Buttock / Hip Pain Suggestions

jazzy1
jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
edited March 2014 in Long-Term Effects of Treatment #1
Last year diagnosed with uterine cancer and had 6 rounds of taxol/carboplatin, plus sandwiched in middle 33 sessions of PELVIC radiation. Finished July 30, '09 and been feeling great outside of one area -- pain in buttock / hip area. It's not the end of the world but it does tend to come and go, possibly depending on my walking or start of running or even the way I do my yoga stretches...who knows???? I've read up on chemo and radiation and side affects are quite significant for many of us, and many docs have NO CLUE!!

Have checkups and cat-scans every 3 months, which completed one in March. Mentioned to my oncologist about this pain and he said NO --- NOT CANCER, since had my last cat-scan in December and showed nothing. He suggested I take Fosomax for increasing bone mass, as prime candidate for osteoporosis. After much research I decided to increase my weight-bearing exercises and increase calcium and Vit D3 intake. Give that a whirl for a year as that should help.

Knowing I'm scheduled for a Cat-scan and follow-up with oncologist in 3 weeks I called to suggest we do an MRI due to my pain. RN called back after conferring with the doc and he suggested I see my PCP. Boo hoo! I fired my PCP last year and not sure that will be my best option.

I've been to my chiropractor and without taking xrays thinking it could be a few things such as arthritis or bone spur, etc. But without testing how will I ever know how to treat.

Anyone ever or presently in my shoes can throw me some good suggestions? My next option is see my oncologist in June and convince him to approve an MRI. Then see what results show and at that point in time direct to whatever doc would help my issues. If I'm lucky, it's just inflammed due to arthritis. I hate to start the path of seeing doctor after doctor to figure out what's wrong. Plus my deductible is quite high and truly had to pay all of this out of pocket.

Thanks to all for some suggestions...
Jan

Comments

  • yeenahmarie
    yeenahmarie Member Posts: 2
    #2
    Hi Jan,
    I had chemo,
    Hi Jan,

    I had chemo, external and internal radiation one year ago. I started having hip pain 6 months after treatment ended. My oncologist ordered a MRI of my hip bone to see what was going on.

    We found fibrosis (essentially bone death) in my hip.

    The pains started becoming worse about 3 months later and went into my back and groin. I went to my OB/GYN and told her about the pain. I was very concerned and she agreed to order a CT scan and they saw something on my spine.

    Next, she called my oncologist and they ordered an MRI of my spine. We found advanced arthritis, bone spurs, and a slipped disk. NO cancer. My oncologist told me to ice it and keep doing yoga but take it easy.

    I went to see my PCP and she wrote out orders for physical therapy.. My therapist explained that the muscles in my hips have shortened, which is most likely secondary to radiation. I am doing some stretches to make the muscles longer and hope to resume yoga in a couple weeks.

    My point, I guess, is that you have every right to know exactly what is going on in your body. I did need to go around to a few doctors to get the answers and treatment. I know that paying is difficult, but for me every cent is is worth the peace of mind that comes from knowing what is going on and how to treat.

    I wish you wellness!
    Linda
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    #3
    yeenahmarie said:

    Hi Jan,
    I had chemo,
    Hi Jan,

    I had chemo, external and internal radiation one year ago. I started having hip pain 6 months after treatment ended. My oncologist ordered a MRI of my hip bone to see what was going on.

    We found fibrosis (essentially bone death) in my hip.

    The pains started becoming worse about 3 months later and went into my back and groin. I went to my OB/GYN and told her about the pain. I was very concerned and she agreed to order a CT scan and they saw something on my spine.

    Next, she called my oncologist and they ordered an MRI of my spine. We found advanced arthritis, bone spurs, and a slipped disk. NO cancer. My oncologist told me to ice it and keep doing yoga but take it easy.

    I went to see my PCP and she wrote out orders for physical therapy.. My therapist explained that the muscles in my hips have shortened, which is most likely secondary to radiation. I am doing some stretches to make the muscles longer and hope to resume yoga in a couple weeks.

    My point, I guess, is that you have every right to know exactly what is going on in your body. I did need to go around to a few doctors to get the answers and treatment. I know that paying is difficult, but for me every cent is is worth the peace of mind that comes from knowing what is going on and how to treat.

    I wish you wellness!
    Linda

    Thanks Linda!
    Nice to hear it's not just me and there is some hope. I've been dealing with this for the past 5 months and ready to find out exactly what it might be. When we find what the issue is, I can then know how to treat it. I'm not one to run to the doc for every little pain, therefore, I try to work out or stretch differently and ask others, before the doc appts start.

    Interesting that it's lots of arthritis as my chiropractor mentioned that could be a possibility. Bone spur...wow that one I know is painful. Our bodies can heal themselves in most cases, but in some we do need surgery. Thankfully you didn't need to go that route.

    Going to oncologist (both) this month and convince one to go for the MRI. Then I can see what my next path will be. I do know radiation and chemo are both rough on our systems. Finding more and more talk about how radiation just dries up our bones and joints, as seen in your case with the shortening of the hips.

    What type of cancer do you have?

