Arthritis vs. Bone Mets
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Yes, guitar, you said it right...age and falling apart ..that's all I want it to be. How we have learn to think, huh. Glad you are home free!! I am happy for you!
hugs and prayers
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A doctor telling someone how not to worry? How would they earn all their money easily if the did that???
After some reading on the internet this morning, I found out what I have is a locked knee. That diagnosis got me an appointment with my primary care doc real quick. Haven't seen her in two years since I was diagnosed. At least this time if I need a specialist she/he won't have "oncologist" as part of their title.
Seems like we need a permanent thread for I'm old, I'm falling apart, but it beats the alternative.
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ok..I got the appointement for the MRI..next wednesday at 10:45. I think I am gonna take 2 xanax this time. I was able to get an open MRI too, tho I know it is not much different. Today, is so bad, I am just working at my desk and crying every now and then. Walking is horrible today, and it is nice and cool out, not humid or damp or anything. I wanted to go to farmer's market today but the thought of getting my leg in and out of the car just makes me tremble. Oh well, I am gald I got an appointment. Will be touch. Love to all!
hugs and prayers.
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Had the MRI of my right hip tonight. Candie I want to tell you it's really not hard - just be sure to close your eyes, wear headphones if they give you any, then visualize a favorite place.........the beach always works for me, I pretend I'm sunbathing. For me it's really important to keep my eyes closed. Last February in 2008 I had MRI's done on my hips, but it was with an Open MRI.........and my doctor says they aren't as reliable as the closed. But for someone who would totally refuse a closed MRI, it's still a good choice. Be sure you don't wear anything with metal - not even a metal clasp on your bra. It was over in 30 minutes for me..........now begins the waiting game. I'm not anxiously worrying that I have mets...........I'm worried they won't come up with a better diagnosis than a little bit of arthritis because when my right hip gives out on me, it's much much more painful than it should be for "a little arthritis" - I'm glad my PCP agreed with me. How long I have to wait till I hear something I just don't know - but I'm good at distracting myself so as not to get too worried.
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Swimangel, I am praying that you get good news. Thanks for your encouragement. Let's hold hands and pray together. I also have an appointment with an orthopedic on Thursday for another opinion. I am trying to keep my wits about me....I do ok while I am at work.
Jo, I like the comparison to Rice Krispies on a loud speaker..lol
Love to you all!
hugs and prayers,too
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Very interesting Jo. I am going to hop on computer tonight and check mine out...wow...I take Norvasc and have been for about 10 years.
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I have been on BP meds for over 16 years now. I'm on Avalide and it SAYS there are no side effects. I've had the joint pain all along all the other meds too......
Edited to add: one of the side effects from one of the ones I stopped taking was memory loss...(forgot to type that in when I put my post up...ehehehhehe)
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Jo,
I went onto the Mayo Clinic. My BP med doesn't cause anything to do with joints or anything like yours says. Only nausea, dark yellow urine, dizziness, chest pain. So mine can't be from that.
I go for the MRI on hips tomorrow. Will keep in touch.
hugs and prayers
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Good luck tomorrow Candie! The waiting starts....
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Well, I finally got the word today that I do not have RA...thankfully!!!!!!
The testing shows some inflamation but they said it is normal arthritisis and that with a little physical therapy it should get me some relief...
Best wishes to all!
Jule
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Jule, wahooooooo for you!!
I had my MRI today..they gav eme the fils right away to bring to my orthopedic surgeon tomorrow morning. My onc will get formal results tomorrow also. will be in touch.
Jo, did u see I didn't find much in the line of se's about my bp med.
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Oh Jule, that's GREAT news! You done good!
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Hi,
Well this is reult of MRI....
...high T@ marrow signal at superior lip of the acetabulum..Edema in the femoral head with subchondral cystic changes. There is a slight edema in the femoral neck and intertrochaneric region as well.
No evidence for avascular necrosis. No metastatic lesions are identified. There is a small increase in amount of fluid in the left hip joint. Soft tissues surronding the hips are normal. No evidence of bursitis or muscle tears. These findings are probably degenerative in origin. Clinical correlation is recommended. No suggestion of fractures. Posttramautic changes cannot be excluded. Considering the history of breast carcinoma underlying tumor cannot be entirely excluded. Further evaluation is helpful.
I went to the orthopedic surgeon with this today and he said he doesn't know what is wrong. He says I don't have enough arthritis for me to be in the pain I am in. He feels it could be either degenerative or metastatic in nature. He also says the chemo and radiation could have damaged thes e areas.
