12 years since DX - stage IV - still NED - new problem

[StephN]

The great news is that after 10 years with stage IV status I am still NED. NED in body as well as my noggin.

The latest is that I have been suffering with a nerve impingement at L3 - about waist level. The pain goes down my left hip and all the way down the FRONT of my leg to my ankle. Spent 5 days in the hospital to get the pain under control and get some flexibility back in my hip. As well as start to walk a few steps with a walker.

This has been going on since before Labor Day. After something called a CT Myelogram the real disk problem was finally seen, which did not show well on the MRI, which confused the neuro team. Have had two injections in the area of the impingement and the second one has helped so I am reasonably mobile now, still with one of those 4-wheel walker models.

Have appointment with my neurosurgeon in 2 weeks, but am on the cancellation list to try to get in sooner. So, it looks like a little back surgery may be in my near future.

Moral is if we can get well enough to be very active, there are other tricks waiting down the line for our body to play on us. So, I join Elaine on the Back Problem list.

[tricia keegan]

Oh Steph, when dealing with cancer we tend to forget the normal aging probs that set in too, thinking of you and sending good wishes !

[KDR]

Steph,
Feel better soon, and I'm glad you are "on" it, being proactive. My onco reminds me at times that in addition to what we bear, we have the usual calamities of aging and general health issues we would've had anyway. We are truly soldiers.
Karen

[Pray]

Steph, Any surgery is not fun! I hope you get a cancelation soon. Gods blessings to you. I hope and pray all will go well for you!

[BonnieR]

Yes, I have often thought that we should be immune from some of the more "commonplace" ailments due to our having cancer! I have also noticed that the every day things seem to be lining up. Just when I think I have one under control, the next one steps up to the plate! Just thanking God that I am alive to be having these problems.
I have recently been experiencing great hip pain. Xray shows arthritis in hip and spine. And so it goes....
Keep the faith

[Laurel]

Steph,

I sooooooo hear you! While feeling privileged to be alive to live to grow old, I must say this growing old is a b*t#h! I am so sorry to hear you are gimping along, but hope you get relief very soon. Who was it who said that "growing old is not for the faint of heart"? Bette Davis?

Well whoever said it was spot on! Hang in there!

[Jean]

Steph, so sorry to hear you are in pain and having to deal with back issues. Why am I not surprised that you are still going about...pain and all.
Sending you healing energy and hopes that you will be pain free soon.

Kindest Regards,
Jean

[Barbara H.]

Hi Stephanie,
I am shocked and so sorry to hear this latest development. I am hoping that your treatment team we solve this problem and have you back on your feet ASAP.
Thinking of you!
Barbara H.

[Bunty]

Hi Steph, wishing you much success in your operation. It's wonderful that you are growing old (if you know what I mean), but gees, wouldn't it be great if it didn't bring all the other aches and pains!
Cheers Marie

[michka]

Poor Steph! I hope your Drs will find the solution to get rid of the pain and allow you to walk again. I hope you can escape an operation. I am so happy you are NED and I can't imagine you not being able to live fully and travel! Your stage 4 story and your fighting spirit always inspired me even when I was not stage 4.
I hope you will recover fast. Michka

[NEDenise]

Steph,
Oh No!! I'm glad you kept pushing till someone figured out your new ailment! Thank God you're your own advocate...practice makes perfect, I guess.

I've had disk trouble at c-4 and l-5 since my late 20's...arthritis and bulging disks. The pain, when those nerves get squashed, can be unbearable! But for you to be kept off your feet... Wow! That must be some kind of pain! You poor thing! I've had the steroid shots to the site (and they were wonderful, but temporary). I was able to avoid surgery (so far)...who knows what this body of mine will pull on me next! But, I've heard that the pain reduction after surgery is not only wonderful, but permanent. I just know your surgery and recovery will be as smooth as silk.

Hang in there, friend
Denise

[Mandamoo]

Oh no - back pain is awful. I feel though that you are a very strong woman with all it takes to tackle this head on - you will prevail. Another challenge for you but wow girl - your back just doesn't know how we'll credentialed you are!
Sending love.

[caya]

Steph I am sorry to hear of your back pain. I hope you get into see the specialist sooner - a little trick I do is phone the office every morning at 9:00 a.m. and sweetly ask if there have been any cancellations that day, and tell the receptionist that you are available to come in pronto.

all the best
caya

[Ellie F]

Hi Steph
Yet another incident in the rich pageant of life. Glad to hear they have got the pain under control as its incredibly draining. I totally agree that after cancer We ALL should be immune from other health problems!
Keep us posted we care about you
Ellie

[Jackie07]

Steph,

Sounded like you might have some sort of vertebrae degeneration issue. I had a scare several years ago when the right side of my neck was pinching me with sharp pain. After some x-ray/tests, I was told that the nerve tissue was exposed because of the bone (cervical vertebrae）degeneration.

I read that they can put something to seal the eroded area. I hope you will get a good 'repairment' and get rid of the pain soon.

[Joanne S]

I am sending huge hugs and well wishes your way.

