Trying to control anxeity

SusanC · 01-18-2008, 04:37 PM

I have had lower back pain for about six-eight weeks. I saw my GP this week and he ordered physical therapy and an MRI. Physical therapy has not helped at all. My MRI is on Sunday afternoon (weird time..). The pain is mostly lower back, back of left hip area with off and on numbness on my right calf. I am hoping that it is just a ligament or something. I finished herceptin in Oct. 07.
Have you experienced anything like this?
Trying to remain positive.
Susan Carey

chrisy · 01-18-2008, 04:55 PM

Susan, I'm not a doctor but I've had low back pain off and on for about 30 years! Have you done anything to twist or strain it? I've had similar symptoms due to that.

The good news is, it's probably not related to cancer at all, or to treatment. The bad news is, if it is a herniated disc or something it just takes time to heal. Physical therapy or chiropractic can help (especially the latter) but it's not always a quick fix. The best therapy is actually walking.

Good thing you are getting it checked out, you always want to be cautious with any new symptom - even the ones that in the end are "only" painful.

Good luck
chris

SusanC · 01-18-2008, 05:05 PM

Hi Chirs,
Thank you....your'e right about the walking. It doesn't hurt to walk or stand!!
Susan

Bill · 01-18-2008, 05:44 PM

Hi Susan! I'm not a doctor, but I've had pulled muscles in my lower back, and 2 years ago could not even bend over my back hurt so bad for months. An MRI showed I had a "ratty" disc in my lower back. The ortho surgeon prescribed stretches and simple exercizes to strengthen the muscles around the spine to better support it. I've had numbness in my right thigh, and "electric" shocks down my legs, and at times felt like a knife in my lower back. I've always been in great shape (wrestling and kayaking, mostly) and the pain just made me feel over the hill and pitiful. Now, I have no pain whatsoever nor numbness. The stretches and exercizes worked. I hope your situation is the same. Like Chrisy, I kinda feel this is only a disc or muscle problem. Try not to worry too much (I know, easy for me to say) The MRI on Sunday should help. If you keep us posted and you need me too, I can call my dr. and get his website addy. again so you can see and download the exercizes. Hope that's all it is. Praying for relief for your pain, Bill

Mary Jo · 01-18-2008, 05:52 PM

Hi Susan,

Just wanting to say add some encouragement and to add to your comment, "it doesn't hurt to walk or stand." If it doesn't hurt to walk or stand it's probably nothing - nothing - meaning cancer. Of course it's something. But in our world - no cancer translates to nothing.

Get it checked out for your peace of mind.

Love,

Mary Jo

kcherub · 01-18-2008, 06:30 PM

Hey! I am so sorry you are worried about this--I know the feeling! I have had almost the same thing off and on for about a week (this time, I also had it about two months ago). I saw my ONC. today, and he said that is doesn't sound like anything to be worried about. He was going to take a look at the CT I had in the ER on 12/19 (for some reason, they never sent him a copy). However, he reassured me that my bloodwork looked great (calcium and something other levels).

I am thinking that this is just some sort of ache and pain--I told him today that after all of this you kind of forget that you ever had any pain that was just "normal".

Let us know the results of your MRI. If you can get a copy of it on disk, let me know.

Take care,

Jackie07 · 01-18-2008, 06:46 PM

Talking about anxiety! I went to the hospital Thursday afternoon last week because some strange pain right above my belly button. I was so sure my cancer had spreaded to my abdominal area. The oncologist (who has known me since 2003) got me to lie down and told me to turn and move my arms and legs in certain way. He then told me that I had 'diastasis recti', some kind of muscle pull that pregnant women usually get. He wrote it down for me so I could look it up on the web after I went home.

The reason why I had got it (my reasoning) probably was because my chest muscles are so tight after the double mastsectomy, that the yoga movement (I went to only three sessions) had put too much pressure. Anyway, try not to scare yourself - check with the doctor.

hutchibk · 01-18-2008, 06:50 PM

I could be totally off target here, but I just learned that I have osteoporosis in my lumbar spine and increased osteopenia in my hip... all from 4 years of b/c treatments. I don't have any symptoms from these areas, but the doc says to be aware of lower back pain which could mean degeneration and compaction of discs, etc...Have you had a recent bone density test and could it maybe be a result of osteoporosis?