Back pain

[Barton]

Hello Jane. I think you are very wise - it sounds to me like a visit to the hospital is a good idea. I was in agony after driving, too. I couldn't drive for a couple of months really. And being driven hurt, too, going over any kind of bump. No, I didn't know beforehand that I had Osteoporosis, but I had had a DEXA scan in 2011 before my original cancer treatments and was told then that I had slight thinning of the bones. I was not monitored at all - just put on calcium tablets. It wasn't until they knew I had a compression fracture (other 2 came later - in hospital!) that I had another DEXA scan that showed Osteoporosis. I am a bit miffed that I wasn't scanned at least once every two years! They would have been able to warn me earlier.

Wishing you all the best. Don't worry about worrying - we all know it's the worst case scenario that goes through your mind first!

Hugs. Barton.x

[Jane Myers]

Hi Barton, thank you for your words of support. It helps just to be able talk about it with people who have been there. So sorry to hear of your situation and I know I may be worrying over nothing before I have the facts. However , my mum developed secondary cancer in her spine, so it's the first thing that crosses my mind. Anyway, after doing nothing but rest my back over the past 3 days ( feel ok when I'm laying down lol), and being bored out of my mind, I decided to try and drive to my friends, but when I got there I was in sheer agony lol, so I've decided to cut out the middle man and go straight to hospital tomorrow . Did you already know about the osteoporosis when you had the compression fractures? X

[Barton]

Hello Jane, sorry to hear of your persistent back pain. First thing I would say is pester the doctors (nicely, of course) and ask them to check you properly. Have you had a bone density (DEXA) scan? I ask because I had 3 compression fractures in my spine last year due to Osteoporosis caused partly by my previous cancer treatments. It hurts, but it is something that improves. Unfortunately, in my case, I also had high calcium levels in my blood and bone mets were then diagnosed. I doesn't mean that you have as well, though, but they should investigate properly. By the way, when I first had the back pain last year, after getting stuck on the doctors couch for 2.50 hours and being taken to hospital, 2 doctors agreed between them it was muscle pain. It wasn't until 2 weeks later that my Onc saw how worried I was about bone mets that I had an X-ray and the (first) compression fracture spotted.

I do hope you get an answer soon and try not to worry (easy to say, I know).

Hugs. Barton.x

[Jane Myers]

Hi Waffles, thank you so much for your message. This horrible desease makes you worry about every ache and pain sometimes. However, as my back doesn't appear to be improving much ( and I seem to have every symptom going - after googling - silly thing to do I know lol!), I've made my mind up to make another appointment with my gp ( never had a Macmillan nurse unfortunately ) . One again, thanks for the advice and take care, Jane 😊

[Waffles]

Hi Jane,
My secondary cancer in spine and pelvis showed up as sciatica in my lower back and leg which led to quite a bad limp. I've been prone to sciatica for decades so initially wasn't worried until it seemed to not improve over about 4 weeks. What I would say is, it's probably nothing and you've not had it long but, given your history of cancer, you definitely need to get it checked out, for peace of mind anyway. Be brave and phone your doctor or,even better your mcmillan nurse, if you have one, tomorrow. Best wishes. xxx

[Jane Myers]

Hi, hope I'm probably worrying about nothing, but I'm really concerned because I've had pain in my lower back for three days now which is making walking and standing extremely difficult. I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, followed by mastectomy and chemo in 2012. I've had a niggly ache in the same place in my back for a couple of years on and off but this is the worse it has been. I was previously referred for an mri scan in 2014 which just showed normal wear and tear in the left side of my lower back (the pain I feel is on the right however ) my gp has given me painkillers although they don't seem to be helping much. I hope I'm not waffling too much but I'm seriously worried 🙁and wondered if anyone else has experienced anything similar?