He won't due the injection now until he has a clear diagnosis. He is sending me for a CT scan. Waiting for approval from my ins co. He can giv eme a pain reliever but I dont want them...they all make me nauseas and sick.
In the meantime, my onc called after receiving the report and says all is ok and to follow up with ortho surgeon. I told his nurse I did do that today and was dumbfounded when I told her what he said. She was gonn talk to the onc and get back to me. The orht Dr told me to tak 4 motrin 4 x a day for pain .
So what do you all think cause I am friggin confused.
hugs and prayers
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Jo, thanks for your response. The ortho Dr did think arimidex could have to do with it also. He says radiation tho focused on one area can escape as particles, hence hurt a different area.
I am going to continue doing what the ortho dr says, cause someone has to fix this for me. The pain is horrible and there are so many things I cannot do especially at home and it is depressing and aggravating. I will keep in touch. I just want the pain to go away!!
Thank you for caring,
hugs and prayers,
Candie
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Jo, if I tried the no-arimidex deal...would I take nothing during that time..that scares me too?
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Jo, still hurting in the same places with a few additional ones. The pain has been too long now and it stresses me out. I can't so much around the house, either. Last week I had to call one of my DD's cause I couldn't get myself out of the car....sometimes the legs just don't move...what part of that don't the Dr's get!!!
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Oh Candie---I'm so sorry you're going through this!!!
I agree with Jo......Arimidex can really do a number on you with pain. I hurt in places I've never hurt before starting Arimidex.
Could you hip be displaced? Or can hips get out of place?
Of course, I'm sure with the tests you've been through it would have probably showed that. Have you thought about a chiropractor? I don't know....just reaching for straws I guess???I'm sorry!! Wish there was something I could do!! My thoughts and prayers are with you!!
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Candie, it sound like your are going through the same thing i did (still am) after all the testing the diagnosis was degenerative arthritis and it is also my left him and lower back and middle of upper butt. I kept think cancer also but was driving myself nuts that is why the onc did all the test just to calm my mind. Hope and pray you get better soon. I had no idea you were having so many problems. Email me is I can help in anyway.
I also got where I could not walk my legs would just go out from under me and one time I was paralyzed and my daughter called an ambulance for me and I did have to have surgery on my back from a crushed disc, and bone splinters removed.
I will be praying for you even harder. I love you candie girl. Big hugs to you.
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Candie, my bone scan said hip bursitis, in fact severe hip bursitis and same as yours, no sign of metastasis. It still made me suspicious as I can't believe my pain, either!
You have to take pain meds. Sorry sister. Your body can't heal while it is in pain! I take Tridural 300, Celebrex, Demerol and Torredol EVERY day and I can still barely walk. When I get home from work my DH sometimes has to help me out of the car too. I even have a cane for when it's really bad.
Tell your doc about the nausea, meds have changed so much over the years and are often coated.
I am SO glad you are getting a followup CT scan. Please keep us posted, but please get something for the pain. I've had stomach ulcers and worried that I would get them with the pain meds I'm on. Nope, that's old school thinking. Just do it! Constant pain is debiliatating....
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Jo,Spar,Barb,Jule,Coonie,
Thanks for responding and for caring. I hope to have the CT scan next week. I just want someone to fix this, I am tired of the pain and there is so much I can't do...even fun things. I can't even be comfortable wtaching tv sometimes. I will keep in touch.
hugs and prayers
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Candie - I'm so sorry that you still need more tests...........I'm curious though, I thought an MRI would "see" things more clearly than a cat scan! I hope your cat scan doesn't show anything other than arthritis - to read that "further evaluation" is helpful because an "underlying tumor" can't be excluded is awful.............makes you wonder "what was the POINT of the MRI?!!" I'm sending you a BIG cyber hug Candie!
It took nearly a week for my PCP to call me with the results of my MRI.........arthritis with inflammation and fluid. He said I need to see an orthopedic (duh!) - he said the left hip was normal, just the right hip had problems. I'm glad the report said the left hip was OK because the last report (from the open MRI back in Feb 2008) said the left hip had the identical problem to the right hip (it looked like he copied word-for-word the two separate reports). It never made sense to me since my left hip never bothers me! So I feel I can trust the newest report from this radiologist. I'll be picking up a copy of the scan and report (on a CD) on Monday - and will show it to my PS the next day because perhaps he'll be able to also see what's causing the bulge on my left side (I think it's a seroma but perhaps it's another hernia, sigh). I see the orthopedic on Oct. 12th............but if my MRI reports says ANYTHING about "further evaluation is necessary because an underlying tumor can't be ruled out"..........I'll be RUNNING to my new onc!
