pinched nerve?

livingwithit
livingwithit Member Posts: 39
edited March 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Hello everyone! Hope you're all as well as can be today! I have a few questions and I'm hoping some of you have some answers or could tell me if you've had a similar experience.

I'm stage 4 with bone mets. The worst one is left shoulder and upper left arm and had a small spot left hip. About 18 months ago I had radiation for both. The pain relief in my arm and shoulder was a blessing but the pain in my arm/shoulder is back. Not as intense, thank goodness, but it's coming back. The place on my hip is no longer detected on scans and I don't have any problems there (yay)!

I've been stable on Ibrance/Femara with no new mets since August 2015. My blood work is good but tumor markers can't be used to track anything because they show up within normal limits even when I was first being treated for the mets I do have.

My problem is a constant pain beneath my right shoulder blade. I've had the pain for several months . ..at least 5 months. It's getting worse and is sticking around, all day, every day. Occasionally my right arm will go numb down to my middle finger tip. My MO thinks it's a pinched nerve and suggested massage. Unfortunately that's not covered by insurance and I am not able to afford it now but I have been using a handheld personal massager and that does help get the feeling back in my arm when it goes numb.

I have a CT (just a regular 6-month, take a look and see if anything is going on scan) scheduled in 2 days.

Does anyone know if a CT can detect a pinched nerve?

Does a pinched nerve cause chronic pain? It's a stabbing, aching, trobbing pain. Kind of like a toothache.

It's been pretty intense even with pain meds, muscle relaxers, ice, heat, muscle rubs (like apsercream and DoTerra Deep Blue) so of course it has me worried sometimes that it could be a new met that's pressing on nerves causing the occasional numbness in my arm. I'd definitely prefer a run of the mill pinched nerve to disease progression but something has got to give either way!

If the CT is clear for new mets would the cause of the pain likely be a pinched nerve? If so does anyone know what can be done for it? If it would give me some releif I'd come up with some massage money somewhere!

Is there a better type of imaging other than CT that I should request that may show what's going on in there?

My first MO has retired but she always ordered a CT and a bone scan for restaging. My new MO says the CT will pick up any bone activity and there's no need for the bone scan too. Have you guys found this to be the case? I know a bone scan can pick up activity earlier than an xray can so I'm a little concerned she didn't order both, but I'm fine with the one scan as long as the CT will give me all the info we need.

Any info anyone has or has had a similar problem and could tell me how they got relief I would appreciate hearing from you!

Thanks!

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Comments

  • Nan812
    Nan812 Member Posts: 289
    edited March 2017

    hi living...im pretty sure you would need an mri to actually see any nerve but the ct can show the cause of the damage if there is any. have you checked if your insurance covers ciropratic , ive heard they can really help and alot of insu. companies cover that..wishing you a met free scan and a pain free season.

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  • livingwithit
    livingwithit Member Posts: 39
    edited March 2017

    Hi Nan, Thanks for your reply. I went ahead and called my oncology nurse just to confirm the CT will show any problems in my back. The answer was no! Such a frustrating conversation. . . .but the end result is I now have a bone scan scheduled for next Tuesday. Once the bone scan rules out possibility of mets causing the pain I will be scheduled to see a neurologist to get this pain resolved :) I'm thinking since my blood work has been good that it's NOT a met but you know how it is needing that confirmed! :) Will ask about chiropractic too once that bone scan proves again that I worry too much! But boy can't this awful disease scare you to death with nearly every ache and pain?!

    And here's to you also being pain free and with no progression! I know everyone of us could stand a break!


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  • Heidihill
    Heidihill Member Posts: 5,476
    edited March 2017

    Frustrating indeed. Whatever works, right? In my case I did have some kind of pinched nerve (torticollis) after scans showed no mets on the cervical spine. I had strained my neck while having a mammogram and had gotten myself almost paralyzed. My onc prescribed corticosteroids, muscle relaxants and painkillers and I also got physical therapy, acupuncture and massage. I was running from appointment to appointment for about three months. Insurance paid for all of it except for the massage. I should have made the hospital pay but was just so happy it wasn't mets.

    Hope your scans also show no mets!

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited March 2017

    I see that you had an mx. I get similar pain ever since my mx. It has improved with exercise and stretching recommended by a PT, but it never goes completely away. Good luck and I hope this is not progression.

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  • Falconer
    Falconer Member Posts: 1,192
    edited March 2017

    Hi all- been living with a similar condition since last July when I had the evil biopsy that required me to hold my arm over my head for an hour and a half. Ugh!! Acupuncture has provided some relief, as well as a good nights sleep (whats that?) when I get it. My brother is a neurologist and he did recommend a nerve block, but I didn't take it. Had enough needles in me this last year, thank you very much!
    Even pretreatment for BC can cause long lasting side effects (like mammos and biopsies!) I'm trying to return to my yoga practice and just relax in general...
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