Any info would be appreciated *UPDATE

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dorookie
dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hello All,

Happy New Year to everyone! I dont want to really bother anyone but I am at the end of my rope here. I have what I think is a pinched nerve and boy let me tell you its kicking my backside with pain. I am on heavy pain meds but they are only masking the problem I think. Had a MRI last Thursday, waiting for results, supposed to have them on Monday.

Has anyone had this problem before? I know it not related to cancer but thought someone here might have had to deal with this problem before so that is why I thought I would ask. I have sharp pain shooting down my left leg, bad back pain in my lower left side. Hurts mostly when I sit, and I have to do alot of sitting with my job.

I just moved to start a new job and I am afraid I am going to have to take more time off due to this and it just ticks me off, its like you beat cancer TWICE and now this, cant I catch a break? I am sorry I dont mean to complain its just so much pain, drives a person nuttso.

Thanks for letting me vent...

Hope everyone is doing well, please remember you are all in my prayers.

God Bless
Beth


1-4-2010

Got my MRI results today, I have a slipped disc between L4 and L5. I have to go see a pain doctor. In a weird way I am glad they found something, instead of nerve problems. From what I was reading dealing with nerve problems are must harder to treat. I am hoping this will be able to be fixed fairly easy. Hope to get into the pain doc sometime this week. Please keep me in your prayers, they are greatly appreciated.

God Bless
Beth

Comments

  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    #2
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    Hi Beth
    Hi Beth,
    Sorry you are in so much pain. **** had the same pain 17 years ago. It ended up being herniated disks, L4- L5. He was in bed for about a month and really took it slow. Then he got to physical therapy and things changed. With the proper stretching and exercise, he can do (and has been doing for the past 16 years) everything he did before. If he is in pain now, it is because he has not done his stretching exercises. It makes all the difference.
    I hope you get some relief my friend.

    Take care.
    Aloha,
    Kathleen
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    #3
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    Kathleen808 said:

    Hi Beth
    Hi Beth,
    Sorry you are in so much pain. **** had the same pain 17 years ago. It ended up being herniated disks, L4- L5. He was in bed for about a month and really took it slow. Then he got to physical therapy and things changed. With the proper stretching and exercise, he can do (and has been doing for the past 16 years) everything he did before. If he is in pain now, it is because he has not done his stretching exercises. It makes all the difference.
    I hope you get some relief my friend.

    Take care.
    Aloha,
    Kathleen

    Hi Kathleen
    They told me if they saw something bad on the MRI that they would call immediately, but if not then the report would be in my Doc office on Monday. So I thought maybe it wasnt a disc problem, but I am not sure now. It is so painful, and I cant really take a month off of work, gosh I just got back to work from the cancer, ya know. Thanks for your post..

    How is **** doing these days?


    Beth
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #4
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    Beth
    The pain is called sciatica and it can be horrible. I had it during pregnancy but in most people it's caused by damage to the sciatic nerve that runs from the spine, through the butt muscle and down the leg. Somebody else here asked about it a month or so ago.

    Hope they can find the cause and give you some relief! OUCH
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #5
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    dianetavegia said:

    Beth
    The pain is called sciatica and it can be horrible. I had it during pregnancy but in most people it's caused by damage to the sciatic nerve that runs from the spine, through the butt muscle and down the leg. Somebody else here asked about it a month or so ago.

    Hope they can find the cause and give you some relief! OUCH

    My friend had pretty much the same feeling....
    Diane was right on...sciatica . The sciatic nerve becomes pinched and it becomes very painful. She had minor back surgery and scraped some discs and took care of it all. She is fine now and took about 3 weeks to get back to normal......Love and Hope, Buzz
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    #6
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    dianetavegia said:

    Beth
    The pain is called sciatica and it can be horrible. I had it during pregnancy but in most people it's caused by damage to the sciatic nerve that runs from the spine, through the butt muscle and down the leg. Somebody else here asked about it a month or so ago.

    Hope they can find the cause and give you some relief! OUCH

    You described it
    exactly. Gosh I sure hope I dont need surgery though. I just cant take anymore time off of work ya know. I never damaged it or hurt my back that I can remember. I sure hope my new doctor will have a remedy for me. Thanks for the post..


    Beth
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    #7
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    Buzzard said:

    My friend had pretty much the same feeling....
    Diane was right on...sciatica . The sciatic nerve becomes pinched and it becomes very painful. She had minor back surgery and scraped some discs and took care of it all. She is fine now and took about 3 weeks to get back to normal......Love and Hope, Buzz

    Mnor back
    surgery?? Is there really such a thing? Cant something else be done besides surgery? That scares me, dont really want anyone messing with my back, that can be scary.