Oh and Jo - your advice about Arimidex is good.........if my right hip problem is nothing more than arthritis and inflammation, I'll be asking my new onc for an alternative med to Arimidex. Every morning I wake up feeling older and older and older..........my entire body aches, from my neck to my feet!
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Jo, PLEASE let us know how the cherry juice goes!
I am now taking a 7th prescription every day...for uric acid that caused my kidney stones. I have had a headache since I started taking it, but I'm hoping it is a temporary side effect as my body dumps the toxins from my system! I am hoping for an improvement in my joint pain as well, thought Dr. Google says the uric acid seems to affect only toes and fingers.....
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I just read the post about cherry juice and I had to respond. I can't remember when I first heard of the benefits of cherry juice in regards to arthritis---I think I heard about it on The Doctors. I drank it for several months (6oz a day) and then stopped. I definitely noticed an increase in pain after stopping it. I'm going to start buying it again! I totally recommend trying it!
Karen
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Oh! It was the tart cherry juice I drank. It's pretty yummy!
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I am going to the store to get some today.
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I went to the health food store and bought sweet dark cherry juice (organic) I will start right away. Let's compare notes.
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I found a brand called Lakewood - it's organic and it's sweet black cherry juice. The health food store had several brands and had tart, sweet etc. This one has no additives or fillers of any kind. I have taken it twice ... washed down my Arimidex with it last night and took my vitamins with it this morning. Too soon to tell if there is any difference but I'm not having huge se's at this time anyway. Regardless it does taste good.
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Well, I saw this post and read through it because I'm going through this very thing right now. I've had a history of minor back problems. Nothing major. Several years ago, I went to a chiropractor and he told me I had a few 'twisted' vertabra, and some minor arthritis in my spine. I went to him for several visits and was able to get pain free. This was about a year prior to my breast cancer diagnosis. Had some minor back pain about a year ago and had a bone scan which only showed an abnormality of my face. It turned out I must have scratched the injection site and then touched my left temple, cause it lit up like a christmas tree. A cat scan showed nothing. Thank god.
About 6 weeks ago, I began with severe pain in my spine right between the shoulder blades with referred muscle pain on the right side of my back along my back bone. No pain on the left. I went to the chiropractor again, and took xrays. He stated he didn't see anything but alot of arthritis between my shoulder blades but felt safer if I call my oncologist. Which I did. My spine is sore to the touch, but it could be the treatments. I don't know.I have a pet scan scheduled for tomorrow. He's managed to get the pain in control, yet I cannot lift anything, not even my purse without pain. I'm so hoping this is arthritis and not mets to the spine. My pain seems to be worse as I move around or bend over. and tends to get better when I'm sitting. any movement will aggravate it, even moving my arms at times.
I'll get the results of the pet scan in one week, so I'll post the results. This is so scary. I fully expect it to be arthritis, but there's still that chance that its mets. I'll let ya'll know.
Take care,
Deb
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I have been off of Arimidex for and on Aromasin for 2 days because when I told my onc about my hip pain he said that could be the Arimidex. He told me to finish my perscription and when I had 3 left I hurt so bad I couldn't stand it so I switched then. After 2 days my hips still hurt a little but all of my other stiff joints feel great. Maybe because the hips were worse, they will take longer to feel better.
I was on Arimidex for 2 years and I had pain at first, it went away, came back 6 mons to a year ago and just kept getting worse.
I have a hip x-ray scheduled to make it is not mets but I am not so worried anymore,
I feel bad for you Candie and and hope you get to the bottom of this.
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Jo, when you say mets pain doesn't rest...the pain that I have is constant...see that's what scares me. Tho right now as I am sitting it has subsided...mmm....once I get up it starts again and then doesnt quit til I am sitting for awhile.
Rosemary, that is how my hip pain acts. It started in March for awhile, then it stopped. Came back in July and hasn't stopped. My onc says it is from arimidex, he says it only pains smalll joints. Good luck with your xray..let us know. I am going for CT scan today. I read today online that a CT scan has 500 times more radiation that an xray and not to do them if you dont have too as they cause cancer...can't win can't we...everything can be frightening!!
Deb, I wish you good results.
Jo, I take 4 motrin 2x a day and it doesn't help...my dr says to increase to 4 x a day....i just think that is too many, I want them to get to the bottom of this tho I am scared as hell!!
Have a great day,
hugs and prayers
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