neurological pain

sandysp
sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
in Anal Cancer #1
Hi everyone,

I have had such severe backaches, I am still having to take a pain med several times a week at night. The Radiologist said he believes it is neurological pain and recommended I go back to my internist and get a referral to see a Neurologist. The Internist said she thinks it could be related to the radiation/chemo and it seems to be the sacral nerve is pinched possibly from some swelling in the area, but it could also be a number of things unrelated to the radiation (like spinal stenosis) since I have a history of nerve pain. (Used to be bi-lateral but now since treatment, back to one leg only:-) But the pain in that leg when the "lightening bolts" hit, is worse than it ever has been. Also, both feet and legs ache and are prickly, and still heavy. Did any of you have to see a Neurologist as a follow-up to treatment that was related to treatment? I don't see the Neurologist until the 18th (which seems like an eternity). The Internist said it is likely he will run numerous tests. I do Tai Chi and take our dog for walks. I am grateful for how well I am doing though otherwise. That's for sure.

Comments

  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #2
    Sandy
    I had leg and hip pain, and it felt like I was carrying around extra weight on my legs. I would get zinger pain, not lasting long, and it would just come and go. For a while I would get charley horses. Eventually, all the side effects ceased. I hope you will find that its just a part of the healing, and everything is okay. Lori
  • RoseC
    RoseC Member Posts: 559
    #3
    Hi Sandy,
    If the treatment caused some swelling, which it may well have, it might be a good idea to put some ice on your lower back. It might help reduce the swelling and hopefully get the pressure off those pinched nerves. 15 minutes on (not directly on the skin, wrap it in a towel), 15 minutes off. Gee, I hope it goes away - it sounds very painful.
  • Angela_K
    Angela_K Member Posts: 374 Member
    #4
    Sandy
    I just hate hearing that you are still hurting. I have experienced some lower back aching, hip aching and some tightness in my thighs. Also heaviness in legs and swelling in one knee but nothing severe or lingering. Have had my knee x=rayed, bones are fine. So I've started a routine to continue to build muscle around my knee lost during the past year. My Pilates routine helps keep my spin in alignment. I am seeing an Eastern massage therapist this week that I am hoping will address the minor aching I'm experiencing.

    Keep me posted on what your neurologist finds. Angela
  • sandysp
    sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
    #5
    z said:

    Sandy
    I had leg and hip pain, and it felt like I was carrying around extra weight on my legs. I would get zinger pain, not lasting long, and it would just come and go. For a while I would get charley horses. Eventually, all the side effects ceased. I hope you will find that its just a part of the healing, and everything is okay. Lori

    ice
    You are right. When I got home from the doctor's I put ice everywhere I could that hurt. I had ice on my feet, my ankles, my thighs, my lower back and my neck, put a comforter around me and watched Law and Order reruns. It was soothing and helped. I had the MRI yesterday. We'll see what's up soon.
  • RoseC
    RoseC Member Posts: 559
    #6
    sandysp said:

    ice
    You are right. When I got home from the doctor's I put ice everywhere I could that hurt. I had ice on my feet, my ankles, my thighs, my lower back and my neck, put a comforter around me and watched Law and Order reruns. It was soothing and helped. I had the MRI yesterday. We'll see what's up soon.

    The Golden Girls
    I love reruns. When I was home, reruns of The Golden Girls were on several channels. I'm sure I saw every episode that was available at least four times each. You can guess which Golden Girl was my favorite (Rose, of course!).
  • shirlann54
    shirlann54 Member Posts: 162
    #7
    sandy
    I hurt too .My back and hips .My legs hurt most at night there restless and heavy.Sometimes its hard to even put my socks on it hurts so bad when i lift my right leg.I,m going to talk to my Dr about it when i go back in Nov.let us know what your Neurologist said.Good luck sandy
  • sandysp
    sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
    #8
    shirlann54 said:

    sandy
    I hurt too .My back and hips .My legs hurt most at night there restless and heavy.Sometimes its hard to even put my socks on it hurts so bad when i lift my right leg.I,m going to talk to my Dr about it when i go back in Nov.let us know what your Neurologist said.Good luck sandy

    Neurological pain is crazy
    Two nights ago I awoke with a burning across my pelvis that felt like it was in my bones hip to hip and deep into the pelvic bone and even down my upper inner thighs. It felt like the bones were smoking hot and the bone marrow was like molten lava. Unbelievable. A few days before that my skin was like that and couldn't stand the touch of my clothes. It can't be really "real". It's just my body telling me a story, evidently. But it is agonizingly painful and I can't stand it. I can't live with pain like that. Thank God I still have meds which I seem to have to take one tablet every 36-60 hours. In between this, a few Gel Caps of Ibuprofen work. My appointment with the neurologist isn't till the 18th. He will have his hands full with me! I have not heard the results of the MRI and figure I will just wait till I see him.
  • sandysp
    sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
    #9
    RoseC said:

    The Golden Girls
    I love reruns. When I was home, reruns of The Golden Girls were on several channels. I'm sure I saw every episode that was available at least four times each. You can guess which Golden Girl was my favorite (Rose, of course!).

    Golden Girls
    Ha, ha, ha! I love the Golden Girls and hope I am one! I love Rose but Bea - Oh my God! How funny. I'm from the South too and can really relate to her sense of self (lol)!
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #10
    sandysp said:

    Neurological pain is crazy
    Two nights ago I awoke with a burning across my pelvis that felt like it was in my bones hip to hip and deep into the pelvic bone and even down my upper inner thighs. It felt like the bones were smoking hot and the bone marrow was like molten lava. Unbelievable. A few days before that my skin was like that and couldn't stand the touch of my clothes. It can't be really "real". It's just my body telling me a story, evidently. But it is agonizingly painful and I can't stand it. I can't live with pain like that. Thank God I still have meds which I seem to have to take one tablet every 36-60 hours. In between this, a few Gel Caps of Ibuprofen work. My appointment with the neurologist isn't till the 18th. He will have his hands full with me! I have not heard the results of the MRI and figure I will just wait till I see him.

    Hi Sandy--
    I'm sorry to read that you are having all of this leg pain and I hope your visit with the neuro on the 18th. will yield some answers and a solution. My legs just plain ache sometimes. It's not like a severe pain, they just ache like I've been standing on my feet for too long. I never had that until I went through treatment. I'll be thinking of you next Tuesday and I hope you'll let us know what you find out.
  • sandysp
    sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
    #11
    mp327 said:

    Hi Sandy--
    I'm sorry to read that you are having all of this leg pain and I hope your visit with the neuro on the 18th. will yield some answers and a solution. My legs just plain ache sometimes. It's not like a severe pain, they just ache like I've been standing on my feet for too long. I never had that until I went through treatment. I'll be thinking of you next Tuesday and I hope you'll let us know what you find out.

    I hear ya!
    My legs ache like that too. My stride is a lot shorter because of the inner thighs feeling really tight - almost like a pulled groin muscle. I'm taking walks and doing Tai Chi and trying to really listen to my body to work through some of these things. But thank God I really feel the cancer is gone. Not just because the doctor told me the tumor was gone on digital exam but because of the energy I feel and the way I am imagining myself doing a lot of different things again. I had been sick for a long time and just didn't know it. Once I was diagnosed, a journey to feeling better had begun and for that I am really grateful. I know you feel much the same although maybe not, since you were stage 1?

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