Radiation scar tissue manipulating hip joint?

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Charmed
Charmed Member Posts: 1
in Anal Cancer #1

I had surgery, two rounds of chemo and 6 weeks of radiation therapy to my pelvis for anal cancer in the spring of 2005, by fall the scar tissue that formed where my legs meet my trunk was so bad it seriously reduced my leg movements and I believe the scar tissue manipulated my left  hip so badly my left leg is now seriously shorter than my right.  I must use a lift in my shoe and a cane to walk. Neither physical therapy or chiropractic therapy helped a bit.  The only thing that made it able for me to continue working was Tramadol. Now that they've reclassified that my Dr won't prescribe for me.  Ibuprofin barely touches it.  Any suggestions?

Thanks

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  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #2
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    Charmed

    Yours is the first case I've heard like this post-treatment for anal cancer.  I'm sorry to hear this.  While I don't have any suggestions for what might help you, I am hoping that as far as the cancer, you are doing well and have no signs of recurrence over the years.  Since you were treated 9 years ago, that gives me and others a lot of encouragement when it comes to beating this disease.  I am 6 years post-treatment and doing well.  I hope you can find someone to help you with the hip problems and I wish you all the very best.

    Martha

  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    #3
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    so sorry

    you have probably done this but find an orthopedic who is specialist in hip problems ....yoga???..... i have always had a slight shorter leg than the other due to scoliosis so i have used a lift for years but this all was before my radiation....after tx, i had severe tightness where my legs meet my trunk like you did but i luckily kept stretching and pulling it ...very painful....i still have tightness but not like you.....i am 5 years post tx..... i hope you can find relief.....sephie

  • sandysp
    sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
    #4
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    Lymphedema?

    Have you had a Physiologist who specialiszes in Cancer Rehabilitation examine you or only Orthopedic people?

    I can hardly move my right leg without doing self massage they taught me and wearing very tight support stockings measured for me to fit properly and a special girdle that massages my pelvic lymphatic system. 

    I went without wearing my hose and girdle for a few days last week and got a good reminder of why I wear them all summer long. PAIN MANAGEMENT! I can't believe the difference. It took me a lot of massages to undo the damage of how hard it was to move my right leg in just that short while, starting from the groin outwards.

    This may not be your problem but if it is, it is worth it to get it checked out. I see so many people who need good rehabilitation all the time. Pain medicine won't work to solve the problem, so try to find a Physiologist who knows what radiation does and cancer does to see specifically what your problem is, rather than the orthopedic doctors. That's my suggestion.

    Good luck. I have hope you will get better.

    All the best,

    Sandy

  • Thunderstorm
    Thunderstorm Member Posts: 2
    #5
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    Hip Flexor strain Grade 2

    Your post is interesting to me as I completed my 6 weeks of radiation and 2 weeks of chemo on May 16 of this year and was just diagnosed with a hip flexor strain/tear. I have always run and practiced yoga andmhad no problems. Now while out walking my dog, I tear a hip flexor! So frustrating and painful! Not painful like the cancer treatmentor anything (thank goodness) but darn inconvenient.I really believe the radiation burned and dried eberything up. I amicing and taking anti inlfammatories.

  • Ouch_Ouch_Ouch
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch Member Posts: 508 Member
    #6
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    Adhesions?

    Hello, Charmed:

    Congratulations on making it to 9 years! I'm sorry that it's with so much discomfort, though.

    I was just treated for anal cancer myself over the summer and don't have a lot of experience with aftercare as yet. So, I'm having a little trouble picturing what you mean. If by scar tissue, you mean adhesions, if cancer rehabilitation didn't work for you controling pain and restoring function, a procedure can be done called "lysis of adhesions" where the adhesions are surgically cut or separated to remove pain and restore function. This link to Mount Sinai Hospital is specifically about abdominal adhesions, but you'll get the idea: http://www.mountsinai.org/patient-care/health-library/treatments-and-procedures/lysis-of-adhesions

    If you haven't already looked into it, the STAR Program certifies physical and speech therapists in the United States to rehabilitate cancer patients and survivors. See if there's a program in your area and get your oncologist/radiation oncologist/surgeon to prescribe it for you. Even if you've already gone through the program, you might benefit from another go-around. Removing/controling pain, restoring function, increasing strength and stamina, treating "chemobrain" are all goals of the program. At the homepage, in the upper right hand corner, you'll find a search function. There are many STAR Programs across the country: http://www.oncrehab.com/

    In the meantime, have you been to see a pain management specialist or does your primary prescribe the pain meds? Even if you have to pay for it yourself, seeing a specialist might be a good investment. Although they work with prescribing good pain medications for your situation, they also utilize non-medication strategies. This site explains the medicine of pain management: http://www.abpm.org/what

    All the very best luck!

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