'Muscle strain' turned out to be spine mets

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vlnrph
vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
edited September 2018 in Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis

Had a twinge in my back earlier this year after garden season began but it went away after a few weeks. When a similar sensation returned last month, I chalked it up to a recent trip out of town during which I lifted luggage, etc. This time both a walk-in clinic MD as well as my primary care doctor's NP diagnosed it as muscular however neither my home care remedies or their prescriptions made much difference once I became doubled over in pain.

Realizing that a new Orthopedic Specialty building was open nearby with after hours services, I finally got imaging there. As soon as they told me that there was a fractured vertebra, I knew it was bone mets. Next came MRI+CT, a long hospital stay with fusion surgery and treatments with Zometa/radiation/Faslodex/Versenio.

I'm posting about my experience because we might have saved several days and not have risked further damage if the first two medical professionals I saw had had a higher degree of suspicion. No need to become paranoid about every little ache or sprain but be sure to advocate for yourself when it seems your history of BC is possibly being downplayed...

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  • vampeyes
    vampeyes Member Posts: 1,227
    edited September 2018

    vlnrph - I am so sorry your pain has turned out to be mets. Sending you cyber hugs. I do appreciate you posting about your experience. I have had shoulder/back pain four a few months now and keep putting it off as wear and tare/arthritis or muscle pain. Your post has made me think maybe I should track to the doctor about it...I hate to do it though with my cancer not being aggressive according to my last MO.

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited September 2018

    Anytime I learn of a premenopausal diagnosis (age 41 would probably qualify!) I inquire about whether genetic counseling was made available. Some mutations can 'hide' for generations, being passed through male relatives or with small families where fewer candidates for disease exist.

    Can't hurt to have the shoulder checked out. Perhaps a couple of physical therapy sessions or working with a personal trainer could show you if bad habits are causing discomfort. Don't carry a purse or tote that is too heavy...

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited September 2018

    You know my mo told me ASAP mri on my back. I had never had anything like it I couldn't move without horrific pain. It turned out to be a sprain but I never remember what I did to cause it. It is so important to get the tests as soon as you can. I started not putting things off. Yeah little pains ok but not medium to large pains.

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  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited September 2018

    It's really hard to know what to do sometimes. It seems like some doctors are much more proactive than others.

    I had a lot of pain in my shoulder and went to see an ortho. They did an xray and specifically said there was no evidence of cancer. I was kind of shocked since I actually wasn't even thinking of that - for a change!

    I've had a lot of tailbone pain for a few months and saw my PCP about it. He ordered an xray but also said he hadn't heard of anyone with mets to the tailbone.

    Sometimes I feel dumb to even bring up all my aches and pains. Some people just have more, I guess. It is worrisome.

    Thanks for the reminder to be vigilant. I'm sorry for your diagnosis.


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  • vampeyes
    vampeyes Member Posts: 1,227
    edited September 2018

    Thanks vlnrph, how are you doing?

    They wouldn't do the gene testing on me, apparently I didn't reach the requirements for it. Not enough family history knowledge.

    Notverybrave - that's how I fell too, feeling dumb or love I am overreacting about every ache. Usually I just blame the Tamoxifen for it all. Haha

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  • JoE777
    JoE777 Member Posts: 628
    edited September 2018

    Not very brave. I had 3 batteries of X-rays to my lower back for pain and they showed nothing. My orthopedist ordered an MRI and I had five lesions on my sacrum and iliac with pain in the tailbone. Push for the MRI or Pet/Ct scan which , for me,saw them along with mets to the lungs.

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited September 2018

    vlnrph, I'm so sorry this happened to you. It's a kick in the gut.

    I had the exact same thing happen. Sore back, went in and the neuro exam was normal so went home. A week later realized I wouldn't pass the neuro exam anymore. They listened to me. x-ray and CT showed fracture of L-5.

    I don't blame them. PCPs see people with back pain four times a day and it's always muscular. Except for the 1/1000th time its not. Truth be told if they'd figured it out a week or even a month earlier nothing would have changed. It would have been the same surgery/radiation/rehab/treatment.

    If the docs ordered imaging on everyone with back pain we'd all be paying even more for our insurance.

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited September 2018

    Well we are not everybody we have a serios cancer diagnosis 30% it could be in our bones. Get the mri.

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  • Jadedjo
    Jadedjo Member Posts: 469
    edited September 2018

    I'm always in constant pain whether it's my shoulder, my legs or my arms it feels like my bones are being ripped apart. It moves from time to timeI've had this issue since I was a teenager. It comes and goes. Doctors can't explain it.

    Now that I know I have cancer I am at a loss if I go to get checked when I'm in pain I would be at the doctors weekly.

    I don't know what is the problems I have always had and what is possible mets.

    So I suspect I will find out I have mets when it's gotten real bad.


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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited September 2018

    so sorry you are dealing with mets. It is so frustrating how hard we need to advocate for ourselves, and that doctors always have such a low index of suspicion.

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