    Thanks again,
    Jan
  • yeenahmarie
    yeenahmarie Member Posts: 2
    #4
    jazzy1 said:

    Thanks Linda!
    Nice to hear it's not just me and there is some hope. I've been dealing with this for the past 5 months and ready to find out exactly what it might be. When we find what the issue is, I can then know how to treat it. I'm not one to run to the doc for every little pain, therefore, I try to work out or stretch differently and ask others, before the doc appts start.

    Interesting that it's lots of arthritis as my chiropractor mentioned that could be a possibility. Bone spur...wow that one I know is painful. Our bodies can heal themselves in most cases, but in some we do need surgery. Thankfully you didn't need to go that route.

    Going to oncologist (both) this month and convince one to go for the MRI. Then I can see what my next path will be. I do know radiation and chemo are both rough on our systems. Finding more and more talk about how radiation just dries up our bones and joints, as seen in your case with the shortening of the hips.

    What type of cancer do you have?

    Thanks again,
    Jan

    Hi Jan,
    I had stage 2b
    Hi Jan,

    I had stage 2b cervical cancer.

    I am already feeling better doing PT and I changed my workstation so that I can stand all day at work.

    I hope you get some answers soon!

    Linda
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    #5
    yeenahmarie said:

    Hi Jan,
    I had stage 2b
    Hi Jan,

    I had stage 2b cervical cancer.

    I am already feeling better doing PT and I changed my workstation so that I can stand all day at work.

    I hope you get some answers soon!

    Linda

    Thanks
    I do appreciate your input. When you mention changing workstations to stand all day, I think I'm at my computer a lot (work from home job) and after 4 hrs I'm feeling lower back pain. That surely doesn't help me in area in question.

    Have appts with both my oncologists this month so I'll get some answers in form of what I'm wanting -- scan! We have to fight for ourselves as who else will?

    A thereapy group I'm involved with has gal in it with back issues, too. She tried a chiropractor for a long time with not many results. Ended up going to PT gal who understands cancer treatments and affects on our bodies. That PT exercises has saved her and now loving life pain free.

    Take care,
    Jan
  • dixiegirl
    dixiegirl Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #6
    jazzy1 said:

    Thanks
    I do appreciate your input. When you mention changing workstations to stand all day, I think I'm at my computer a lot (work from home job) and after 4 hrs I'm feeling lower back pain. That surely doesn't help me in area in question.

    Have appts with both my oncologists this month so I'll get some answers in form of what I'm wanting -- scan! We have to fight for ourselves as who else will?

    A thereapy group I'm involved with has gal in it with back issues, too. She tried a chiropractor for a long time with not many results. Ended up going to PT gal who understands cancer treatments and affects on our bodies. That PT exercises has saved her and now loving life pain free.

    Take care,
    Jan

    Butt/Pain
    I did have rads to my left hip in 2007 and earlier this year had butt/hip pain. My onc checked with my radiation onc and where I was hurting was in the port for my rads. He sent me for an MRI that showed an "insuffiency fracture" caused by radiation that weakenend the bone. He did give me reclast and told me 2 Aleve morning and night and a heating pad.

    It's taken a few months, but is definitely better.

    Good luck to you!
    Beth

    Also, put the heating pad in your chair when you work.....I did and that's about the only way I could get through a day. My heating pad and I were.. well attached at the hip :)
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    #7
    dixiegirl said:

    Butt/Pain
    I did have rads to my left hip in 2007 and earlier this year had butt/hip pain. My onc checked with my radiation onc and where I was hurting was in the port for my rads. He sent me for an MRI that showed an "insuffiency fracture" caused by radiation that weakenend the bone. He did give me reclast and told me 2 Aleve morning and night and a heating pad.

    It's taken a few months, but is definitely better.

    Good luck to you!
    Beth

    Also, put the heating pad in your chair when you work.....I did and that's about the only way I could get through a day. My heating pad and I were.. well attached at the hip :)

    Dixiegirl...thanks!
    Appreciate your experience as see more and more issues with our bodies after all the treatments. The old docs just keep us alive with proper treatments, but after-affects aren't the best and we have to find ways to get them diagnosed.

    I had my first bone density (before treatments last Feb) which showed thinning in the top of hip and that may be part of this pain. Just assuming at this point until get a test. Completed a CAT-scan for my cancer in pelvic area and showed nothing....but they don't always show the bones and small joints, etc.

    I've been told to take Aleve and will try 2 twice per day. Not sure on the heating pad as I've learned it dries out our joints....per my hubbie's orthopedic. Give it a shot as can't hurt and if does, will stop.

    Jan
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #8
    jazzy1 said:

    Dixiegirl...thanks!
    Appreciate your experience as see more and more issues with our bodies after all the treatments. The old docs just keep us alive with proper treatments, but after-affects aren't the best and we have to find ways to get them diagnosed.

    I had my first bone density (before treatments last Feb) which showed thinning in the top of hip and that may be part of this pain. Just assuming at this point until get a test. Completed a CAT-scan for my cancer in pelvic area and showed nothing....but they don't always show the bones and small joints, etc.

    I've been told to take Aleve and will try 2 twice per day. Not sure on the heating pad as I've learned it dries out our joints....per my hubbie's orthopedic. Give it a shot as can't hurt and if does, will stop.

    Jan

    Thank you ladies .. a little late finding this support
    thread!

    VickiSam

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