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Arthritis vs. Bone Mets

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Comments

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 7,605
    edited January 2010

    Maybe they just realized how rude they were being by chatting and laughing. Embarassed

    I understand your paranoia though. They aren't qualified to diagnose either. I lit up like a Christmas tree and it ended up just being arthritis.

    {{{{{{{{ hugs }}}}}}}}}}

  • GoldenEyes
    GoldenEyes Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2010

    HI

    I have a copy of my PET Scan/CT..it did show. two spots. I hope someone can help me with this

    Bone Marrow/Bone:  Two areas of abnormal uptake posterior cervical spine region. ONe is in the posterior elements on the left.. at C2-C3 with uptake of 2.6 and an area of  uptake also ont he posterior on the right side with SUV of 2.6 There appears to be some blastic change in vertebrae. This appears to lie at C3-C4..

    Ok what does that mean? Also...Muscle: Increased uptake int he shoulder on the left side with SUV of 3.1? NO mass is seen but the study is done WITHOUT IV Contrast.. i am having an MRI tomorrow... Can any help me.. tell me what this means? Funny thing is. I am having more pain on my RIGHT shoulder....than the left.. for months now.. why would it show up on the left? AND.. is it possible.. that I have cancer there too.. just too small for PET to pick up?

    Golden Eyes

  • TriciaK
    TriciaK Member Posts: 124
    edited January 2010

    Golden eyes, I replied to you in the "Waiting room" thread, but maybe try the stage iv forum in case the ladies there know more than we do as i know you're very anxious.

    Tricia x

  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 797
    edited January 2010

    B9 bone scan!!!!

    Lets now focus all of our thoughts and prayers on TriciaK for B9 MRI end of this month!

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 7,605
    edited January 2010

    WONDERFUL news!!!!

  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 797
    edited January 2010

    Golden Eyes

    Just reread your posts and wondered if you got some answers this week? An MRI should be quite conclusive for the spine area.

    Thoughts and prayers go out to you to help you weed through all of this and have a strong support and clear direction towards some healing.

  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited January 2010

    Outstanding news, congrats!!!!

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 61
    edited January 2010

    Wonderful news! :)

  • casinogirl
    casinogirl Member Posts: 476
    edited January 2010

    Hello - I had not given this topic much thought until back pain became severe and persistant a couple of weeks ago.  Xray revealed lumbar arthrosis and I've been on prednisone and anti-inflam for about a week with little relief.  Also experienced some nausea over the weekend, so guess I'll call my PCP back and let him know his tx plan isn't working.  I've never had any back problems before, I'm not overweight, I work out regularly, so am surprised at the arthrosis dx, and of course, mets is in the back of my mind. 

    Thanks for listening.

    Donna

  • swimangel72
    swimangel72 Member Posts: 142
    edited January 2010

    mmm5 - FANTASTIC NEWS! I'm so relieved for you........prayers continuing for everyone else going through scanxiety that the results are B9!

  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited January 2010

    Hi everyone....glad to see everyone is ok. I, too, pray for those going through scanxiety...it is not fun!!

  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited April 2010

    HI, haven't had any posts on here for awhile. I am going to the ortho surgeon today. My hip is still the same...painful. I am going to see what they can do about it! They say it is just a tear.

    will be in touch. How is everyone??

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 7,605
    edited April 2010

    I'm finally getting to an ortho surgeon on Tuesday! Too funny, I was thinking of this thread today...

  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited April 2010

    lol Barb!!

    Well, surgeon says I have lots of arthritis. He gave me a medication to take...Mobic 15mg. He told me to try it for a month. If it works then its is the arthritis . If it doesn't then I have to think about a hip replacement.Well, I thought a few months ago I didn't need one. I had one scheduled and everything..oh well. But I have to say so far the pills are making it feel a lil better.

    Barb, let me know what happens at your appointment..good luck!

  • swimangel72
    swimangel72 Member Posts: 142
    edited April 2010
    I[m scheduled for another cortisone shot into my right hip next week........but now my hip feels so much better I may cancel it. No thanks to physical therapy (which just made it worse).........the thing that DID work was lounging on a beach for a week during Spring break down in Florida.......and playing in the heated pool. Unfortunately - I ended up gaining another 5 pounds on vacation...........but my hip hasn't felt this good in a LONG time! At least I was reassured by my oncologist and orthopedic doc that there are no signs of mets........just worsening arthritis. And they both said - losing weight can help it feel better but it won't slow down the progression of arthritis (so I can stop the blame game). A very thin woman in my school had both hips replaced - she said her arthritis was so bad because of all the sports injuries she incurred in college. I know my hip took a beating from a lot of horse-back riding and skiing injuries.........funny how a person can feel so much better when they aren't blaming their weight for health issues. Anyway - my new advice to everyone with hip problems is to win Lotto - go somewhere tropical and lounge all day on the beach soaking up that extra Vitamin D........letting the maid clean up after you of course, lol! Cool "Oh wouldn't it be loverly!"
  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 7,605
    edited April 2010

    Well, well, well. I don't need hip surgery either! You have to wonder how many people get them who don't really need them! So I saw the orthopedic surgeon today...

