Lower Back Pain

[Will_He]

My mom currently experiences lower/mid back pains.

She is currently in the hospital for neutropenia from chemotherapy (Herceptin + Vinorelbine). Both her hbc and wbc counts are quite low.

Does neutropenia cause back pain?

She also experiences severe side effects from taking medications containing codine and morphine. Doctors prescribed hydromorph contin but she gets very nauseous after each dosage. Tylenol extra strength does not seem to have very much effect either. Is there a pain killer that is stronger than tylenol but that doesn't have very much side effects?

Thank you in advance for the help

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

It is good to know that she is doing better.

Keep us posted on her health and let us know if you have any questions.

Regards.

[Will_He]

Update

She has finally been discharged from the hospital a few days ago and is currently doing fine thanks for the help.

The bloating feeling i think was caused by the constipation. Shes currently taking lactulose and is finally eating a healthy portion each meal. The pain apparently has gone away and has not returned, the oncologist belives it to be a long term side effect of her venorelbine treatment.

Once again thanks for the help and concern

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

You should talk to your doctor whetehr ondansetron would help with her nausea and vomiting as this is specifically used to control nausea , vomiting due to chemotherapy.

She could sleep with her head end elevated.

If her symptoms still persist, you could also take a gastroenterologist opinion.

Let us know how she is doing.

Regards.

[Will_He]

Update on situation.

Her wbc count is steadily climbing. She's given daily dosages of Gentamycin and Ceftazidine for her antibiotic treatment.

She is also experiencing nausea almost after each meal and has thrown up quite a few times. Mainly shes feels very bloated and full each time and does not eat a lot of food during meals.

Domperidone and antiacid medicines does not seem to help very much.

Do you have any recommendations on how to relieve her of some bloating and nausea?

Thank you again for the help

[Will_He]

Thanks for the help.

She was diagnosed with recurrent breast cancer. There is a small nodule on the side of her back and is decreasing in size with her treatment.

The first time she was given herceptin and vinorelbine she experienced severe back pain and was given a concoction of very strong pain killers. Ever since that treatment she has been having lower back pains.

She is currently not on any continuous medication except for the chemotherapy drugs and the occasional pain killer. Currently she also has 2 ureteral stents in place for slight hydronephrosis. However the urine did not contain any traces of blood or wbc.

Also she is currently given neupogen to boost her neutrophil count, and it is having a very good effect at the moment.

Thank you for the help

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

The backache could be due to the various medications your mother is taking, or also due to the weakness from having a weak immune system.

You could talk to your doctor about tramadol which is a very good pain relief medication.

What is her diagnosis?

Let us know about how she is doing and if you have any other doubts.

Hope this helps.

Regards.