    Thanks for the post Buddy. I am so glad your CEA was low and things are going well for you. *HUGS*

    Beth
  • GOOFYLADIE
    GOOFYLADIE Member Posts: 232 Member
    #8
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    dorookie said:

    You described it
    exactly. Gosh I sure hope I dont need surgery though. I just cant take anymore time off of work ya know. I never damaged it or hurt my back that I can remember. I sure hope my new doctor will have a remedy for me. Thanks for the post..


    Beth

    sciatica
    You might try hot baths and cold pack the hot baths cause you to relax and ease some of the pain. A heating pad works too, but you can cover more of the area that hurts if you get in to the tub with hot water. Then after getting out and getting something comfortable on, use an ice pack on the left side where you are hurting. The ice will help with inflamation, and just go back and forth. Also motrin, Ibuprofin, Advil whatever it is you like that you take for pain, Ibuprofin is an anit inflamitory. The doctors may offer physical therapy to relieve pressure off that nerve. If it hurts or causes more pain you tell them. Nothing in Physical Therapy should ever hurt. No I am not a doctor or nurse, or physical Therapist. But I have taken a many classes; nursing and physical therapy because at one time that is what I wanted to do. But you do what doc tells you. Baths, heating pad, and ice packs won't hurt you. It is worth a try they also say rest. Hope this helps, so sorry you have to dabble in more junk. I will be thinking of you. Make it a great day!
    goofyladie (Cass)
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    #9
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    GOOFYLADIE said:

    sciatica
    You might try hot baths and cold pack the hot baths cause you to relax and ease some of the pain. A heating pad works too, but you can cover more of the area that hurts if you get in to the tub with hot water. Then after getting out and getting something comfortable on, use an ice pack on the left side where you are hurting. The ice will help with inflamation, and just go back and forth. Also motrin, Ibuprofin, Advil whatever it is you like that you take for pain, Ibuprofin is an anit inflamitory. The doctors may offer physical therapy to relieve pressure off that nerve. If it hurts or causes more pain you tell them. Nothing in Physical Therapy should ever hurt. No I am not a doctor or nurse, or physical Therapist. But I have taken a many classes; nursing and physical therapy because at one time that is what I wanted to do. But you do what doc tells you. Baths, heating pad, and ice packs won't hurt you. It is worth a try they also say rest. Hope this helps, so sorry you have to dabble in more junk. I will be thinking of you. Make it a great day!
    goofyladie (Cass)

    Thank you
    I will try that and see if it helps. Have been taking Ibuprofin but I think I need to take it on a more regular basis.

    Thank you for posting this info. I really appreciate it.

    *HUGS*
    Beth
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #10
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    Surgery
    Actually, sciatica can be caused by sitting too long or sitting with your leg folded under you and no surgery needed.
  • trainer
    trainer Member Posts: 241
    #11
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    pain
    I had the same symptons and went to a chiropractor. I'd suffered for about a year, and the chiropractor solved the pain in abot three adjustments. I ahve not had any pain or symptons since. So, ar eyou out of AZ now?
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    #12
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    trainer said:

    pain
    I had the same symptons and went to a chiropractor. I'd suffered for about a year, and the chiropractor solved the pain in abot three adjustments. I ahve not had any pain or symptons since. So, ar eyou out of AZ now?

    Yep
    living in Texas now, big change from AZ. Been a bit cold here, would enjoy it more if I werent in extreme pain everyday. I wake up and it hurts, just ticks me off. Anyway, there are a few chirpractors here in the small town of Devine, where I live, after I get my MRI results I may just contact one of them, unless my doctor has other plans. Thanks for the post, buddy, sure hope you are doing well. (HUGS)

    Beth
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    #13
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    dianetavegia said:

    Surgery
    Actually, sciatica can be caused by sitting too long or sitting with your leg folded under you and no surgery needed.

    weight
    I wonder if my weight gain has something to do with it? Maybe the sitting to long, I would sit for hours on the couch after chemo, heck I just about lived on the couch during all the treatments. Well all I can do now is wait to see what the doc says and take pain meds, which I totally hate. I am physically dependant on the pain meds and want to get off of them, but now its impossible, oh well one thing at a time and the first thing is to get out of pain.

    *HUGS*
    Beth
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    #14
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    update
    1-4-2010

    Got my MRI results today, I have a slipped disc between L4 and L5. I have to go see a pain doctor. In a weird way I am glad they found something, instead of nerve problems. From what I was reading dealing with nerve problems are must harder to treat. I am hoping this will be able to be fixed fairly easy. Hope to get into the pain doc sometime this week. Please keep me in your prayers, they are greatly appreciated.

