CT Vs. MRI

dorookie
dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Okay, call me crazy, I know its only a few days till my check up scans, but my mind has been going in overdrive. I have a question that I thought I might ask.

As you all know I have been having bad back pain (lower left side), had a MRI that showed I had a slight slipped disc. Have been going to a Pain doc, but they are telling me that after reviewing my MRI, the slipped disc shouldnt be causing me the amount of pain that I am in. Okay so then they started me on nuerotin (sp) for neuropathy (sp) which they think might be the source of the pain. Well it isnt really working all that well, still in alot of pain. (pain can literally drive you insane)

I am scheduled for a CT scan and a bone scan on Monday. The question I am getting at is this: Would a tumor have shown up on the MRI? Or do I have to worry that it might show up on the bone scan?

Scared and in pain...

Thanks for any info

God Bless
Beth

Comments

  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    Hey Beth,
    I'm sorry to hear

    Hey Beth,
    I'm sorry to hear about your pain, both physical and emotional. You wrote something the other day on another thread that I've been thinking a lot about. You wrote that you are ashamed for how you feel sometimes. I can totally related, but I want to say that you should never, NEVER, be ashamed of how you feel. Cancer keeps us down by making us feel shame, failure, dread - all of those emotions that come to us all in the dark nights. Cancer feeds on these feelings. I try to embrace these feelings when they come, hold tight to them and let them go when I am ready. You have the power Beth! No matter what faith you have, or religion you belong to, God will never be angry at us for feeling the emotions that He gave us. You are a wonderful person. That comes out clearly in your posts. And you are not alone. Embrace the pain and let it go.

    As far as your scans question. He11, I don't know. I probably did at one time. My head is so full of info that none of it makes sense. I've been meditating on crows, focussing on my heart and trying to gain clarity and peace with my emotions in hopes that the chemo will turn lose of my head, and I will be able to think clearly again.

    Take care Beth. Sending you sparks and great hopes for peace, healing and good scans.
    Roger
  • mom_2_3
    mom_2_3 Member Posts: 953 Member
    Pain
    Beth,

    I do not know the answer to your question but I can tell you that I had the most excruciating pain in my life (and I have had a root canal with no anesthetic) due to a herniated disk. Time and an epidural in my neck finally eliminated the pain but pain killers (oxycodene) didn't touch the pain.

    Good luck on Monday.

    Amy
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    mom_2_3 said:

    Pain
    Beth,

    I do not know the answer to your question but I can tell you that I had the most excruciating pain in my life (and I have had a root canal with no anesthetic) due to a herniated disk. Time and an epidural in my neck finally eliminated the pain but pain killers (oxycodene) didn't touch the pain.

    Good luck on Monday.

    Amy

    Thanks
    Is there a difference between herniated and slipped disc? I am sure there is, right? The pain just never ends it seems unless I take lots of pain meds. Which I cant do when I work, so I suffer, and its driving me out of my mind, and let me tell ya its a short drive....

    Did the Epidural last like forever? I happen to have an appointment with my pain doc on Monday too, I am going to ask him about an Epidural. Thanks for the info

    Beth
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    Crow71 said:

    Hey Beth,
    I'm sorry to hear

    Hey Beth,
    I'm sorry to hear about your pain, both physical and emotional. You wrote something the other day on another thread that I've been thinking a lot about. You wrote that you are ashamed for how you feel sometimes. I can totally related, but I want to say that you should never, NEVER, be ashamed of how you feel. Cancer keeps us down by making us feel shame, failure, dread - all of those emotions that come to us all in the dark nights. Cancer feeds on these feelings. I try to embrace these feelings when they come, hold tight to them and let them go when I am ready. You have the power Beth! No matter what faith you have, or religion you belong to, God will never be angry at us for feeling the emotions that He gave us. You are a wonderful person. That comes out clearly in your posts. And you are not alone. Embrace the pain and let it go.

    As far as your scans question. He11, I don't know. I probably did at one time. My head is so full of info that none of it makes sense. I've been meditating on crows, focussing on my heart and trying to gain clarity and peace with my emotions in hopes that the chemo will turn lose of my head, and I will be able to think clearly again.

    Take care Beth. Sending you sparks and great hopes for peace, healing and good scans.
    Roger

    Than you Roger
    Thank you for this post, I really appreciate it. Maybe the word ashamed was a bit strong, I dont know, or maybe it wasnt. With the way my mind has been going lately you would think I was still on chemo, its been all mixed up. It has always been very hard for me to let feelings go, however I am working on that. I have always been a person that if I dont understand something it will drive me crazy, again a very short drive..LOL...and not understanding my feelings is really weighing heavy on me, if that makes any sense at all. I think I might just change my name to CONFUSED..LOL

    Thanks again Roger

    *HUGS
    Beth
  • robinvan
    robinvan Member Posts: 1,012
    Beth
    I am so sorry to hear about your pain. I know how maddening and worrying it can be.

    Trust that the CT and/or Bone Scan will reveal whatever is causing the pain. Don't borrow any trouble over what it might or might not be. (easier said than done I know) Once the situation is known it can be addressed as needed.

    Wishing you some comfort and peace over what is left of this weekend.

    Rob; in Vancouver
  • mom_2_3
    mom_2_3 Member Posts: 953 Member
    dorookie said:

    Thanks
    Is there a difference between herniated and slipped disc? I am sure there is, right? The pain just never ends it seems unless I take lots of pain meds. Which I cant do when I work, so I suffer, and its driving me out of my mind, and let me tell ya its a short drive....

    Did the Epidural last like forever? I happen to have an appointment with my pain doc on Monday too, I am going to ask him about an Epidural. Thanks for the info

    Beth

    They are the same
    According to http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/herniateddisk.html a herniated and slipped disk are the same thing. I know how you feel about the pain. It was difficult for me to do anything while I had the pain.

    The epidural has lasted since I had it. The pain started in January 2007 (golf!!) and I got the epidural in April 2007 after trying all sorts of things to alleviate the pain (massage, chiropractor, rehab). I have had no pain since then in my back. I also bought an inversion table and use that periodically to stretch my spine.

    Good luck on Monday! My thoughts are with you!!

    Amy