Sciatica

[sciaticaman]

I went off ADT 9 months ago after 6 months of Elegard depot treatment following prostate radiation. I know that many of the side effects of ADT can persist months and even years after stopping Elegard (Lupron). But I seem to have developed new symptoms (breast sensitivity and sciatica) 6 months after the ADT stopped. Have others out there had this happen? Concerning sciatica, one theory is that some muscles in my back atrophied while on ADT and then I strained a muscle (piriformis muscle?) that is now putting pressure on my sciatic nerve. Regarding the late onset of breast sensitivity, I have no explanation. I guess ADT messes up one’s hormones so much that it takes time to adjust back to normal if one ever does get back to normal. Has anyone in this forum experienced late onset symptoms such as the ones I have described which started well after the Lupron was supposedly out of my body?

[Mgtd]

I can only speak from my own experience with ADT, sciatica, lower back pain and exercise. Take it for what it is and no more. Just a sample of one but there are others on this forum.

We are the same age so age is NOT an excuse. Prior to my cancer diagnosis I was going to a PT for sciatica and lower back pain. I was fairly activate and in reasonable shape. Over the last couple of years I had added 10 pounds. I keep some muscle relaxers in the house just in case I would have a relapse. Since I was having no pain I stopped doing my daily exercises for sciatica. Just got lazy.

Then came the cancer diagnosis and I decided to follow the advice on the forum. EXERCISING and DIETING. I started 4 months prior to my first Lupron and radiation treatment. I did resistance training everyday and walked about 5 to 6 miles everyday and I lost about 15 pounds. I did this thru radiation and Lupron and continue to do it now after.

The lower back pain and sciatica are gone. There was one exercise that seemed to help after I built up some muscle strength and endurance. That was hanging from a bar with my feet off the ground. Took a while but I went from 10 secs to now 1 minute. I do two to three reps now each day after I finish my resistance training. I also do a one minute plank now each AM before breakfast.

Now for the really OUTSTANDING news. Coming up on 6 months post radiation and two months post Lupron, yesterday I received my blood results for my RO visit on Thursday.

In two months my testosterone had gone from <7 to 233. Just into the lower level of normal and my PSA was still <0.01. I am optimistic and need to hear what the doctor thinks.

Exercise, diet coupled with the determination to beat this cancer has had a profound effect. Try it!

[Mgtd]

forgot to add bench press and dumb bell chest exercises eliminated my man boobs and chest sensitivity.

[jfoesq]

FYI- I developed "manboobs" shortly after ADT treatment began 11+ years ago. I went on 3 "vacations" from ADT in the first 5 years. My manboobs became very sensitive at some point (I can't recall if it was when I was on the vacations or not I just recall my MO telling me that my response was the opposite of what people with sensitive manboobs experienced. The sensitivity problem disappeared a few years ago but I can't remember exactly when (I wish the manboobs disappeared too). Interesting, my hot flashes diminished over time also. I still get them but less often and less intense.

[sciaticaman in reply to jfoesq]

Thanks for your reply. The sensitivity in my breasts seems to be diminishing even since I posted my comment a few weeks ago. The size does not seem to be increasing anymore either. In April I will have been off Eligard for one year (I was on it for only 6 months). I did not mind the hot flashes (gone many months ago), the lack of interest in sex (gone months ago), the inability to have orgasms (gone months ago), and I do not mind the boobs (at 78 years old I do not go shirtless that much anyway). What I did mind was the fatigue (gone many months ago), the joint pain (still have a little), and the muscle atrophy (slowly recovering even though I weight trained the whole time). Obviously my testosterone is coming back and my muscles are rebounding. So I am very lucky to get my testosterone back. My sciatica seems to be going away too with physical therapy. That was the worst since I felt at times that I could hardly walk. The theory that my back muscles atrophied and caused my piriformis muscle to strain and thereby put pressure on my sciatic nerve made a lot of sense to several of my doctors. The main thing is that the sciatica and joint pain is getting better. I sure hope I never have to go back on ADT again! I guess that possibility will never go away. There are a couple of guys in my support group who say that they have been on Lupron for years and have had no side effects. When they make those comments I always interject by telling them jokingly “I hate you”.