    God Bless
    Beth
  • Fight for my love
    Fight for my love Member Posts: 1,522 Member
    #15
    Options
    Hi Beth,you are in my
    Hi Beth,you are in my prayers for sure.Hopefully the doctor will take good care of slipped disc problem.I know it is pretty painful because I have heard about this problem from people I knew.Good luck with it and get well soon.Take care.
  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    #16
    Options
    Hi Beth
    Hi Beth,
    This is just what **** had (has) but he has learned to work around it. Like I said, the physical therapy makes all the difference. He went to physical therapy for a few weeks and then they taught him the stretches and strengthening exercises. This was 17 years ago. He can still run, surf, work out. He has to stretch though or it begins to hurt.
    Best to you my friend. I'm praying you get rid of the pain and can get off the meds.
    Aloha,
    Kathleen
  • P_I_T_A
    P_I_T_A Member Posts: 133
    #17
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    Hey Beth
    I had the same problem a couple of years ago. Woke up one morning an couldn't even walk to the bathroom. I had a degenerative disk same spot. I stumbled upon a chiropactor that was a god send. Don't go to one that just adjust you and takes your $20. This one set me up with a 3mo. program, ended up costing me about $300 with insurance. It was a well thought out therapy program. I went to the office once a week and each time I got an adjustment, TPI(Trigger Point Injections) by an MD or LP they have on staff, followed by about 30mins of physical therapy and TENS therapy(the massages and heat packs at the end were AWESOME!) I will post a link for you if you can find something like that in your area. I haven't really had any back pain since. If you can get your hands on a portable TENS unit(electro-therapy) that would help too. Hope you get to feeling better soon!

    http://www.totalhealthmed.com/doctor/chiropractor/14L/norcross-chiropractor/our-treatment-options.htm

    -DJ
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    #18
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    P_I_T_A said:

    Hey Beth
    I had the same problem a couple of years ago. Woke up one morning an couldn't even walk to the bathroom. I had a degenerative disk same spot. I stumbled upon a chiropactor that was a god send. Don't go to one that just adjust you and takes your $20. This one set me up with a 3mo. program, ended up costing me about $300 with insurance. It was a well thought out therapy program. I went to the office once a week and each time I got an adjustment, TPI(Trigger Point Injections) by an MD or LP they have on staff, followed by about 30mins of physical therapy and TENS therapy(the massages and heat packs at the end were AWESOME!) I will post a link for you if you can find something like that in your area. I haven't really had any back pain since. If you can get your hands on a portable TENS unit(electro-therapy) that would help too. Hope you get to feeling better soon!

    http://www.totalhealthmed.com/doctor/chiropractor/14L/norcross-chiropractor/our-treatment-options.htm

    -DJ

    Thanks for the Link
    I am supposed to see a pain doctor this week. Not sure what exactly a pain doctor will do. I am a bit surprised I am not going to a chiropractor but will see what happens with this doctor. I just want to be out of pain at this point. Gosh this really hurts. Thanks for the link, it had really good information on it.

    *HUGS*
    Beth
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    #19
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    dorookie said:

    Thanks for the Link
    I am supposed to see a pain doctor this week. Not sure what exactly a pain doctor will do. I am a bit surprised I am not going to a chiropractor but will see what happens with this doctor. I just want to be out of pain at this point. Gosh this really hurts. Thanks for the link, it had really good information on it.

    *HUGS*
    Beth

    HUMMMMMM.....
    I am having upper back pain and when I walk the pain shoots thru my butt and down right leg. I fell 2 days before xmas (trying to sit indian style) my foot got a cramp and I pulled it out from under me causing me to fall backwards and hit my upper back on the corner of my desk.....man, it brought tears to my eyes. It started hurting my back until breathing became difficult. I had xrays taken...twice... and they are normal. Onc sent me to get MRI because he said there is a lot that xrays dont show. I haven't got results back yet. I call tomorrow on that. Since I have read all the posts about Beth's condition I am wondering if I may have something similar????? Pain is so horrible they gave me a Fentanyl pain patch, dulauded and oxycodone. They mess me up BUT do not take away the pain. BETH.... please keep me informed on what is being done with your condition. Like you said.... isn't cancer enough????

    Jennie
  • lesvanb
    lesvanb Member Posts: 905
    #20
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    dorookie said:

    update
    1-4-2010

    Got my MRI results today, I have a slipped disc between L4 and L5. I have to go see a pain doctor. In a weird way I am glad they found something, instead of nerve problems. From what I was reading dealing with nerve problems are must harder to treat. I am hoping this will be able to be fixed fairly easy. Hope to get into the pain doc sometime this week. Please keep me in your prayers, they are greatly appreciated.

    God Bless
    Beth

    Hi Beth
    So glad that you found out what it was though sorry it's a slipped disc. That can take awhile. A good friend of mine went through that, and he and others highy recommend to do as much as you can do avoid surgery if you can. There's already some posts on chiropractor, also acupuncture for pain. The tincture of time works well healing these back issues.
    And like my doctors say for arthritis (and rectal cancer), dropping some weight helps.

    all the best, Leslie
  • Paula G.
    Paula G. Member Posts: 596
    #21
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    Yup
    I had the same thing. Had disc surgery in 1988. I am having problems again too only on my right side. It is awful. Hope you will get news and fixed up soon. Paula

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