    The surgeon showed me on my x-rays that my hips are fine...but...I have a strange area on the iliac bone that looks like a spot or a hole. He seemed concerned and wanted me to get a CT scan and MRI. This is Canada so I calmly said, okay I'll see you in 6 months. He said no, we want to rule out a metastasis. That I may have to get radiation, you know....he says. They booked the CT for tomorrow! The speed of the MRI will be based on the results of the CT.

    He was very surprised I hadn't seen a rheumatologist in the past 7 years, but I told him I had been brushed off by one and told I had arthritis and to deal with it. I can't be on anti-inflamtories anymore since last summer when they started to destroy my kidney and now I have a perfusion defect, so I've been surviving on oxy-codone and oxy-contins. I use a cane full-time now, at work and in the house, not just out doing chores. 

    The saga continues....

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 61
    edited April 2010

    Barb, I cross my fingers the CT will come back negative for mets.

  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited April 2010

    Hadn't seen anyone posting here for awhile. Hope things go well Barbe.

    Had a wee scare myself last week. Have for several weeks had quite severe pain in my back - left side of T6 doc decided to xray it to rule out nasties. Was surprised when it was the head radiologist who read my xrays but thankfully he could see no secondary deposits at this time. Still have pain so when I get back from my trip will have to have scan etc to check this further. There was evidence of arthritis oh well have stuff for that.

    Have to have my knee replaced, probably later this year as the joint is totally gone doc said he didn't know how I was walking and exercising on it but not to stop.

    Alyson.

  • wrsmith2x
    wrsmith2x Member Posts: 127
    edited April 2010

    Help!  I have this pain in my hip......right on the side where the bone is and it hurts when I sit more than when I move.  When I walk at lunch it doesn't bother me but by the time I get home at night and sit on the couch it is aching so bad.  It is a dull constant pain and 800mg ibuprofens don't make the pain go away.....it dulls the pain a bit until I lay down at night.  Before I drift off to sleep I struggle with getting the leg in the right position for no pain.  I sleep on my left side with a pillow between my knees and the pain is in my right hip.  It has bothered me before but the pain subsided and is now back and has been for a couple of months now.  I'm embarrassed to say that I am afraid because being afraid of something that hasn't been proven to be a problem is a waste of energy.  I can't get mets out of my mind.  I go for my 6 month checkup with Onc. in about 5 weeks.  Do I mention it if it is still bothering me or do I go see my regular doc instead?  Does it sound like something I should be concerned with?

  • thegoodfight
    thegoodfight Member Posts: 124
    edited April 2010

    I too have hip pain that worries me.  Mine is more after sitting when I get up and try to walk.  I guess the big question is when are we supposed to advocate more investigation?  I keep getting the old it's arthritis answer too, but my next question is what do we do about the pain???????????  I wish I could get past the point that I worry that any pain, large or small, could be mets...............yikes!

    Barbe, what were your results of your recent testing?

    Caren

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 61
    edited April 2010

    Hi Caren and wrsmith2x,

    I cross my fingers for you both, but I'd say you must go to see the doc as soon as possible and get your hips checked. Same pain symptoms in the hip (same location)  were the first indicator for the bone mets activity for my wife.

    Again, I do hope that's no more than arthritis.

    Take care,

    Yan

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 7,605
    edited April 2010

    I am still waiting for my MRI. I called the surgeons office last Friday when I was told July 7th and they said they'd refax the requisition (hopefully to speed it up!). I reminded them what strong drugs I am on (Oxymorph-codone or something now, too!) and still driving to work.

    Thanks for asking.

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 61
    edited April 2010

    Barbe, but what was the CT outcome?

  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited April 2010

    Hi..my hip is really bad today. thegoodfight, I have the same problem you do too..trying to walk after sitting down. It has been very bad since Sunday. I actually get stuck, I can't move either leg. I had to have co-worker come into the bahtroom to help me out today. I went out lunch time to do some window shopping but I coudln't walk through the parking lot!! My DD keeps yelling at me that I need a new hip. The pain is excruciating now. I am gonna call the Dr tomorrow and make another appointment.

    Barbe, how was the CT

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 7,605
    edited April 2010

    Yan, I had a regular doc appointment 2 days after the CT and he had no results. The ortho wants to see me a week after the MRI. My sister wonders how I can be so calm, but I figure, hey, it's out there. Someone knows, good or bad, doesn't make a difference really. If it's good news great, if it's bad news, then I'm glad I don't know right now.

    My pain is under control with Hydromorphonecodone and oxy-codone for break-through pain. 

  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 499
    edited April 2010

    Geez Barbe -- I just stumbled on your latest trials and tribulations.  I hope you get good news!!!

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 7,605
    edited April 2010
    Thanks. Cool
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 61
    edited April 2010

    Yup, me too...

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 7,605
    edited April 2010
    Thanks to you too...Kiss
  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 706
    edited April 2010

    Barbe, I've been thinking about you too and wondering about the results of your tests. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is "just" arthritis.

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