Pins and needles in legs am I a goner?

What you're doing to yourself is probably the biggest risk to your health. Psychotherapy may help you deal with these issues, and help you worry less, and be more at peace with things as they are rather than these imaginary scenarios that you keep spinning. I found the practicing mindfulness helped me get anxiety under control. I highly recommend it.

- Allen

tony, the most common causes of sciatica have to do with lower back injuries...which we as humans are prone to because we walk upright. I've had sciatica on my right side for years--put me in a confined seat (car, airplane) for more than an hour or two and my right leg will go completely numb....and then when I move the pins and needles are agonizing.

As I recall, your PSA is fairly low. While there are rare forms of PC that metastasize rapidly with almost no PSA, those are RARE.

Do what you can to relax. As I recall, you've got an appointment coming with a urologist in a few weeks. PC very rarely goes to massive bone damage until the end stages. And, if that was you, you'd have all manner of symptoms for years.

Before you start thinking of the worst, how about confirming the cause of the problem. Did a doctor tell you the pain was caused by PC?

Follow TA's suggestion and learn to manager your anxiety and base your concern on verified facts.

The alternative view of your symptoms is that you've got a slight back problem that can be treated and isn't related to PC in any way. I've pinched nerves in my back before with the same result as you describe, not due to my PC and not fatal - just annoying.

Andrew

paper bag is OK. Plastic bags are NOT. (just kidding).

let me give you a hint: stay OFF of the internet..except for (maybe) this site. At this moment, Google is NOT your friend.

Halbert, thank you for your input....it is greatly appreciated
I shall try and wean myself off the net for a while.....
Tony

Thanks Pratoman, I'd rather not go down the anti depressant route unless I have to, although the last few days I could have probably used some. And yes, the story sounds familiar.....You find one story with a "happy ending" and then you find three where it all got *****d up. I went to the docs with the nagging back pain, which I still have and is worrying me....and although I know that advanced cancer usually shows up over the 15 psa mark, there's enough stories out there that prove differently, and I can't help but think "what if?".....I shall take the advice of the guys on here (along with yourself) and try to stop googling symptoms for a while.....
Thanks again Tony.

Hi Tony, thanks for the reply.....I've gone back to the web and looked up anxiety, and apparently it can manifest itself as sciatica....GREAT, but it also goes hand in hand with advanced PCa ....Listening for the sound of everyone here saying "Good Grief".....Guess I've just got to ride out the storm and try to relax.
Thanks again and good luck in your recovery
Tony (Fellow Italian)

Post Edited (tonyqueue) : 7/1/2016 12:42:18 AM (GMT-6)

Hi Tony,

I've had leg numbness for about 15 years and anxiety for 30 years and based on my experience it appears to me that you have received some real good advice.

My leg numbness is due to pinched nerves and deep vein thrombosis in the legs. I did suffer a pulmonary embolism and the thinking is the clot came from the legs. My point is, the numbness may be something other than PCa. If you can, get it looked at by a specialist ..... not your PCP.

It sounds to me like you may be a bit anxious, but not suffering from anxiety. (But what do I know I am not a psychiatrist). Who wouldn't be anxious if their legs are numb! Anyhow, being anxious is a good thing, to a point. It keeps you on your toes ..... but if it goes too far, get professional help from a psychiatrist. Don't let a PCP prescribe an antidepressant if you are anxious and not suffering from clinical depression. The psychiatrist may send you to a psychologist for tips/training on how to cope with your problem. These tips/training can help a lot.

Best wishes and good luck.

The part I am missing in your posts is when you saw a urologists, what tests did he do, and what did he say. That kind of spike in PSA should get a urology referral from your PCP. Mine referred me when it went from 4.0 for years to 4.35. Unless I missed something get thee to a urologist.

Shiny top Hi, sorry my post is confusing. Had a PSA test last week after an interval of 14 months. Supposed to go every 6 months but last 3 had all been stable at 3.1 and I got complacent. Was suffering a nagging back pain for about 2 months. So thought I'd better get to the doctor. Was supposed to call in for results on Monday, but got home Friday to answerphone Msg saying to ring surgery (Uh Oh)....too late so had to sweat until Monday ......turns out PSA had jumped from base 3.1 to 7.5 in 14 months.....doc did DRE found gland a bit enlarged but felt nothing unusual. Asked some questions about flow and frequency. Ordered urine and blood test for bladder and kidney infection/function....tests came back negative. So now I'm worrying over my potential diagnosis.....I have a deep seated nagging back pain, slightly numb/tingly leg pain in groin area making testicles ache which come and goes. Plus when I did the urine test there was a. Small amount of blood in urine......Could be BPH but BPH doesn't have the pain. Prostatitis has some symptoms but not the sciatica. I want to be wrong believe me but I am having a bit of a bad week....Doctor has referred me to urology dept at local hospital so should have appointment in next two weeks.....I think that I'll be a basket case by then.....thanks for your interest, if you have any other advice (other than pull yourself together😊) I'd be obliged Tony

Tony:

SO WHAT???!!!! Advanced PC would have a MUCH higher PSA.

I have yet to see anyone here with your level of PSA having symptomatic advanced PC.

In fact, there is a rare form of aggressive PC that puts out very little PSA (like below 1).

Either way, you're apparently in the clear.

We are not doctors, of course. So, follow up medically, but you are driving yourself nuts for no reason.

Anyway, good luck and keep us apprised.

Mel



Mel

Mel I am obliged to you and everybody else here who has tried to talk me down off the ledge......I have done a lot of reading here and I know there is a wealth of knowledge on this forum. What is driving me nuts is that my doc was all for referring me to a uro 2 years ago at my second test at 3.1. (I'd had one 8 years previously at age 46 of 1.2)
I think I was a bit scared of the thought of the biopsy. I was just over the edge of my age group ie 3.1 instead of the cutoff 3 so my doc agreed that i'd have the test every 6 months ( not knowing what I know now I thought that the guidelines were a hard and fast rule ie 3 was a "safe" level) I know different now and wish I'd bitten the bullet 2 years ago before this unwelcome spike. Plus I've been doing too much googling and realise that a low number can still be an aggressive nasty......I do take comfort in your and the other guys advice, I shall try to keep remembering it. I shall be sure to get in touch with more hysteria as and when😊