Has chemo affected anyone’s spine?

[Sashay2020]

I’ve had hip pain for years. I finished front-line chemo in early November. A couple of weeks ago, I began doing a mile walk in a nearby park (22 minute mile, nothing taxing) and I would alternate days doing 20 minutes (lowest resistance) on my elliptical machine. I did that for about a week. Now I have developed a very painful lower back. I hate to pester my oncologist. Recent PET scan did not show problems in back. Not sure 🤔 if I should check with him or an orthopedist. Has anyone had a similar experience? Thanks.

Sashay

[SUE7777]

Could be weak muscles if you haven't been walking much lately but I'm not an expert. Sue xx

[Sashay2020 in reply to SUE7777]

Thanks for responding, Sue. I’m sure my muscles are weak because I was sedentary throughout chemo. Trying to build myself back up. 🙂Sashay

[SUE7777 in reply to Sashay2020]

Take care and don't over do it. I hurt my hip after our first Lockdown trying to build my muscles up and it took a long time to get better. Stay safe Sue xx

[Sashay2020 in reply to SUE7777]

Thanks, Sue. I will go a bit slower 🙂

[Iside]

Hi, Having had 2 successful hip replacements, my pain or discomfort always started in the groin never the back. Maybe you have strained yourself even though you were careful? I would def., check. By the way what is a Pet scan, we tend to either have CT scans or MRI in UK.? Hope you find out the reasons & please let us know? All the best Iside

[Lizzieanne in reply to Iside]

I have PET scans as my recurrence wouldnt show up on a CT scan. It is unusual but I have an unusual spread in my sternum. You are slightly radioactive after. I am in the UK. My husband also has PET scans.

[Sashay2020 in reply to Iside]

Thanks, Iside. With the PET scan, I was injected with a radioactive tracer that contains a form of glucose. Rapidly dividing cancer cells suck this up more quickly than normal cells. After an hour, a scanner is used to show the areas where your body has taken up more of the tracer, however I recently learned that a PET scan is not always definitive. In my case, after the PET scan, doctor says still need biopsy to be sure whether lung nodules are malignant. It could be cancer or inflammation. I was radioactive for a while after PET scan and was advised to avoid pregnant women for a day or two. With CT scans and X-rays, the radiation is aimed at the body to get an image. I’m just frustrated because I want to rebuild muscle while I am off chemo or cancer meds. I’ll get it sorted. Thanks again for responding. Sashay

[Iside in reply to Sashay2020]

Hi Sashay,Thankyou for your explanation which was very clear. With the CT scan I too have a dye injected to show up the different areas. I am more than happy with the treatment and after 2 years am now today on 08 of 18 weekly Paclitaxel chemos, hair lost again, but feeling good!!! Long may it last but I take it a week at a time & compartmentalise. That way I don’t feeel so overwhelmed. I Have had many setbacks but with this philosophy it keeps me trotting along. Sending you positivity & courage, Iside X

[Sashay2020 in reply to Iside]

Thanks, Iside. I’m glad you are staying positive. It’s very important! Sashay

[Hidden]

Hi. I suffered too with back/hip pain after my Hysterectomy/Chemo three years ago. As I had not had this level of pain/difficulty prior I thought it was cancer or chemo related. I explored the cause with doctors and went through many tests that did not find anything exceptionally wrong (mild arthritis in spine, but nothing to cause the kind of pain I was having). So frustrating to have pain and limited mobility with no reasons as to why. Doctors would advise to walk more, to lose weight or to just "take it easy" - none of which helped. Some even prescribed arthritis tablets to ease the pain. (Didn't work - stopped them).

After a few years of trying different things, I spent 12 weeks (2X week) with a physical therapist who told me that the pain was the result of the hysterectomy. The operation (traditional, not laproscopic) cuts through muscle and quite a bit of it. As the surgeon sews us back together, the muscles are not always aligned as they once were and thus, when we return to our normal activity (which is generally a long time after surgery as most of us go through Chemo thereafter for 18 weeks or so), the muscles are no longer aligned to fully support our movements. It seemed counterintuitive to me, how could a cut on the front of my body, hurt my back/hips so much - but I tried it anyway. Through a series of stretches, muscle building and alignment exercises, he was able to reduce my pain by about 75% - what a change that made in my daily life. I still have some occasional pain when doing long walks, etc. but nothing like before. It might be worth looking into. Best wishes and I do hope you are pain free soon.

