pelvic and lower back pain

[Bridget8]

hi,

I am new here. I had stage 3 cervical cancer and finished treatment in February 2023. I had radiotherapy, chemotherapy and brachytherapy.

afew days ago I was in absolute chronic pain in my lower abdomen. (Couldn’t move ans the pain was so bad)

After seeing doctor after doctor they gave me 3 days of antibiotics and said it was a type of cystitis in my bladder. (Bladder already being inflamed and irritated by radiotherapy)

On day 3 of the antibiotics and although the pain has eased I’ve got this really very dull awful ache lower pelvic area and lower back.

any advise help tips would be very welcome

Thank you x

[Jimbo65]

Hi Bridget, how horrible for you. Having gone through the treatment to then come out the other side with these issues. Sadly having UTIs is something that those of us having gone through radiation of our pelvic area are prone to. It might be you need another course of antibiotics. However in the meantime I would urge you to try and keep moving and stretching the body. Even if it's small moves in bed before you get up in the morning. Your back and pelvis have been through a lot and it needs to settle down. Maybe seek some physio that you might be able to do. I find a hot water bottle helps on the tummy and back. And I take paracetamol regularly to help get through a particular bad episode. Drinking, keeping hydrated is very important too. It's early days for you so hopefully your body will find where it can settle and feel OK. Do use the dilator regularly as that will help push things to where they need to be. Just be gentle with yourself. You'll get there. Xx

[Bridget8 in reply to Jimbo65]

Thank you so much for your reply.

I use the dilators once a week but to be honest I haven’t been consistent with it.

Thank you so much for you help advise and tips, I will give it all a try xxx

[JDKPA]

could it be adhesions causing this pain? Radiation is the main cause of adhesions and you have had plenty! Did your doctor test your urine for an infection or was he just guessing?

[JDKPA]

Not to frighten you, but will your doctor order a CT scan? Eighteen months after having the same exact treatments as you had, I started having horrendous back pain. I went all over looking for help, even to a hypnotist. I was crazed by the pain, not making sense, not advocating for myself. I got shots, tests, more shots, and other back treatments. Not one of the specialists I saw mentioned my cancer. I finally mentioned this to my oncologist, which I should have done at the beginning, and a scan showed a recurrence --- a tumor was pressing on a nerve or nerves and causing this pain.

I had immediate surgery and am still around 12 years later.

Best wishes.