I've been on Eligard and abiraterone+prednisone for slightly more than a year, out of a planned 2 years. I had 44 sessions of proton beam therapy ending 4/7/23. My PSA has been undetectable since early in my ADT regimen, and remained so as recently as 2 weeks ago.
I began to have low back pain, sometimes extending to my hips and glutes, but no further, around 6 weeks ago. I work out with a personal trainer 2x per week, and he varies my routine greatly, so injury is a possible cause, along with the decrease in muscle mass due to ADT, and the increased belly fat I've replaced it with. (My weight remains fairly stable, but it's definitely distributed differently!)
My primary care doc ordered xrays (which showed typical age-related degeneration of my spine) and PT, which appears to have accomplished little or nothing in a month. I have an appointment with an orthopedist (spine specialist) next week. Just wondering if any of my PCa brothers have had similar experience?
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Atdabeach
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Nothing is more common than low back pain in older adults, as I’m sure you know. While there are various possible causes, your ADT induced sarcopenia is likely to blame. Less musculature is carrying more fat, and your body doesn’t like it.
See your spine specialist sure. However, I would also increase the frequency and intensity of exercise, both cardiovascular and resistance, while restricting calories. Add yoga or at least some full body stretching. Simple, not easy I know. But ADT slows metabolism and accelerates aging in a singular way that is unmatched, and for most guys it requires considerable extra effort to thrive on it.
There are many origins of symptom producing mechanisms. I would seek a Functional Medicine provider and coordinate some comprehensive fascial work. I am one and with frequent care have little or no back pain except when my medication is changed
Also have you had a Dexa Scan? I’ve had chronic periodic lower back pain for half my life so never dreamed I might have gotten osteopenia (weakened bone density) in the lumbar region while on ADT. Now I’m trying to be more careful about getting enough diet Calcium, Protein, and a more targeted exercise regimen.
I started getting some relief after about 6-8 weeks of PT stretching and strengthening, and just 30mg of duloxetine. I would continue PT, which is good for everyone going forward, and hopefully you will start to see results. Good luck.
I’ve been on adt now for 7 years. Mets in my hip and spine. Yes to answer your question. I have weakness in my lower back and pain in my hip when sitting very long. I have a 7 pound dog and carrying her in front of me gets old real quick.
Hi Atdabeach, I've had lower back problems for ages and last year spent 3 months in bed due to a fire incident in my room 3rd degree burns on my feet soles. When I got up felt like my legs and my trunk were two different enities, could hardly hold straight. Came across McGill in you tube the best lower back specialist and a set of exercises The McGill three that are amazing and quite simple to execute and after three weeks I felt better than before my accident. I have kept them up at least four times a week ever since and my back pain is a thing of the past
I have a PDF not sure how can I send it to you, but in YOUTUBE there are a number of videos of Dr McGill and also a description of the exercises, it takes aprox 10 minutes to perform and gives you relief immediatelly.
McGill is Professor Emeritus of Waterloo University in Ontario I think it is
Rick, thanks so much for introducing me to Dr. McGill! I ordered his book Back Mechanic, and am about halfway through it. Very straightforward and common sense. My back pain progressed to terrible sciatica, probably because my PT was making me do exactly the wrong things. Waiting for an MRI now, while reading McGill book!
Even before PC, I was osteopenic with a couple of stress fractures from horseback riding. There was very little pain associated with this, and perhaps it would have been better had there been, as I might have been more proactive. After Proton Therapy, the usual ADT regimen caused bone loss, loss in height, and multiple fractures. So to get to the pain - last year, the pain was so bad I couldn't get out of or into bed without crying out. It was sudden and powerful. Eventually, I learned how to move just right. Hydrocodone acetaminophen and Tizanidine helped and after a month or more. I was not too fond of the fuzzy feeling the meds gave me, and I was told to stay away from my daily glass of wine. So I gradually stopped taking both meds. I tried medical cannabis and, again, didn't like being detached from the world, even a painful one. PT was a big help, and I try to keep up the at-home exercises. I walk with a cane in a bent-over condition, but I walk, and the pain has subsided to aches if I don't overdo it. I am extremely busy with volunteer work on environmental issues. I wake up every morning anxious to get started with the to-do list. Thinking about other things gives me little time to think about myself. I'm not sure if this helps you any, but reading these blogs has been strangely reassuring to me though I only read occasionally. Best wishes
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