Bone Density / Fractures

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Minnesotagirl
Minnesotagirl Member Posts: 141
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Good morning,

Wanted to send this message out as a "heads up" ~
Any others out there with this same issue?

So, I am sitting here with a non-displaced fractured sacral-ala (lower hip area) due to walking. I am 51 years old and never had problems until I went through radiation, chemo, etc. I had been swimming during my final chemo treatments in 2011...was tired of it so I decided to walk 2-3 miles per day in the month of December. Boom...hip pain started...I thought it was a pulled muscle or something like that...went to my Oncologist. Scheduled a MRI to rule out bone mets. ...came back with a fracture in the hip. Crazy. Anyway, they then sent me for a bone density scan...I had one about 10 years prior but outdated.
GETTING TO THE POINT HERE...I think a bone density scan of the hip area should be done PRIOR to radiation so you have a good base line of what is happening to the bones prior and post radiation. I complained of hip stiffness, soreness, lack of hip mobility the entire time during treatment...they told me to just keep swimming. I went to physical therapy after chemo, went to a chiropractor after physical therapy didn't work and here I am. I now have Osteopenia, Osteoarthritus and bone loss due to radiation / chemo treatments. Bummer.

~Minnesotagirl

Comments

  • tommycat
    tommycat Member Posts: 790 Member
    #2
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    I just read your post in
    I just read your post in reply to MammaLee (?) and realized we had very similar cancer treatments. So sorry to hear about your hip! How long is the estimated healing time? Can you get around at all?
    Sheesh---sorry to hear this news and hope you get better SOON.
  • Minnesotagirl
    Minnesotagirl Member Posts: 141
    #3
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    tommycat said:

    I just read your post in
    I just read your post in reply to MammaLee (?) and realized we had very similar cancer treatments. So sorry to hear about your hip! How long is the estimated healing time? Can you get around at all?
    Sheesh---sorry to hear this news and hope you get better SOON.

    Thanks
    Thanks for the heartfelt reply. I am done using crutches now and beginning to walk around the house, etc. I am going to try and get back to swimming real soon. I can drive.
    Fortunately and unfortunately I am not working now ~ my job was no longer available to me after treatment. Oh well, luckily, we can "make it" on my husbands employment. I feel very fortunate for that and he carries the insurance so that was another Godsend.

    I want to create awareness for others with this thread~
  • westie66
    westie66 Member Posts: 642
    #4
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    Minnesotagirl said:

    Thanks
    Thanks for the heartfelt reply. I am done using crutches now and beginning to walk around the house, etc. I am going to try and get back to swimming real soon. I can drive.
    Fortunately and unfortunately I am not working now ~ my job was no longer available to me after treatment. Oh well, luckily, we can "make it" on my husbands employment. I feel very fortunate for that and he carries the insurance so that was another Godsend.

    I want to create awareness for others with this thread~

    Bones
    Hi: Just wondered if you had Neulasta shots to bring up your white blood cell counts so you could do chemo? Apparently, Neulasta can cause loss of bone density. I didn't know this - if I did I wouldn't have had the injections!
    I hope you get better soon.
    Cheryl
  • Minnesotagirl
    Minnesotagirl Member Posts: 141
    #5
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    westie66 said:

    Bones
    Hi: Just wondered if you had Neulasta shots to bring up your white blood cell counts so you could do chemo? Apparently, Neulasta can cause loss of bone density. I didn't know this - if I did I wouldn't have had the injections!
    I hope you get better soon.
    Cheryl

    Neulasta
    Cheryl,
    Thanks for the comment. Yes, I did have trouble with my white blood cell counts and yes they did give me Neulasta. Interesting? I didn't know about that side effect. Good information~thank you!

    ~"Minnie"
  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #6
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    I had fractured my rib just
    I had fractured my rib just kayaking in2010 The orthopedic doctor ordered a bone scan and bone density scan. Bone scan was clean (what a relief) but the bone density scan show I have ostopenia as well from all of the chemo. To make matters worse I started chemo again.
  • lauragb
    lauragb Member Posts: 370 Member
    #7
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    Thanks for filling us in.
    Thanks for filling us in. I've wondered about this. I had chemoradiation before surgery and am on chemo right now. I do have hip pain on my left side. Hopefully, it is just a muscle. It's not that bad, more of an ache. I do find that I am more achy in general since all of this treatment started.

    It's good that you are aware of your issues so you can watch yourself closely. I hope you heal quickly and can stay ahead of any more problems like this. Sounds like you have been really trying to take care of yourself by exercising. I know this must be frustrating. Hang in there.
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #8
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    Hi Minnesotagirl
    Having major problems with my spine from chemo and prednisone. I have lost over two inches in height. I have lars fractures in my lumbar vert along with alkylysing spondolytis. After ca I was heavily into walking,around fifty miles a week. According to one Of my docs it did me more harm than good. Now I am flat out walking at all. I am starting to get worried about the next phase of my health. In the past week I have found that when I sit for any lenghth of time I can't feel my body from the hips down. It is not neuropathy I suffer that constantly in feet legs and hands. This is something new and I think it is to do with degeneration in my spine. As usual none of my docs have done any bone density tests. If anything gets done usually i have to suggest it.Ron.
  • Minnesotagirl
    Minnesotagirl Member Posts: 141
    #9
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    ron50 said:

    Hi Minnesotagirl
    Having major problems with my spine from chemo and prednisone. I have lost over two inches in height. I have lars fractures in my lumbar vert along with alkylysing spondolytis. After ca I was heavily into walking,around fifty miles a week. According to one Of my docs it did me more harm than good. Now I am flat out walking at all. I am starting to get worried about the next phase of my health. In the past week I have found that when I sit for any lenghth of time I can't feel my body from the hips down. It is not neuropathy I suffer that constantly in feet legs and hands. This is something new and I think it is to do with degeneration in my spine. As usual none of my docs have done any bone density tests. If anything gets done usually i have to suggest it.Ron.

    Thanks for all replies...Ron
    Ron,
    You are a survivor...
    I do believe that we definitely have to be our own advocate and suggest what we need. I am lucky to have a daughter who will be a MD in June, 2012 so she is my go to person when I have questions or concerns about things. I too worry about my next phase of life ( like you) wondering if I will be all crippled up in the future (yes, I said future because I plan on hanging around along time just like you)!
    I hope that someone can help you with your spine issues...that sounds like scary stuff. I wish you the best Ron and its remarkable that you have 527 posts...wow.
    God's blessings to you ~ Minnesotagirl

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