Sciatica and scanxiety

[beth568]

Good grief. I've got an appt to see my onc at 10 am tomorrow to go over Friday's scan results and I am GOING OUT OF MY MIND. I was doing reasonably well until yesterday, and now the scanxiety is really getting to me.

I'm freaking out because I've had sciatica-like symptoms for about 3 weeks now. Numbness and pain in the back of my left leg, radiating down into my calf. At first I thought I'd just pulled a hamstring, but it's clearly more than just that - the feeling extends too far, and it's not responding to the PT that I usually do when I have a large muscle problem.

So of course, in the wee hours of the morning when I wake up because my leg hurts and can't get back to sleep, I start thinking that I've had a recurrence and that something is pressing on my sciatic nerve. It doesn't help that my post surgery/pre chemo scan in June showed a 1 cm mass of "soft tissue" in the presacral space. The radiologist said it was most likely evidence of post-surgical changes, but that there was also a slight possibility that it was a recurrence and wanted it carefully monitored.

Ugh. I know that there are plenty of other reasons my leg could be feeling this way. Perhaps it's related to my oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy (has anyone had numbness/pain radiating up into the legs with neuropathy in feet, too?). But you all know how easy it is to overthink these things and go to the worst possible place. I guess I just have to live with this for another day and remind myself that, no matter what the news is tomorrow morning, at least I'll know how to move forward.

I swear, the uncertainty and waiting has been more difficult for me than almost any aspect of treatment.

[Liz2011]

Beth, nothing I can say will take the anxiety away, but I will be thinking about you tomorrow (afternoon my time in the UK!) and sending you tons of positive thoughts for a NED scan. Liz

[tammylayne]

Aghhhh...the waiting! Can't wait for the day to come when they scan you in the doctor's office, and he/she gives you the results right there on the spot!! Ok, so it is a little Star Trekkish,,,but it WOULD be nice!

Good luck tomorrow Beth! Will be listening for that big sigh of relief....

Tammylayne

[CheeseHead]

Aghhhh...the waiting! Can't wait for the day to come when they scan you in the doctor's office, and he/she gives you the results right there on the spot!! Ok, so it is a little Star Trekkish,,,but it WOULD be nice!

Would about an hour be acceptable? That's how long it took between scan and the radiologist discussing the results with me in Paris. Still extremely impressed with these guys... (Then I went to see the surgeon, but I at least already had an idea about the situation)

Good luck tomorrow Beth! Will be listening for that big sigh of relief....

Yes, good luck, Beth!

Cheese

[Bev G]

Hi Beth:

I'm sorry about the sciatica (BTDT) and so sorry about the waiting and scanxiety. Both of them are absolutely horrible. I hope it turns out to be nothing, other than sciatica, which is awful enough on it' own. Have you ever had a disc issue, especially around, say, L4-5? I'll be looking forward to hearing from you tomorrow regarding your results, and hoping for some comfortable rest and peace for you in the meanwhile.

Love, Bev

[SkiFletch]

Well Beth, it's 11, so hoping you got good news

[Grace14]

I think she said Tuesday is her appointment!
Good luck tomorrow Beth I'm sure everything will be fine so that you can enjoy the holidays.
It's so hard no to worry I know exactly how you feel it sucks waiting!!

[hopeful]

Scanxiery is awful and I don't know much that can help with that. I worry about my husband all the time, even when there is nothing to worry about.

But maybe this will help the sciatica a little. I've had it for the last couple of months and wake up with it sometimes too. Two Ibuprofen helps some. I found this exercise which can be pretty helpful too and although lying on the floor and doing it works best, I sometimes do it in bed in the morning or when I wake up during the night. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUGikiKeuUs I hope it helps.

Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way for the scan results tomorrow.

[annalexandria]

I'm so sorry you're going through this, Beth. I'm in the same boat right now. Had my scan on Thursday and haven't gotten the results yet. I've had incredibly nasty hip pain, which of course immediately makes me think bone mets, but I did read that a number of chemos can do a lot of joint and muscle damage, so am hoping for a chemical cause for the pain. Chemo has also been implicated in the development of arthritis (wasn't there someone here who just posted recently about tailbone pain that turned out to be that?). Tossed back an Ativan this morning, and plan to walk a little later-hopefully shake off some of the scanxiety. I'll be thinking of you, and hoping for the best possible results, no cancer! Ann

[ams5796]

Beth, Scanxiety is sooo tough to go through. I'm going through it myself today. I'm meeting with my oncologist tomorrow to go over the scan I had this morning. Anyway, I still have a lot of neuropathy in my feet and I think that can radiate up the leg. It has for me. I can remember calling my oncologist a couple of years ago asking him if my sciatica was anything to worry about. He assured me that it wasn't and he was right. It went away right after that, but it really hurt. He did say at that time that my neuropathy could have something to do with the sciatica occurring. Just walking differently, balance issues etc.

Scanxiety plays such games with our heads. This time I'm worrying about why I'm not worrying more and wondering if I'm jinxing myself. haha

Good luck, Beth!

[StarGirl]

Beth:

Sciatica can be very painful--just so sorry that you are having to endure it along with the scan anxiety. I will be keeping you in my prayers. Please keep us posted.

[Deirdre]

Beth
Hope tomorrow brings only good news, on all fronts

[clarabelle64]

Hang in there Beth.....love and hugs...KIA KAHA
Clarabelle

[Jen]

Good luck with that. If it helps, I too had sciatica issues - it was after radiation and it was so painful I could barely take a step. I think it has to do with temporary radiation trauma maybe to muscles/ligaments in the area. I thought it was a recurrence for sure . Mine cleared up within a few weeks and hasn't been a problem since. I really hope for you it is just some temporary misallignment.

I did have pelvic xrays just cause I thought for sure it was something.

Jen

[thelongglass]

Hang in there, Beth! I got my results over the phone, and although the speed of information is nice, it is also problematic, because there were questions raised that now have to be volleyed off the oncologist and radiologist, so I am less than satisfied. I probably won't really know until you do, even with the phone call today.

As far as weird nerve stuff goes, you already read my description of what someone so helpfully diagnosed as Lhermitte's Sign, or the electric pulse through my legs when I nod my head. That oxaliplatin is obviously nasty stuff, so maybe it could be the cause of your trouble?

Eager to hear how it goes...