BACK PAIN

Thank You for your  words.That is what I am telling myself and my wife is also saying the same thing. 

The pain is more annoying than painful...

But I found out today this morning that my SPA from 2 weeks ago was 8.7 (down from 9.0 last April)

Doctor did a rectal exam and found nothing wrong...everything normal.  Nothing that he found alarming.

He didn't seem concerned.

But that didn't diminish much my concerns...

Have an appointment with the urologist next week...

Yes, the waiting was the really awful part. 

When I found out I had prostate cancer that was pretty bad as well.

BUT

Once the refining things down to see how bad it was, and there was a plan, everything became easier to deal with.

The problem we all have is that prostate cancer is a disease that can be treated and sometimes cured. I won't know until my treatment stops sometime in 2027 and we watch what happens.

I have a good friend who was diagnosed 4 years ago with advanced prostate cancer, which was in his bones. Not only is he still here, he is still volunteering for different day-long things 4 days a week.

The other way round is also confusing.

If we assume that you do not have PC then you have unexplained back pain. As you know, I have been blessed with both.

My back pain is diagnosed as stemming from spinal stenosis (a fancy way of saying its wearing out), which won't entirely go away and is probably going to cause flare ups.

The radiotherapy earlier this year caused one such flare up indirectly. The travelling to the appointments seemed to make the problem worse. The radiotherapy itself was a breeze.

I finished in the last two weeks of February and by 13/03 I was confined to bed. My back improved during April but I have only recently been able to walk any distance.

Moral of the story - find out what's causing the back problem, and then find a good physio or chiropractor. Do what they say, when they tell you to do it.

Once again, it is easy to recover from back injuries, much less easy to be patient enough to ensure that the recovery will be permanent.

Get the urologist to explain exactly where you are, and what will follow. You will feel better knowing what is happening. Then, get on your computer and start working out what he said.

Both PC and back problems are areas where you can become an expert patient and enter into a real partnership with those treating you.

Steve,

Thank You for telling me about your journey....

This is a very gut wretching experience... The sleepless nights and constant worry and worrying your loved ones at the same.  And not knowing exactly where one is in relation to this beast is simply maddening. 

Steve,

My wife tells me the same thing...

That I am just panicking because of the possibility of cancer. 

I never knew I was such a coward 

Appreciate your words of encouragement And your advice...