[Sashay2020 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for sharing your experience with me, SassySusan. I sure had not thought about the hysterectomy having such consequences. I have been helped in the past by physical therapists, but am concerned about going for therapy with the COVID situation. I’m going to look into doing some yoga at home. When COVID is under control, I’m going for a nice long massage! 🙂Sashay

[DouglasPouch]

Hi Sashay, I have had had lower back pain since and just before my diagnosis (3C OC) so before I had 'debulking' surgery. It has got worse over time. I am/was otherwise fit and well so it's a bit of a mystery but one theory is that it is cancer pressing on nerves in the groin/near the spine that are causing it. I take pain killers to keep on top of it and now Im trying Pregabalin too which I think is helping. This may not apply to you if you dont have cancer in those places but thought Id mention it as I think oncologists are rubbish at dealing with back pain! Jane x

[Sashay2020 in reply to DouglasPouch]

Thanks so much, Jane. I had wondered if it could be something degenerative (I’m 69). I had ruled out the possibility of a new tumor, because of recent PET scan results. I must say, I don’t have a lot of faith in CT scans, because the one I had before debulking missed so much. So your mention of a tumor in the area is well taken. If my back has not settled down after New Year’s holiday, I will email my oncologist. I have to see a new pulmonologist next month (instead of the one that has treated my asthma for years). The new lady handles cancer care. My oncologist wants me to have a lung needle biopsy. Because I have had cough variant asthma (and other non-cancer lung conditions) most of my adult life, I am leery of a procedure that requires me to lay flat for at least thirty minutes, not cough, and hold my breath when directed to do so. I have had daily coughing spasms for years which are uncontrolled. I guess I just want to deal with one issue at a time so I won’t feel so overwhelmed. But I know that some of us have to deal with more than one cancer site, so I will try my to make the best, informed decisions that I can. Thanks again for responding. I’m very appreciative. Best Christmas and holiday wishes from Louisiana,

Sashay

[delia2]

Hi Sashay. After frontline and still two years later I have hip pain caused by tight back muscles. I went to PT after frontline and it was really helpful. I sought out a person who had a lot of experience with cancer patients. I think I needed compassion as much as physical training. Are you familiar with the piriformis muscle? Stretches for that might help. Also some YMCAs have a program for cancer survivors to get back in shape. Happy holidays!

[Sashay2020 in reply to delia2]

Thanks Delia. I used to weight train years ago. Still have my weight bench and dumbbells, so I am familiar with the piriformis. I usually have a small amount of prednisone on hand because of asthma. I took 20 milligrams yesterday and back is better. I’ll taper off in a few days. A good PT is worth his or her weight in gold. I’m just too afraid to go to PT right now due to COVID, but I will check on YouTube for exercises that I can do at home. Thank you again for your suggestions. 🙂Best Christmas and holiday wishes from Louisiana,

Sashay

[Ruebacelle]

Maybe too fast to get into a workout routine? In meantime phys therapy?

[Sashay2020 in reply to Ruebacelle]

I think I went slowly. I started at level one for ten minutes on my elliptical and increased the time by two minutes every second day until I reached 22 minutes. I constantly monitor my heart rate and kept it the low end of my target range. Usually exercise makes me feel better. I’m going to find some safe stretched and floor exercises on YouTube. With a new more easily transmissible strain of COVID on the loose, I’m avoiding PT locations until after I’m vaccinated. Maybe longer because the vaccine may not trigger a full antibody response with my bloods still a bit low. I sure appreciate your suggestion. 🙂Best Christmas and holiday wishes from Louisiana,

Sashay

[Ruebacelle in reply to Sashay2020]

Well i sure do miss nola crayfish etouffee jazz fest...all the best

[Sashay2020 in reply to Ruebacelle]

I hope you return. My étouffée is pretty good. 😄

[Nadie2018]

Hi Sashay. I walk a lot too and my sacral spine has been hurting quite a bit. It’s been very persistent and I haven’t been able to fix it with stretching, heat, epsomSalt baths, CBG cream and rolling on a tennis ball. My Acupuncturist, thank goodness, found a tight area in my obliques and was able to release it by needling it. I iced it afterwards. What a relief!! . I wonder if, bc of weak abs since my debulking, this occurs. I hope this helps. I can finally sleep.

Best wishes and Happy Christmas.

Nadie

[Sashay2020 in reply to Nadie2018]

Thank you, Nadie. The prednisone I started on, interestingly enough, has helped my low back, but barely touched my hips. Weird, because it has helped my hips in the past. I have never tried acupuncture, but it may be time to give it a go. I think my insurance covers it. I was at the first grocery this morning at 7:00 am foraging for Christmas dinner side dishes for my daughter, who has bubbled with me for months) and me because I neglected to preorder anything for Christmas dinner. Too pooped to cook a lot this year. After three more grocery stores, I returned home, put things in the fridge, noshed a bit and went back to bed. Slept for hours. Just woke up. Well, got some strength back and going to do some kitchen prep. Thanks so much for responding, Nadie!Best Christmas and holiday wishes from Louisiana,

Sashay

[Nadie2018]

It’s all connected...sacral spine, hips (mine are tight too). Best of luck.