My butt hurts

[bejuce]

So I've been sitting a lot at work for the past week and now my butt is hurting quite a bit. I don't want to be alarmed and immediately think it's a sign of mets, but as we all know, every pain and ache after cancer can put us in high alert.

I'm not in pain every day (wasn't yesterday but am again today after I sat in the car to drive kids to school and now at work) so I'm trying to think that it's just due to the sitting.

But can a pain in the butt literally be an indication of a pain in the butt bone met? Where are the more common places for a bone met to occur? Should I be alarmed? How can I tell whether the pain is in the muscle vs in the bone? I don't feel pain anywhere else but in the buttocks where I sit.


Thank you so much!!! Trying not to stress...

[Ellie F]

Hi Marcia
I think it is probably herceptin and tamoxifen related rather than a met but I so understand how you are feeling as I do the same each and every day
Hugs Ellie

[Shobha]

Hi Marcia,

My butt and right leg used to pain a lot and after a lot of stressing and getting an MRI, nothing was found. I was told it is probably sciatica.

In your case too, I think it may be some pinched nerve related to sitting too much or bad posture. But, I totally understand the worry. Wishing you peace of mind and clean results in case you decide to follow up on it.

hugs,
shobha

[CourtneyL]

Hoping its nothing, Marcia. Can you palpate the pain (i.e. touch the exact spot where it hurts?) If so, its probably not bone mets. I could never quite determine where my pain was coming from. Whereas with muscle pain, I can always find the exact spot. If you can't find it by touch, there are, of course, a million other explanations, like a pinched nerve, neuropathy, etc.

[bejuce]

Thank you, ladies. I'm trying to think positive - the pain started last week after a long day at my desk. Hopefully it's nothing. What worries me is that when I squeeze my buttocks to try to determine the source, I have to press hard to feel it. It feels like the pain is deeper inside rather than something muscular on the surface.

I called my oncologist's nurse today and she told me to watch it and to perhaps check with my primary care doctor next week if the pain continues. I may do that - it may be faster and she may order a scan for me. I haven't had any scans yet since my surgery last August, and this may be the right opportunity to ask for one.

I'll keep you posted.

Enjoy your weekend,

Marcia

[CourtneyL]

Another thought is to have your doctor check your alkaline phosphatase levels. These numbers are usually high if you have bone mets - but not always.

[Rich66]

I have nothing to offer except a vote for best post headline ;)

[WolverineFan]

I second Rich's comment! Your subjet line post gave me a laugh, but I completely get how new pains can get us nervous. Here is to hoping its a pulled muscle or sciatic nerve. Have a wonderful Mother's Day.

[Patb]

My butt also hurt on the right side last January and
Dr. ordered bone scan which showed no mets but
there is a syndrome called ischial tuberoisty which
I developed after sitting in the car on a long road
trip and they came to the conclusion that was the
problem. Look up ischail tuberosity and see if that
relates to your problem. Good luck. This did go
away with exercise and cream.
patb

[PinkGirl]

Ummm ... I decided to google butt bone ... it's real name is
coccyx. I know you're concerned about this pain butt your post
made me smile "butt bone" .... "butt bone met" ... I have to agree
with Rich ... a prize for the best thread title.

I noticed that you started your post with "I've been sitting a lot".
There's a real good chance that's the problem butt we have to get
everything checked out with our oncs just in case ... butt I don't think
it's anything serious ...

Keep us posted on your butt.

[bejuce]

Thanks, everyone! You are the best! I spent the weekend without any pain, but felt it again as soon as I sat down in my chair at work. Maybe I'm allergic to it now :)

Seriously, I'll observe it for another week and if the pain is still there, I'll pursue an appt with my primary care or oncologist.

[Jackie07]

Marcia,

I had the same worry when my right neck/shoulder became very painful since my bc was on the right side.

Fortunately it was 'just' cervical vertebrae degeneration - the nerves got exposed because of the degenration and caused pain easily whenever I moved my right neck/shoulder too much.

I then found out it is a side effect of Tamoxifen which I had used for almost 5 years altogether. [Tamoxifen causes 'less' osteoporosis than aromatease inhibitor such as arimidex, so I had not thought about it being the culprit.] You might want to check the side effects of all the medicine/chemo agents you've had so far. In the meanwhile, see if you can find a donut-hole shaped pillow to put on your seat...

ps. My Father-in-law 'cracked' his tailbone just a 'hairline' 3 weeks ago. He was nauseated and throwing up...

[bejuce]

Thank you so much for caring! I was pain free all weekend but felt it again Monday morning and a little on Tuesday, but not anymore. So I'm becoming more confident that it's hopefully just case of a sitting-too-much-at-work allergy :)