Use of other doctors

apache4
apache4 Member Posts: 272 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I have been having terrible pain in my right hip. I have been controlling it with an old prescription for Vicodin that I hadn't used. I know I need morepain meds and wonder if I should just go to an orthopedist. I have been on SSDI for four years with arthritis diagnosis so I guess it is mainly a question of age or the past chemo making it worse. Does the onocologist get involved with this type of thing?

Comments

  • rrob
    rrob Member Posts: 158
    #2
    Use of other doctors
    I'm sorry you're having pain. At my appointment with my oncologist last week, he said my PET showed I have degenerative arthritis of the spine. He also told me I was still NED, so I completely forgot every question I had planned to ask! So, I talked to my oncological nurse yesterday to ask her about pain in my ankles and feeling as if the joints had locked up when I stood after sitting. I asked if it could be arthritis, an artifact of chemo, etc. She said I should contact my primary care physician, because my oncologist didn't deal with arthritis and my PCP might want to do bone studies, etc. I don't know if that's the case with other oncologists or not, but I think you still might give yours a call just to let him/her know what's going on with you. Good luck and I hope you get relief from the pain soon.

    Rebecca
  • Kanort
    Kanort Member Posts: 1,272 Member
    #3
    I'm Sorry!
    I am sorry you are having to deal with pain right now. I am thinking maybe a specialist might be the one to contact, but I would also mention it to your oncologist. I'm thinking of you and sending you my best.

    Hugs,

    Kay
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #4
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #5
    pain
    I sure hope you get your pain managed soon! You have had such a time of it! I would definitely go to your PCP. I have terrible pain in my knees now, and I am sure it's from chemo. My onc did give me a prescription for Celebrex, which has been working OK, but if it goes much longer I will probably make an appt with my PCP to see what he has to say about my options.
    mary
  • apache4
    apache4 Member Posts: 272 Member
    #6
    msccolon said:

    pain
    I sure hope you get your pain managed soon! You have had such a time of it! I would definitely go to your PCP. I have terrible pain in my knees now, and I am sure it's from chemo. My onc did give me a prescription for Celebrex, which has been working OK, but if it goes much longer I will probably make an appt with my PCP to see what he has to say about my options.
    mary

    No PCP
    Well, I guess I need to find a primary care physician and they could refer me. I had one in Texas and just figured that with the cancer all I need now is an onocologist. Wrong! I feel like I am going backwards, but these things happen when one moves. Thanks everyone...I hadn't really thought of this.
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #7
    apache4 said:

    No PCP
    Well, I guess I need to find a primary care physician and they could refer me. I had one in Texas and just figured that with the cancer all I need now is an onocologist. Wrong! I feel like I am going backwards, but these things happen when one moves. Thanks everyone...I hadn't really thought of this.

    New PCP
    I know what you mean about thinking you only need the oncologist. When I changed to a friend for my PCP and we were talking about where he has privileges, etc I was like, well, it's a pretty good bet that if i find myself needing to go to the hospital, it will need to be the one where my oncologist has privileges! Then, a while ago I wound up with a nasty UTI and definitely needed the services of my PCP instead of my onc. You just never know!
    Good luck with finding a knowledgable one!
    Mary
  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
    #8
    My oncologist deals with almost everything
    If he feels I need to see someone else he would send me. He also works with my primary care. You might talk to your oncologist and see what they say and whether or not they can help, if not they should be able to refer you to a primary care or specialist.

    I am being treated at Mass General where the team approach covers almost everything.

    Pam
  • PGLGreg
    PGLGreg Member Posts: 731
    #9
    oncologist
    Unless perhaps there's a payment problem, I think you should go back to your oncologist. I don't know that hip pain is typical of a cancer recurrence, but I don't see anything impossible about it. If your oncologist thinks it's not in his realm, he/she could give you a referral. (I don't have a PCP, either, and I'm thinking of asking my oncologist to do the PCP thing, since he does have a specialty in internal medicine.)
  • 4law
    4law Member Posts: 110
    #10
    Make an appointment to see
    Make an appointment to see your oncologist. Hopefully this will have nothing to do with cancer. Then, have your oncologist refer you to an orthopedic surgeon or rheumatologist. During my post-op chemo I had a flair-up of gout. My oncologist refered me to a rheumatologist, who tested me and put me on medication -- I haven't had an attack since then -- 3 1/2 years ago. I wouldn't waste time with a primary care doctor (unless insurance issues require you to do so). In my opinion, when dealing with cancer, your oncologist is your primary care doctor. Let him rule out cancer, and then go with his recommendation. Also, I'm not a doctor, but I believe Vicodin is a narcotic pain medication -- this will not solve your problem, only offer temporary pain relief. It is risky to take this medication without medical supervision. Get to the root of your problem and see a specialist. Good luck.
  • jams67
    jams67 Member Posts: 925 Member
    #11
    apache4 said:

    No PCP
    Well, I guess I need to find a primary care physician and they could refer me. I had one in Texas and just figured that with the cancer all I need now is an onocologist. Wrong! I feel like I am going backwards, but these things happen when one moves. Thanks everyone...I hadn't really thought of this.

    gel caps
    Linda,
    I use Aleve gel caps for hip pain from arthritis. I've also had epidural steroid injections which work very well. The place to start if your pain reliver is not working is you PCP. They can refer you to a pain management doctor or if you don't need a referal, you could find one yourself. Good luck and know that I pray for you everyday.
    Jo Ann
  • apache4
    apache4 Member Posts: 272 Member
    #12
    4law said:

    Make an appointment to see
    Make an appointment to see your oncologist. Hopefully this will have nothing to do with cancer. Then, have your oncologist refer you to an orthopedic surgeon or rheumatologist. During my post-op chemo I had a flair-up of gout. My oncologist refered me to a rheumatologist, who tested me and put me on medication -- I haven't had an attack since then -- 3 1/2 years ago. I wouldn't waste time with a primary care doctor (unless insurance issues require you to do so). In my opinion, when dealing with cancer, your oncologist is your primary care doctor. Let him rule out cancer, and then go with his recommendation. Also, I'm not a doctor, but I believe Vicodin is a narcotic pain medication -- this will not solve your problem, only offer temporary pain relief. It is risky to take this medication without medical supervision. Get to the root of your problem and see a specialist. Good luck.

    Thanks
    I just hate to "bother" my onocologist, but I guess that's is what he is there for. I will call today.
    I don't worry about a cancer recurrance as I never really got rid of it. I just stopped treatment as the side effects from my "last line of defense" were too bad. That is after two solid years of treatment. I am just along for the ride now. I feel good except for the hip pain and the massage a couple of days ago did help. She said to give it more time as it had only been a week or so.
    I appreciate everyone's opinion. Thanks.

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