Hip bone pain questions & mets?

[lizm100]

Hi ladies-

I don't post often but do lurk to check in once in a while.
When I was initially diagnosed with stage T1MIC (DCIS with less than 1mm of a microinvation) bc in Febuary 08', my oncologist ordered a baseline CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis and all was normal. I also had a baseline bone scan which was normal. I have had repeat CT scans a year ago and had my last bone scan in March of 09' for other aches and pains, they were all normal. I know before having BC, I would have dismissed many of my aches and pains but not anymore however, I try to wait it out before I cry wolf in a manner of speaking.


This is my worst and latest saga:
I need advice on some pain that I have been feeling in my entire left hip area. The pain started shortly after I started doing yoga (I did hip stretches to open the hips) simutaneously I also started working out on a weight machine that require pulling and pushing of weight that work out your back end and hips etc. Now for the past 4-5 weeks I have had front hip, back hip, joint & socket, rear end area, upper leg pain the radiates with sensations of pulling, burning, shooting, tingeling, throbbing, to just plain pain. The intensity of the pain varies. Any type of motion/activity such as walking & standing relieve the pain. Any type of inactivity such as sitting & especially laying down intensify the pain dramatically. I started physical therapy but is not helping and the therapist tells me that I feel tight in my hip area. I'm taking some herbal anti-inflammaratories(suggested by my naturalpath) and at times Motrin which only help moderately. When googleing I learned that there can be soooo many causes of hip pain but at this point I am very nervous and the fear of mets is starting to consume me. Can anyone offer advice on whether or not this sounds like bone mets?
Thank for reading my post, this forum has been my lifeline many times and I have learned so much through your posts.

[tricia keegan]

Hi Liz,

I dont have bone mets but have just recently completed a lot of testing for suspected mets and thankfully got the all clear.
I had pain in my back for weeks radiating down the back of my thighs and legs and like you, it did ease when walking but was worse sitting and doing nothing.
It sounds like this may be connected to the yoga exercise's you were doing, maybe you pulled or over stretched a muscle?
I think with bone mets the only way to know for certain is to have a bone scan or pet but in view of your exercise's I'd guess thats the culprit. If it does'nt resolve in a few weeks you should ask your onc for further testing.
Good luck!

[Debra]

Hello -
I just wanted to let you know your situation sounds quite like mine. After starting an exercise regime, I too started with radiatiing hip pain in low back and gluteus area. It too would be relieved by remaining active.
I finally decided to get it checked out after doing the chiropractor etc. with no relief. It turned out to be trochanteric bursitis. I have it in both hips. It often can be brought on by being more active but interestingly, may be relieved by being active.
I have had both CT's and MRI's and no cancer, just the bursitis. Chances are, yours is something similiar. Of course we like to get these things checked but I also do not like to subject myself to unnecessary radiation from many of the diagnostic tests so I first had the MRI. The MRI results in a CT which I tried to avoid but of course they found something funky in my upper abdominal area which turned out to be nothing.
Keep in mind that once you have cancer, you will most likely never have a "normal" CT or MRI. Meaning, they will always find something that looks abnormal because of the many things that can appear as unusual densities on a imaging study. Things are often dictated as "undetermined" when you are a post-cancer patient. We all have funky things that show up that are often nothing. This is why doctors often prefer to pay attention to the symptoms and not jump to ordering imaging studies. MRI's are not radiation such as CT scans. They use magnetics and frequency. If you want to rule out bone mets, maybe that is something you could ask for. PET scans are expensive and quite a bit of exposure to the patients. I do hate that bone pain because it does always make you wonder. Cancer doesn't always follow the rules so even when doctors say, "it doesn't sound consistent with bone mets", you still always wonder in the back of your mind. I feel better having the MRI and knowing it is not mets.

[Patb]

Are you taking Arimidex or Femara, this causes
extreme bone pain in my case. It started after
three months on Arimidex. I have been taking
it three years now and its the same especially
if I sit too long or stay in the same position too
long. Walking helps.
patb

[lizm100]

Tricia, Debra & Patb-

I appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences with me. It proves that not every new ache and pain is automatically cancer.

I've always been active with brisk walks, jogging, hand weights, a little belly dancing with pre and post work out stretches (never tried yoga until now). After reading and constantly hearing that yoga is soooo wonderful I decided to embark on that too. I guess I must be the exception to yoga and don't plan on ever doing it again.

I think my pain is starting to improve a tiny bit but in the mean time my physical therapist promised that he would speak to his brother who is an orthopedic physician about getting me to see a hip specialist from his practice. I too am trying to limit exposure to radiation and have thought of requesting an MRI. By visiting this forum I have learned so much from all of the knowledgable, caring, and compasonate members.

Thank you again,

Liz