Sudden onset of severe leg pain

[Tinuriel]

Yesterday my husband was strolling about the house as usual. Last night he experienced debilitating pain in his right thigh to the point he collapsed when trying to put weight on it, and then could not sleep because of the pain. He has needed a walker for even a few steps.

We visited his PCP today - Rx for a muscle relaxer which is kind of helping, but pressure on the top of the thigh causes discomfort when trying to rest. X-ray was clear. I expect the next step will be a scan of some kind.

Question: is this:

a) Somehow related to chemo? He's had 3 treatments of docetaxel.

b) Caused by the disease itself? He's had ZERO incidents of this kind of pain so far. His PSA has dropped with the chemo treatments (142 -> 57 -> 47) - wouldn't that possibly correlate to reduced tumor activity and less pain?

c) something entirely unrelated, though I can't imagine what that could be.

I value your wisdom and experience in these matters, and so respect each of you in the journeys you are on. Thanks for any help you can give.

[MateoBeach]

Was the hip and femur X-rayed. May need a CT or MRI, also to Lumbar spine if no answer found. Some hip fractures from mets can be hard to see on plain X-rays. Consult an orthopedist.

[Tinuriel in reply to MateoBeach]

Thanks for your reply! Yes the femur was x-rayed, and I'll push for a CT or MRI. I was wondering if mets would be visible in an x-ray. Hope to talk to our MO tomorrow.

[watertender]

Just a question, did they rule out a blood clot? Hopefully so, but I had this same issue and my GP said it was a pulled muscle and sent me home with muscle relaxers. Two days later I ended up in the hospital with the main vein in my leg totally blocked and then on bed rest for 3 months and coumadin for a year or so.

Probably not your situation but just in case thought I might mention it.

[Tinuriel in reply to watertender]

Oh my! Sorry you had to go through that. They pretty thoroughly explored that, but I will bring it up when we speak with his doctor tomorrow. A friend has suggested peripheral neuropathy, but even that would have some yet undetermined underlining cause.Thanks for your reply and for sharing your experience.

[j-o-h-n]

To me it sounds like cellulitis. But FYI I flunked my doctor's exam when Joannie and I were 6 years old and playing "hospital" behind the apartment building's steps.

I wonder what ever became of her?

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 12/03/2023 11:16 PM EST

[Tinuriel in reply to j-o-h-n]

Not the help I was looking for, but j-o-h-n, you are always good for putting a smile on my face!

[BoiledFrog22]

I had hip pain six months post docetaxel which showed up as a new met in a bone scan - even though PSA was less than 1. Enzalutamide seems to have things back under control. I was diagnosed at stage 4 (aged 46) and my entire sternum was a tumour and that wasn't picked up on x-ray (when everyone was assuming it was a sports injury).

[Tinuriel in reply to BoiledFrog22]

Wow, what a way to begin this journey. I wish you well.

We have an MRI scheduled today, and I fear there might be mets causing his pain - what else could it be? Thanks for writing in.