Hi,
What kind of pain do you get with spine mets?
I have had what I can only describe as a ‘sore’ burning type of pain in the middle of my back for nearly two weeks now - nothing I can see or press on so I think its in the spine or under it if you know what I mean! I dont like to bother my GP with every ache and pain but I will if anyone thinks its a possible symptom.
Clarabelle x
Hi Clarabelle,
Where are you at in your treatment? If this pain has been going on for a couple of weeks it may be better to approach your bcn/team to let them know. At the Marsden that I attend they will always check this sort of thing out to make sure it is not bc associated. Sometimes GPs are a bit slow to check that out first and will suggested pain meds to see what effect it has. When I first had bone mets even though it was very extensive I had no pain that I associated with mets at the time. On reflection I realised some of the odd things I had experience would have been related - like tenderness in my scalp when i lay my head on a pillow. I did also have an odd pain midway between by spine & side at waist level. I couldnt identify it as it was like nothing I had ever felt before - but it went away. I hope it isn’t bone mets for you but you need to know.
Dawn
xx
Hi Dawn,
Had grade 3 stage 1, mastectomy and chemo Oct 06 - refused rads and Arimidex so not having any treatment. Did wonder about contacting BCN but she is usually very dismissive whereas my GP is marvellous and I dont think he would hesitate in getting it checked out if I asked him to.
Clarabelle x
Hi Clarabelle,
It is good to hear you have a GP that you have confidence in. Sadly it isn’t always the way. So go for it 
Dawn
xx
Thanks Dawn x
Hi there,
This sounds like exactly the kind of pain I had around Christmas. It was in the centre of my shoulder blades and it was a terrible burning pain, so bad one one occasion I ended up in the walk in centre.
When I told my onc she sent me straight away for an MRI of my spine. Fortunately this was clear. I think that spinal mets can press on nerves because this kind of pain is often nerve pain.
I hope you get good news as I did.
Take care
Pauline
I have this pain right now - middle of my back above waist just below shoulders. Noticed it first washing up just before christmas but now burns away all day. I have an appt for a first lump in my breast on friday - and am now terrified I may have secondary before I’ve even come to terms with primary. I’m trying to take courage from other peoples’ posts.
Hi I have bone mets diagnosed in June 09. I have ever experienced anything I would describe as a burning sensation. The symptoms I have had have been caused by the damage done by the spread of cancer before you know its there I developed a painful limp because my pubic bones had crumbled and dont support my hip bones, my experiece is its more like an arthritic type of pain in the joints - a constant gnawing thing.
I know you cant generalise but I think its true that if you do experience bone pain from mets it is constant it doesnt get better in the day or worse at night. some people dont get any pain at all
Julie x
I was diagnosed with mets to the spine in June 2009. I had what I thought was Siatica for about 8 weeks and in conversation mentioned it to my BCN and she said if didn’t clear up then get back to her and she would arrange a scan.
It did clear up though and was picked up on a CT scan for my stomach and chest. Bone scan followed. The pain was they think nerve pain triggered by the mets. I was surprised it was spinal mets as I presumed once you got a pain it would stay or get worse.
I have always followed my BCN’s advice if something troubles you for two weeks get in touch. Strangely enough because it felt so much like siatica I didn’t give spinal mets a thought, and ignored my ususal rules. Not that it made any difference to the outcome.
I always think if you are worried enough to post on the forum its probably worth talking about to BCN or GP.
Best wishes
Paula x
For several months I have had a pain in my back in a very small area, only about 1 1/2". It is in the middle of my back, on the vertebra, at the level slightly below my belly button. It is at most a nuisance, doesn’t interfere with any part of my life in any way. It does not radiate down my leg, and there is no pain in the muscles of my lower back. I work out a couple hours a day and all this time have figured that it was related to that, since something is always sore from overdoing it! It hurts to touch like a bruise but does not get worse with exercise, bending, etc. It feels like I have been doing crunches on concrete that irritated my spine. But, there is no bruise or redness. Well, we have been in and out of town the past several weeks and I have not been working out at the gym much, just walking. The bruised feeling is still there, despite cutting way back on my activity.
I had a spine met that never gave me any pain at all. It will all depend on size and location.
x
Thanks for all…very useful informations.