Back pain 4 months post-chemo

[jlorich]

I finished 3xBEP October 3rd after stage 1S TC (no visible tumors but persistant elevated AFP/HCG post orchiectomy). October 11th I had a CT matching my initial pre-I/O one (2 non-specific nodes, but no change in them over time or through chemo), and clean blood work Oct 3, and December 5th . Everything seemed to have been going well (minus some worsening nerve issues which are just latent chemo side effects), but recently I've developed lower back pain and it's freaking me out. I guess I'm really just looking for people to tell me I'm crazy. I'm know it's probably just a pulled muscle or something unrelated, but recurrence is always a possibility and the pain is on the same side as my TC and those nonspecific nodes.

Anyway I'm going out of town until next Monday and if it still hurts by then I guess I'll make an appointment. I don't know if pain like this is even possibly a symptom of recurrence, especially with clean markers only a month and a half ago, but it's got my stomach in knots. My doctor has even yelled at my before for being overly paranoid about every little ache and pain, but I just can't get past this one. Can anyone who had TC associated back pain describe what/where they felt it?

[a.d.]

Back pain plus fear of recurrence is a common complaint here. Lower back pain is of course a possible symptom of TC metastasis, but it must be seen in the context of the full clinical picture. In order to cause serious pain, a tumor has to grow to a certain size, often at least 10 cm or so. But sometimes smaller tumors pop up in strategic locations and cause some pain. A 1 cm lymph node, however, will most probably not have such an effect. In your case, then, it's very unlikely that something big enough has grown. Your tumor expresses markers, so at the last blood draw, there can't have been much in the way of metastasis. A large growth since then is so unlikely that I'd stop worrying about it now (it also depends on your initial pathology: seminoma grows slowly, non-seminoma can have a faster rate of growth; but probably still not that fast).I know, though, how difficult getting your mind off the fear is. I have had lots of back pain since my I/O, and it always gets worse before surveillance appointments. The mind-body connection just works like that.

[SouthFlorida]

I have very bad back pain, ( I have 2 herniated disks in my lower back from an auto accident) it had just been a problem before the whole TC thing when I lifted something heavy now it is chronic and I can barely get out of bed in the morning, it has been a big problem since I started my 4XEP.. I got a script for 30mg oxycodone (or 8mg diluadid) every 4 hours and that solved the back pain prob, ask your oncologist dont settle for the Dr. to start off with percocet or 2mg diluadid as they didnt work for me.. get a script for something that will work!! also I am taking 1mg XANAX 4X a day that believe it or not helps with the pain meds I dont know how it does it but somehow the doctor said they go hand and hand and he was right!!
Feel free to PM me and ill explain further!

[TGlover]

I found that after chemo your body is naturally weak and sometimes your muscles arent what they were, i would consider visiting a physio and building up the muscles to what they were pre-chemo.

It can also be sciatica.

[Cariad]

I too have some back pain.

Before I was diagnosed, I was on a flight, a long flight (24 hours) from London to Sydney via Korea and my tailbone was killing me, I fly a lot and this doesn't usually happen. Few days later I was diagnosed and had my I/O but my tailbone is still slightly sore and it freaks me out but my CT scans and bloods were all clear, so I am hoping it is nothing serious and just poor timing to get some back issues.