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Posted 1/18/2015 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
I've talked with a radiation oncologist and a surgeon. So I'm continuing to look at treatment options. As I've posted before...my lower back pain, thigh and leg pain and weakness led me to tell my pcp I wanted a bone scan. This came back with a spot on my sternum that was ruled out for cancer with a CT scan. (Most here for casted this).

I cannot bring myself to commit to a treatment without a definitive diagnosis of what's causing my pain. Sooo...i told my pcp to order an MRI of my lower spine. They called Thursday and said I had compression of the L4 Nerve and the Neurosurgeon wants to see me on the 27th of Jan. Now I'm a total wreck. My fear is that the one biopsy I've had has missed the worst of it and that it is now in my spine. I'm going to my pcp tomorrow to see the MRI report. (They won't read it to me over the phone and I can't wait till the 27th not knowing what's on it)

Anyway...I'll hopefully know more tomorrow. I LOL know you guys (or at least some of you guys) think me crazy. (I think my doctors think I'm crazy)

Well...that means I am crazy. But...still scared to death the biopsy missed the worst of it and it's in my spine.

I really don't know why I'm posting this...it's gonna be what it's gonna be and it is what is is. Lol...that knowledge helps LOL a little...lol..A VERY little!

Anyway...
Bone scan...nothing mentioned in spine
Abdominal scan...nothing mentioned in spine.
MRI...There "something" in there causin this.

Maybe I read to much. Stranger things have happened...or so I've read.

Crazy LOL Dave!

Also...I've found a psa report from 2010 showing 3.9. I've been carrying this fear along time. That's what's kept me from doin a biopsy until now. They law....

My pcp sees me every other day lol.

Appointment set for the 29th with Dr. Han @ JH.
Thinking surgery if all is well though oncologist said pellets is a good choice as well. He said it's "my call"

Anyway...lots of typing...
Posted 1/18/2015 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
Did I mention my upper spine between my shoulder blades hurt now ?????
Posted 1/18/2015 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
David, don't you just hate when they say it's your call?
As you know, I'm not one of the guys that thinks your crazy.
I would call your PCP tomorrow, he probably knows your neurosis , and tell him to put pressure on the neurosurgeon to get you in sooner.

Me telling you it's probably not Cancer related , will be useless, knowing your mindset. But it's probably not Cancer related. . Seriously, you are projecting assumptions with no basis in fact.

When does your mindfulness class start?
Posted 1/18/2015 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Prat...

Appointment with pcp in the morning. (He'll have a copy of that MRI report) Mindfulness on the 20th.

Fired my G/F over this. And i even liked her. Lol
Posted 1/18/2015 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
David, do some research on a the causes of spine compression,,there are more reasons (fixable) than Cancer. I've got confirmed mets to spine and have done some reading.

Cheers, Doug
Posted 1/18/2015 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
@ Doug. Thanks man. But I may be "read out". My PCP will have the report when I see him @ 8 am. He knows my "proclivities"....
Posted 1/18/2015 7:22 PM (GMT 0)

Shaba.Doug said...
David, do some research on a the causes of spine compression,,there are more reasons (fixable) than Cancer. I've got confirmed mets to spine and have done some reading.

Cheers, Doug

I'm not reading anything encouraging. MRI tends to show spinal tumors better than ct/bone scans says the JH website.
Posted 1/18/2015 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
But I think it will also show inflammation from compressed nerves.
Posted 1/18/2015 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
And other things Prato, you're right. David I'm guessing you mentioned tumors in your search string so you will see tumors in your results. You would be the first G6 I have ever heard of with bone mets. My guess is the compression is caused by something else, even an old trauma.

Cheers, Doug
Posted 1/18/2015 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
@ Doug...i injured a disk 20 some odd years ago and it's flared up a couple of times. Maybe I've done something that's made it really angry this time. It's never affected me way before. And...i agree..G6 with lol "this level of mets"?? That would have to be one wrong biopsy!! One would have to believe that if it were mets to "this degree" there should be enough of it in one's prostate to catch it. (I hope) It doesn't sound....well....sound.

@Ken...MRI's do show nerves better, I believe.

Post Edited (island time) : 1/18/2015 1:13:06 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/18/2015 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
David I just looked at one my scans, it states "mild C6-C7 degenerative disc disease.... partial fusion blah, blah, blah". However they are quite specific regarding the mets. Just try not to worry, Buddy.

Cheers, Doug
Posted 1/18/2015 8:32 PM (GMT 0)

Shaba.Doug said...
David I just looked at one my scans, it states "mild C6-C7 degenerative disc disease.... partial fusion blah, blah, blah". However they are quite specific regarding the mets. Just try not to worry, Buddy.

