Pain and medication vacation

[godhelpus]

Hi everyone, hope you have a great weekend so far!

My dad was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer almost 2.5 years ago, Gleason score of 4+5 and intraductal in one sample ! He received radiation treatment, hormone therapy and zytiga as well as extandi for 18 months , the psa dropped to 0.01 and the oncologist recommended vacation! So it’s few months that he is off medication, his psa is around 0.03 , and has not had any type of scan since diagnosis. He recently began complaining about lower back pain ! I afraid it’s the intraductal cancer lurking around, since his psa is still low for a meaningful scan , what other options we do have to know the root cause of the discomfort in his lower back ?

[ARIES29]

Interesting Question, I am in the same situation with a PSA of 0.4 & lower back pain.Waiting for replies, but maybe it is just age?

[Andy1569 in reply to ARIES29]

I'll ask again... any reason to not use chiropractic and or massage therapy?Even the AMA is recommending either/or for low back issues-pain.

[katartizo61 in reply to Andy1569]

Absolutely a good idea. I am a patient as well as a third generation Chiro. I have vast mets and occasional pains. Try a excellent myo fascial person. Fulford Osteopathic technique is safe and effective

[Rocketman1960 in reply to Andy1569]

My chiropractor has given me back my life so many times it's not even a question for me. Just let them know of your medical conditions ahead of time and get treated.

[Tall_Allen]

He is not "on vacation," he is potentially cured. He has never been diagnosed with mets, right? So his therapy was curative, not palliative.

It is very common to attribute every pain to the cancer. It would be incredibly unusual for a met to cause pain while the PSA is being kept in check. He should see an orthopedist for the pain.

[godhelpus in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks Allen , but as far as I know There is no cure for a metastatic cancer and If you refer to my dad , yes , he had a couple of bone mets when he was diagnosed.

[Tall_Allen in reply to godhelpus]

You didn't mention bone metastases. (Metastases in lymph nodes are often curable). Were the bone metastases in the lumbar spine, sacrum, pelvis? I imagine there were few or he wouldn't have had prostate radiation. it helps if you fill in the profile with more detail.

At any rate, it would be incredibly unusual for a met to cause pain while the PSA is being kept in check. He should see an orthopedist.

[godhelpus in reply to Tall_Allen]

Yes, one in ribs, 2 more on pelvis. Thank you , your response reduced my anxiety significantly 🙏

[tango65]

Consult with orthopedics and try to get a 3T MRI of the lower spine. Most probable degenerative process causing the pain. ADT and Zytiga makes all these degenerative problems in the spine and joints worse in my personal experience.

[marc_andersun]

I have occasional “back ache” in lower spine. I can feel the pain is not in any muscle, but in the vertebrae or pad/tissue in between. I’ve been on ADT and abiraterone/zytiga for coming on four years, and in that time my height has declined 3/8ths of an inch, and my bone density in some areas via dexa scan is osteoporosis.. I attribute my pain to compression, and I take 200mg of ibuprofen when I feel it, and that takes care of it.

[E2-Guy]

Regarding pain in the lower back, I am going to post something that pretty much cured mine which I had for many years. Mine may have been from a rough lifestyle and not related to PCa...just guessing?

[London441]

There is nothing as common as low back pain in older people. The ADT (hormone therapy) is a aging accelerator. Muscle weakness, imbalance, arthritis and other spine issues, injuries, abdominal fat and aging itself all contribute at various times.

How much does he exercise and what kind?

[SteveTheJ]

I'm not sure what your oncologist is thinking. If PSA stays low, fine, but you should not discontinue ADT.

[trianfolia]

I am suffering with various pain in my upper back, hips, pelvic sometimes in thighs & calves....not sure if I should go see radiation oncologist? I've been doing immunotherapy

[j-o-h-n]

Pains here, pains there, pains everywhere.....they come with the territory.....Give your Dad my fondest regards....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 07/12/2022 7:13 PM DST

[KocoPr]

For pain i swear by 3 different herbs i use.1) I infuse st johnswort flowers in olive oil use topically. This helps repair the frayed nerve endings. There is a bunch of research on it taken internally for depression so there is plenty of info on contraindications for depression and blood thinning medicines and more. I love this stuff.

2) comfrey leaf and or root infused in olive oil made into a salve. Miraculous.

3) And this is the king of my pain relief Latuca verosa (wild lettuce). Taken internally. 7 times more powerful than morphine with absolutely 0 side effects.

I just drove around hunting it this morning and found a bunch so I will be making a bunch more.

I know these work fantastically as everyone i give these to always wants more.

John