Update on Mystery Back Pain!!!

kcherub · 02-02-2008, 02:41 PM

Yesterday, I was SURE I had bone mets. So sure, I sobbed for two straight hours. The stress of my back, hip and upper leg pain had just finally gotten to me. Hence my lack of posting in the last week or so...

As you may remember, I kept having periods of intense back pain that seemed to move around (with an ovarian cyst thrown in for good measure and to keep me from getting to the real issue). I had three cycles of it--one about two months ago, one three weeks ago, and one that began last week. The previous two times it went away, and I just chalked it up to my cycle, and wearing really high boots (and bone mets, bone mets, bone mets, my mind kept whispering to me). This time, it didn't go away and just got worse and worse. For those of you who have children, it was like labor pains.

On Thursday, I went to my ONC. for a urine test and was supposed to have an x-ray that afternoon at the hospital. My husband runs an imaging lab, and wanted to give me an MRI (he said I had too much radiation for one quarter--LOL). We set it up for last night. I got a heating pad and took 1/2 a vicodin (thank you, ovarian cyst). Yesterday morning was horrible. I had to have my FIL come and take my son to school, and had to call one of my girls in to work in the store for me. I took another 1/2 vicodin and took up residence on the heating pad. It got a little better, except for the anxiety attacks that kept creeping up.

The MRI showed two areas of arthritic activity, and some minor bulging of those two discs. The intense pain came from the two major nerves that the bulging was hitting. It was actually kind of cool to see those two little lines that I felt like ripping out with a spoon.

This might be chemo brain lurking, but haven't I read about these things happening more frequently after chemo and/or Herceptin? I know I have at least read about the same types of problems on the boards I visit. I am only 35, haven't had any major injuries, and don't really lift anything too heavy at my store.

So, as you all said--cancer pain doesn't just go away, and as you tried to reassure me, all the indications were NOT for bone mets. Thank you, and thanks for checking in on me...

Once again, it is a funny world when an ovarian cyst and arthritic discs are cause for celebration!

Take care,

sassy · 02-02-2008, 03:30 PM

Good news!

We are all continually grateful to "Arthur". We just like NED better!

goops · 02-02-2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Once again, it is a funny world when an ovarian cyst and arthritic discs are cause for celebration!

LOL - I am glad to hear it isn't cancer - one thing I have found since getting cancer is you start to celebrate the strangest things!

DonnaD · 02-02-2008, 08:41 PM

Krista,
I am so happy for you. Now to get that pain under control.
Donna

Sherryg683 · 02-02-2008, 08:53 PM

Krista, I had the same thing. I had awful pains in my upper back, neck and radiating around my head. It felt like I had a crown of thorns on. I was living on pain pills. After going to a pain clinic and being MRI'd from head to two, I had the same as you. Bulging disc in my neck and lower back. The one in my neck is compressing a nerve. Also had arthritis in neck and spine. I had 3 epidural blocks to help get rid of the nerve pain in my neck. It has really helped the intense pain that I was having. I figure eventually I will need to have them repeated. Like you, I was thinking the worse. Figured the awful pains in scalp was brain mets. I have had so many pains since chemo and so many scans that come back clean, that I now after 2 years, I have finally learned to not worry too much over something hurting. Pain is my new normal now...sherryg

Bill · 02-02-2008, 08:54 PM

Thanks for sharing the good news, Krista! Now get that pain under control. My doc recommended stretching, walking, and yoga. it really helped me. Good luck to you, Bill

kcherub · 02-03-2008, 08:48 AM

Thanks, everyone!

I started taking the steroids yesterday morning (I think it's prednisone), and I CANNOT believe the difference in one day! I was really worried about taking them, since I had such a problem with the Decadron with chemo. My husband had already tried to reassure me that they are two very different "drugs" and that the doses are lower with these.

I am going to try to light walking this afternoon, and am going to bring home a stretch ball from my store. They are really for pregnant and nursing mothers, but it should work for me, too! Plus, I have already paid for it. LOL

Have a wonderful day, everyone.

Joanne S · 02-04-2008, 12:18 AM

Krista, Glad to hear you're feeling better! Thank goodness for prednisone! Thank God for NED! As far as Arthur, wait till you 40, then 50 ........!

Continued wellness!
Jo

lancymoor102 · 02-08-2008, 11:05 PM

I was at work and got a right side sharp pain. I have to do a lot of heavy lifting for my job so that the pain started when I lifted some thing heavy. All day I been in pain on my right side and any time I try to move around it hurts. I was wondering if this pain was pain may be from a heart problem. The pain is under my chest bone and it gets bad when I try to move. Please suggest me with experienced knowledge.

DonnaD · 02-09-2008, 01:51 AM

Lancymoor102
Welcome! I see you are new to our site. I would suggest starting a new thread about your pain. Being new perhaps you need a little encouragement on how to do that or when to do that. I am no wealth of information on what you are experiencing but I am sure there is someone on the site who will be able to help. My laymen’s opinion would be to call you Dr. It is hard to know when under the care of an onc who to call. I am sure your onc would refer you to someone else if this is out of their expertise. I had pain on my left side where my surgery and radiation were. After a long period of time and several tests it turned out to be fractured ribs from radiation. I don't know how far you are in your treatment but I would check with your onc as soon as possible.

Here is how to start a new thread if you want to go that way. When you open the site go to Message Boards, from there go to Her2group and at the bottom of that page hit New Thread. When there be sure to title it and they type your message. Took me several times to understand how to do it. Being under another thread does not open it up to everyone, just who responded to that thread.

I do hope you are feeling better soon.
Donna
PS. One more thing to remember. The site will be down Sat morning for a few hours and no new threads will be posted at that time. I encourage you to post your concerns as soon as possible. Many are here to help.