What is next?

[spencoid2]

I wrote recently about hitting my sternum and being concerned that it had broken a easily suggesting osteoporosis. The pain got pretty bad especially when coughing so I went to the Er to get a scan. They dis a CT scan with and without contrast of my chest. I was surprised that they said they had previous scans to compare. Anyway the interpretation was that I have several lesions in my chest bones exactly where the pain is. No fracture so the pain is entirely from the cancer?

I have a DEXA scan on Tues. Will this show all bone cancer including the places they identified today? Does this mean I am castrate resistant or possibly just not responding to abiraterone?

When I cough the pain is severe. The nurse suggested using a pillow as a "chest splint" and this works really well. I am thinking of bringing my Steiff Lavendar Teddy with me for that purpose.

Scan info will be forwarded to MO for his interpretation.

[Shooter1]

Dexa won't show anything. It only shoots a couple of quick shots to determine bone density. An Na-F18 or Axium scan would show bone mets. Also newer scans at some larger hospitals can show even more....Best of luck. I fell last week and ribs cracked/bruised so cough and hold chest is something I am doing too. Hope my cancer isn't in frontal ribs too. Already have #10 posterior rib met.

[spencoid2 in reply to Shooter1]

I already had the DEXA scheduled to determine bone density. They must have thought I was referring to another scan because in the ER the doctor said the scan would show bone mets. I did not think so but ??? Anyway I will get bone density and if my oncologist thinks I need to do another suitable scan will do that too.

I bought an adorable French stuffed animal with the intention of giving it to my grand niece. I have decided to keep it to use as a "chest splint" for when I need to cough. I need to make a leash so the doggie will always be available.

I need to figure out how to get in and out of bed without severe pain. It is getting more and more difficult. Any tricks? I sit on the bed and in several stages get myself lying down but as the pain worsens it is becoming almost impossible to get lying down without some pretty severe pain. I have not tried the doggie splint yet.

[Shooter1 in reply to spencoid2]

Pain getting into bed, Oh yeah. Full breath before rolling on side from sitting position acct. hurts enough it's really hard to breath for a few seconds. Best of luck to you....

[spencoid2 in reply to Shooter1]

It seems to be movement of ribs in certain ways that hurt so taking a deep breath might help to stabilize things. Will try doing this before each of the moves necessary.

[Hidden in reply to spencoid2]

Sorry to hear that both of you are dealing with pain issues like this.

[Concerned-wife]

I recall reading that some men in pain like yours find it more comfortable to sleep in a recliner.

[Dachshundlove]

Hi Specoid

If the pain is where you hit yourself in the sternum, it is possible that what they are seeing on the post trauma imaging is bone bruising. My husband had a similar situation with a chest injury and I believe additional imaging studies were ordered to determine what exactly was going on.

He was also in a lot of pain and it took months to resolve.

[spencoid2 in reply to Dachshundlove]

yes the pain is right there which seemed like a coincidence. my guess is that the impact (which was not severe) might have just brought the pain to a new level. the cancer is supposedly in clavical scapula in various places and also a couple of ribs that are new.

I have no idea if tomorrows bone scan will show anything other than whether I have osteopenia or porosis.

[GAdrummer]

From resting on my side, I use my strongest leg to drop over the edge of the bed and catch the bottom of the bed frame rail with my heel and pull myself to an upright seated position on the edge of the bed in a single, sweeping, knee bending motion with the back kept stiff. I keep a dining chair handy to steady the rise to full vertical, once again using my more powerful leg muscles.

[spencoid2 in reply to GAdrummer]

sounds complicated but i think i get the idea. do you have a video

[GAdrummer in reply to spencoid2]

Not happening with my dumb phone! I caught polio from the Salk vaccine before he found out how hard he had to kill the virus. So I lost the use of some muscles and had to develop alternate methods to move.

[Rowford49]

Just a comment the enzyme which converts codeine to morphine is the same one which Is inhibited by Abiraterone, which means cocodamol is not much use for severe pain if you are taking Abiraterone.

[spencoid2 in reply to Rowford49]

no wonder the oxycodone is not doing much. what should i get to relieve pain? would oxymorphone would better since it is already morphine and does not need to be converted?

[spencoid2 in reply to Rowford49]

I just tried some oxymorphone from my husband's vast cache of pharmaceuticals. It works much better. I can cough with just very minor pain. I can even get into bed and out again with just moderate pain instead of severe.

[Rowford49]

Glad you are in less pain, incidentally codeine, tramadol and oxycodone require the same enzyme CYPD 2D6 which is inhibited by abiraterone to become active pain killers .Whereas Oxymorphone uses the enzyme CYPD 3A4 to metabolise, so will not be affected by abiraterone.

[MateoBeach in reply to Rowford49]

Good new info that I did not know. Thanks

[spencoid2 in reply to MateoBeach]

yes really good info since so many of us are on abiraterone. MO missed this when he prescribed oxycodone.