spinal pain after breast cancer treatment

[moonnbeamm]

I had breast cancer and was treated and am 3 years out.  With no estrogen in my body, I am noticing pain in my spine especially in my hips, lower back and knees.  I believe this is artritist as a result of no estrogen because I had none of this before. Some kind of very low dose of estrogen or use of estrogen creme should be allowed to stop this pain.  I know the doctors say NO ESTROGEN as the cancer will return.  Well it may return on its own and I do not like to take this pain medication. What research says that we women must go totally against what God put into us? We are all still guinie pigs in this treatment or so it seems to me and I really get tired of having to think constantly about this cancer.  Positive thinking and no stress works wonders and all I want is a little help but NO PAIN meds. Cancer treatment is BIG BUSINESS and I truly think we have a cure and it needs to be brought out and so shut down this BIG BUSINESS.  Herceptin was suppose to cost $40,000 for a year and my insurance was hit for $2400/week.  That is a whole lot more than the cost.  I guess the poor just must die and so must the middle class.  Well I have vented my thoughts on you.  Sorry if I hit a nerve.


This discussion is related to After Effects of Chemotherapy Question.

[moonnbeamm]

please remove my question.
moonnbeamm

[mamaboulet]

Lack of estrogen does not cause arthritis, and the osteoporosis connection has also proved dubious. The pain in your joints could be due to any number of things having nothing to do with estrogen.

[piatr]

I have chronic neuropathic pain as well as chronic back pain that I know darn well is from the chemo its like lightening running from my feet up my legs at night most nights and back pain 24/7. Am on a 25ng/q72 hr Duragesic patch and ultram daily which has given me some relief. The problem I had at first was actually finding a pain management doctor who knew anything about this. Also suffered for about a year with what is known as Chemobrain an wasn't able to do my job as a nurse due to poor memory and concentration. The things we are Not told....Am a 2 time breast Ca survivor, twice in the period of 3 years, very aggressive form of Ca.My maintenance med Arimadex was also prohibitively expensive and had to get right through the manufacturer, after getting paperwork from my oncologist, however they only sent 6 months worth then told me that I should have had a whole years worth so now need to follow up since they are denying the med.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

You could have the pain in your spine due to various reasons other than the one you mention.

This could be a side effect of the medications you are taking, it could be due to spondylitis and it could also be due to some metastasis.

All these need to be ruled out with proper investigations.

You should consult your oncologist and also a bone and joint specialist.

You would need to get a bone scan and some blood tests done too.

Talk to your doctor if you need pain releif medications, calcium and vitamin supplements.

Let us know if you ahve any other doubts and post us about how you are doing.

Regards.