Cheers, Doug

Doug? Thank you for looking that up for me. Theres comfort in just knowing that you did that for me. Thanks. :)

53 degrees here. Putting on a heated jacket and heading out for a motorcycle ride. :)
Posted 1/18/2015 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
I have spinal stenosis, which is arthritic-type condition in which the vertebrae "knuckles" compress your nerves. I have the condition from S1 up through L4. I'm not saying that's what you have, of course. But I know a lot of middle-aged guys get stenosis (I'm 54) and not very many middle-aged guys have bone mets. (Let alone a G6 and low PSA.)

I do think you need to figure out what is causing your pain. (I have had a lot of relief with physical therapy and a NSAID that I take most days.) As a G6 you have a ton of time before deciding on a treatment option so this would be a good use of that time, if only for your own peace of mind.

BTW, back pain really, really sucks.
Posted 1/18/2015 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
@M_T. Thanks for the perspective. And the much needed giggle too.

I think alot of this is the difference between how a large research cancer center does business VS. how medicine is practiced in urban areas (ie E. TN). JH would be doing all of this ... leaving no stone unturned in a couple of days. As little left to chance as humanly possible, basing every decision on as much hard evidence as possible...so as to not mess up their studies.

Here? Dr's tend to just "go with the odds". No hard record keeping done.

Obviously. ..I'm a "hard data" kind a guy. Lol
Thanks man

Ps...my bike ride did me a world of good. It's the first "me" thing I've done since my diagnosis.

Post Edited (island time) : 1/18/2015 5:12:51 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/19/2015 6:57 AM (GMT 0)
What kinda bike? Tell me it's a hog. We've ridden through HT chemo and good days and bad. A little sunshine and the problems go away. Keep on riding!
Posted 1/19/2015 12:07 PM (GMT 0)
I think alot of this is the difference between how a large research cancer center does business VS. how medicine is practiced in urban areas (ie E. TN). JH would be doing all of this ... leaving no stone unturned in a couple of days. As little left to chance as humanly possible, basing every decision on as much hard evidence as possible...so as to not mess up their studies. (Island Time)

This is also my experience. There is a crossover that happens, whereby you lose the personal touch, as it were, and move into impersonal technical medicine as you move from the small town/rural environment into a major medical center. The idea of needing a map and a guide to find your way around a hospital is a strange thought to those of us in towns where the hospital has ONE elevator bank.

IT, I get your perspective. My nearly automatic response on dx was, "I have to get down to Barnes"...and is also the automatic response that just about everyone I've told about it. For big issues, you need 'big medicine'. The constraints then are about geography.
Posted 1/19/2015 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
Dave,

Like Michael_T: I have sever spinal stenosis in my spine. The past three years, been having CONSTANT SEVER pain in my lower back, right hip and at times down my lower right leg. The past three years, I've had several MRI's, a few nerve blocks and Cancer has been ruled out. To no avail, the blocks haven't worked. A couple months ago, I went to my third pain management doctors and he started me on Oxycontin 10MG extended twice a day. I'm feeling 90% better and when I lift something heavy or on my feet for extended hours, I have to take a break through pain pill. Not saying this is your problem, but better this than pain from cancer!!

Hoping all goes well this morning.

Dave in Bartlett, TN
Posted 1/19/2015 5:28 PM (GMT 0)

Pratoman said...
David, don't you just hate when they say it's your call?

I hate that!! When they say that I'm thinking to myself..."Look buddy, I'm not paying for you to only be a mechanic here. I'd like to hear a little judgement on your part as a doctor!! Lots a people can "hold a knife". It's your judgment and opinions based on your experience that matters here!!!" :)

@EVERYONE: disc dehydration and moderate to severe disc height. Moderate to severe compromise of L4 nerve blah blah blah. English version...there's been trauma to the disc at some point in its life. Probably from a motorcycle wreck 40 years ago. Rest of spine fine.

Sooo..lol...no cancer. Just lol add one more surgery to the list:! (I'll take it):) It's a simple surgery and the only fix

@ celebrate life: Of course it's a HOG. I like metal and internal combustion engines with explosions of gas and air...not plastic with a sewing machine for an "engine"
:) :) and yes...it certainly clears the head.

Post Edited (island time) : 1/19/2015 10:51:17 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/19/2015 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
Of course it's a HOG! OF COURSE!

I got back in the saddle this fall as well - GFMPH -

www.harley-davidson.com/content/dam/h-d/images/motorcycles/my14/dyna/low-rider/14-hd-low-rider-bs-1.jpg

yeah
Posted 1/20/2015 1:52 AM (GMT 0)

A Yooper said...
Of course it's a HOG! OF COURSE!

I got back in the saddle this fall as well - GFMPH -

www.harley-davidson.com/content/dam/h-d/images/motorcycles/my14/dyna/low-rider/14-hd-low-rider-bs-1.jpg

yeah

aaah. Black n chrome. (Same here) I love it. And what a great backdrop for a pic!! Black ultra glide here but miss my heritage softail. A man really needs two. ;)

Makes me wanna head out now.
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