pinched nerve?

liefjasmine
liefjasmine Member Posts: 5
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hey everyone! I finished chemo in January - oxaliplatin and xeloda, 8 rounds - and I was wondering if any of you have experienced pinched nerves in your lower right or left side of your back/hip. I have had sciatica problems before, on both sides, and the pain also shoots down my leg in those cases. About 3 weeks ago - i felt and "electric" shock go through my right side back/hip area and the pain is lingering and for a few days, it was severe. Can doctors "see" pinched nerves in scans, etc.? I know it takes a long time for pinched nerves to recover - but since I'm so concerned with everything that goes on in my body - should I see a neurologist or orthopedic doctor? I really don't want to go to another doctor. Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks in advance. Lynne

Comments

  • Patteee
    Patteee Member Posts: 945
    #2
    I haven't quite had your
    I haven't quite had your problem- but definitely a pinched or squashed nerve at my elbow. Never had problems with it before, woke up the morning after my first chemo and my ring finger and baby finger along with about half of my palm were a tingly numb. Kept thinking I had slept wrong- but never got better. A week later my oncologist said it wasn't relate to chemo- neuropathy would be both sidess, blah blah blah. Several months later I saw a neurologist at Mayo and she said it WAS related to chemo- that basically chemo finds and further erodes nerve issues and I more than likely had a compressed nerve at the elbow. So I patiently waited until I was done with chemo- hand never got better. Saw an orthopedic hand surgeon who ordered an EMG and minor compression at the elbow and MAJOR neuropathy issues. In Nov, 10 months after completing treatment, this same surgeon "released" the nerve at the elbow, he knew it was a long shot but was hoping for some improvement. There has been none. I have only a horrid zingy feeling in that part of my hand and more than likely it is permanent.

    So, not exactly the same thing as yours- but I am guessing there is a chemo connection, potentially healing of the pinched nerve will be delayed due to chemo. Personally, I would work with a neurologist, leave the orthopedist out of it for now.
  • tigrita
    tigrita Member Posts: 6
    #3
    Osteopathy
    See an osteopathic physician. That's right, osteopathic, not orthopedic. They are physicians with the letters DO instead of MD. They have all the same education, training, and priviledges as MDs and also have training in working on the body non-surgically, hands-on, to align things so that the body can have optimal range of motion, health, and healing including blood and nerve pathways. The concept is similar to chiropractic, but more in-depth and specific and with a broader range of techniques. It is usually coverable by insurance.

    To my understanding it is not really possible to visualize pinched nerves, they are diagnosed by symptomology and process of elimination if things like fractures, muscle/tendon/ligament tears, and arthritis are ruled out, which are usually visible. Nerve conduction studies may be diagnostic in some cases.

    Hope you get un-pinched and feel better.
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    #4
    Having the same problem
    I finished Chemo last June, and since then I have had a shooting pain down my left leg and pain in my lower left back. Finally went to get a MRI done and I have a slight slipped disc. They started treatment by setting me up for steriod shots, I did it twice with no good results. So now my pain doctor has started me on Neurontin, I started with one pill a day for a week, then 2 pills a day for a week and tomorrow I start 3 pills a day. I think they are working, as I have been taking less and less pain pills. The doc said that my slipped disc wasnt that bad and shouldnt be causing all the pain I was having, plus the numbness and tingling feelings down my leg. He is thinking it is neuropathy, and I think he is right. I have had problems with this off and on since I had radiation in late 2007, it has just gotten worse to the point I couldnt handle it on my own. I think these pills are working and like I said I start on th 3 a day tomorrow and I am hoping that will get rid of the pain all together. At first I thought it was a nerve problem too, especially with the pain shooting down my leg. I would suggest maybe your doc ordering a MRI to find out. Good Luck

    Beth
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #5
    dorookie said:

    Having the same problem
    I finished Chemo last June, and since then I have had a shooting pain down my left leg and pain in my lower left back. Finally went to get a MRI done and I have a slight slipped disc. They started treatment by setting me up for steriod shots, I did it twice with no good results. So now my pain doctor has started me on Neurontin, I started with one pill a day for a week, then 2 pills a day for a week and tomorrow I start 3 pills a day. I think they are working, as I have been taking less and less pain pills. The doc said that my slipped disc wasnt that bad and shouldnt be causing all the pain I was having, plus the numbness and tingling feelings down my leg. He is thinking it is neuropathy, and I think he is right. I have had problems with this off and on since I had radiation in late 2007, it has just gotten worse to the point I couldnt handle it on my own. I think these pills are working and like I said I start on th 3 a day tomorrow and I am hoping that will get rid of the pain all together. At first I thought it was a nerve problem too, especially with the pain shooting down my leg. I would suggest maybe your doc ordering a MRI to find out. Good Luck

    Beth

    I was in A LOT of pain last week!
    I was telling my ONC about the charlie horses that I have been getting on my feet so he referred to me to a neurologist, the next day, I got the cramp again and bent down to move my foot and got this pain that shot up my leg and into my back. I broke out into a cold sweat and got dizzy, I thought I was going to pass out. I didn't move for about 15 minutes and I could not get to a phone. I finally inched my way to the living room and called my oncologist. I just left a message that I was going to the ER if I did not get better soon, but then as I walked the pain lessened. That evening my husband had me get on the floor on my back and put leg over the other and twist in the opposite direction, it really helped. The move was like when you go to a chiropractor and he is going to pop you back...same movement but you just stretch the area instead. My neurologist appointment is not until March 15th.

    The pain was one of the worst I had, up there with child birth!
  • vonstolz
    vonstolz Member Posts: 2
    #6
    post chemo pain -- neuropathy?

    I finished chemo (carboplatin & taxol, for ovarian cancer) in March 2016, with the neuropathy symptoms they had predicted:  tingling and numbness in the feet.  By April, I was having severe pain in knees, hips, major leg muscles, and lower back.  I've gotten the brush-off from three internists, who are happy to prescribe narcotics but have no idea what the cause might be.  I assumed it COULDN'T be neuropathy, because it was nothing like "tingling"; it was severe nerve/muscle pain.  But it sounds from what others are saying as though neuropathy can cause this kind of pain.  So I'm going back to gabapentin/Neurontin -- and, I guess, if that doesn't work, marijuana.  Have others had this kind of neuropathy?  And have you figured out what to do about it???

  • danker
    danker Member Posts: 1,276 Member
    #7
    Pinched nerve

    When I was about 35 I had a disk that was hitting my siatic nerve. The pain is incredible.  When I went to the Dr my leg was numb  from ankle to above my knee.  Removal of the disc solved my leg pain, but caused some back pain that was tempoarry. 5 yrs later I again had pain in leg, and assumed it was another disc! Upon operation found it was scar tissue from original operation.  No more back or leg problems for 44 yrs. Go figure???

  • danker
    danker Member Posts: 1,276 Member
    edited June 2016 #8
    Pinched nerve

    I had one a long time ago.  I assume squashed disk is hitting siatic nerve causing pain down leg.  Removal of disc solves problem!  Good Luck!

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