lakeswim wrote:MissMolly wrote:Lake swim:
You are commenting about newfound hip/pelvis pain following chemo radiation and wondering “What’s up?”
I was a physical therapist before chronic ill-health found me and treated many individuals following radiation therapy. Radiation has known effects on the connective tissue that comprises ligaments (anchor soft tissue to bone) and tendons (anchor one bone to another bone). Ligaments and tendons become hardened, less elastic, less pliable, sticky and tacky, and sometimes “frozen.”
Hi Lakeswim
How are you doing on W &W ? Have you had first scans since ? Hope your flu pains / radio feeling better now xxx Annie xx
Think of a normal elastic rubber band that is dynamic and easily elongates (pre-radiation) that becomes a aged remnant of parched, dry elastic pocketed with surface cracks, with little ability to elongate and that actually breaks as tension is applied.
The hip joint capsule and sacro-iliac joints are particularly vulnerable to radiation. The hip joint capsule thickens and constricts and becomes tacky, manifested as restricted joint movement for external rotation and abduction (movement away from body midline). Crossing one leg over the other will feel tightened or restricted as will sitting cross-legged. Putting on a pair of shoes can be difficult. Assuming a lunge position will feel acutely tight or restricted in the buttocks muscle.
Small micro-movements of the sacro-Iliac joints allow for ease of cloning up and down stairs, as an example. Going up an incline or climbing a series of stairs will be more discomfiting due to radiation effects on the SI joints. SI joint pain is not well localized and is oft felt as referred pain to the hip.
Gentle stretching for the hip, hip joint capsule, and SI joints can be helpful. Slow, slow and gentle stretching. You want to avoid further trauma and micro-years to the ligaments and tendons. Avoid quick, bouncy or ballistic nor movements/stretching. Consult with a personal trainer or physical therapist to help devise a home program of gentle stretches tailored to you. It can be time well invested.
Karen
Hi Karen.
I never saw this in February but seeing it now and it’s very timely! But I am probably reading it too late. My hip pain back in Feb resolved and I had been good/great achiness-wise since then. I even started Livestrong at the Y and was really coming along and feeling great! But then I came down with the flu 2.5 weeks ago. As soon as the flu hit, I started having weird sensations in my rectum and tailbone area. My Onc and Surgeon seemed to blame it on the flu (they don’t seem concerned enough to check it out — even though I’m on W&W). It got better for a day or so — but now it’s back and worse and near constant. I assume the flu inflamed something already on the edge from radiation? Also, in the days before the flu hit, I had started exercising on an erg (so maybe that aggravated that area bc you sit on your butt bones). Anyway, it’s pretty bad and I need to find someone who will take it seriously. Your post was very informative. Thank you!!