[meo]

I am so sorry about your back. When one's back is in pain, it is the worst as it affects the whole being. It must have been severe pain for them to keep you five days in the hospital.
Truly hope that you find a resolution and I am sending you lots of ehugs (gently) and healing wishes. And a cancellation appointment! Soon.

[sarah]

Bonjour Stephanie,
So sorry to hear about this.
I had what they said was either a pinched nerve or burnt nerve in my shoulder blade area from the radiation and the pain doc gave me Lyrica and it helped with the pain, I wonder if that would work for you until it's taken care of.
hugs and love
Sarah
Hope to see you over this way next year.

[StephN]

Thanks so much for all the well wishes, dear ladies!
It is a good thing I had the opportunity last September to climb to the top of the Mont St. Michel and walk up to the first level of the Eiffel Tower!

This pain I have is radiating from my back and is not really felt hard until my hip area and then down my whole left leg. So, oddly my back actually feels OK.

To put weight on my left foot was almost impossible.

Tomorrow I have an appointment for a nerve conduction test on my left leg. Then the neurosurgeon should have everything he needs to evaluate my case.

My hubby is a little put out at having to see such a parade of specialists, but that must be what is required by the insurance nowadays!

[ammebarb]

Oh Steph, I am so sorry you are having back problems. Hope that your surgery can be soon. I have a friend who said that the discomfort of the surgery wasn't nearly as severe as the pain he had before surgery. So here's hoping that you will soon feel much, much better.

Barb A.

[chekmark]

Steph,
I am so sorry for your current back issues. I had back surgery 8 or 10 years ago and it went well, my post op pain was nothing compared to what I felt before surgery.I have never experienced so much pain in my life. I hope all goes well for you. Please keep us posted.

[sarah]

bonjour Stephanie,
knowing you, you'll be climbing to the top of Notre Dame or Ste Victoire next year!
ask about the Lyrica
hugs and love
A+
Sarah

[StephN]

Thanks for the prayers for a cancellation so I can see my neurosurgeon sooner! I am moved up ONE week to this coming Monday.

Had the nerve conduction tests on my legs today and mainly it showed some neuropathy from all the Taxanes I ingested 10 and 11 years ago. Some slight damage beginning from the disk on nerve, but I am speeding up this train before I really have some damage to deal with.

Now I need prayers that the surgeon will cooperate!

[Laurel]

You got 'em, Steph. Sending you much love and hope for relief!

[ElaineM]

Sorry to hear you have joined my club. My physical therapist told me nerves only heal one mm a day. Hang in there. HUGS

[StephN]

Glad to hear from you Elaine.

But - hoo boy - I don't like that nerve healing stat!

[sarah]

Hello Stephanie,
did the docs have any suggestions? Does anything they suggested help?
hugs and love sarah

[StephN]

Hi Sarah -
Thanks for your concern.
I see the neurosurgeon next Monday, so other than the spain specialist who did the epidural injections, I have not seen anyone yet.

The surgeon next Monday will either schedule me for a little surgery (I do not have degeneration, just a bulging disk, and pain doc thinks it is operable) or put me in a rehab program to see if that will make a difference.

Meanwhile, the meds I have are fortunately enough without putting me into la-la land.

[NEDenise]

Just a bulging disk?!!
Spoken like the brave woman you are!!
:) Denise

[StephN]

Feeling so bad for some of our dear sisters here who are in much more trouble than I am.

I have a lot of experience with this problem as my dear hubby had a piece of disk pressing on his L5 about 15 years ago. He had to have 2 laminectomies before his problem was permanently (so far) fixed.

Thus I know about the leg pain he endured and what type of neurosurgery fixed that. His healing went quite well both times - until quite a while after the first one he tried to pick up a case of champagne from the floor and caused the same disk to protrude again. Therefore second surgery. Lesson learned!

Guess after all I have been through from my cancer, I don't consider this back episode life-threatening, and it will be over in the near future. Gotta think positive!

[anne2]

Hi Steph
Congrats on passing 10 years NED. My mom had the same disc problems but found great relief with Laser Chiropractic treatments. It worked so well she avoided surgery. She was in agony for 4 months last year. Please at least try to find a doc who will do it. God Bless.

[sassy]

Hang in there Steph! Sorry you are having to deal with this but know you will deal with it and come out with a smile!

[JennyB]

Its good to now that the pain will be short lived and is operable. Good luck with the surgeon

[ElaineM]

Prayers and good vibes still going your way from the middle of the Pacific. I am sure you will be up and around very soon. Take care.

[StephN]

Coming out of my oxycodone haze (not really, but I do need a couple each day) to give an update.

My surgeon is quite willing to work on my back - and I get in NEXT WEEK, either Wed or Thurs, first available.

I will post more in a new thread. But he also told me that this type of nerve problem is RARE! What? Why do I always have to get those??

[sarah]

I'll be thinking of you Stephanie while I'm away, leave tomorrow and I'll hope to check in to hear your news.
hugs and love
sarah

[StephN]

Thank you, Sarah. Have a wonderful trip to China!

I will be at the surgery center within 48 hours now.

[chrisy]

Steph, good luck with the surgery! Although I'm sure it is not fun, it must be some relief to have, well, relief in sight

[BonnieR]

Keep the faith. I know you do!!
xoxo