My S.O. was originally diagnosed with stage IIIa adenocarcinoma. He endured chemoradiatherapy, then right pneumenectomy (complete removal of entire lung). Surgery was completed Oct. 30, 08. For approximately over a month now, he's had tremendous, overbearing, intolerable neck pain. He believes it's chiropractic; however, he's visited the chiropractor 5-6 times in the past month now, & the pain doesn't seem to ease. I'm getting pretty concerned! It's been suggested by a couple docs. that if his pain persisted, he should most likely get x-rays and / or MRI. I keep telling him it's time now (for a couple weeks, I'd say!) Does anyone out there have any knowledge 'bout this, who can give input to this discussion? Is there good reason for my concern? How worried should I be? What is the possiblity-percentile that this is related to his history?
Thanks ALL!
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Neck Pain?
- By KathleenO
- Posted January 6, 2009 at 8:35 am · 10 replies
- In Non-small cell lung cancer - Stage III
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- By lisalulu
- Posted January 6, 2009 at 11:09 am
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Well I would for sure be calling his oncologist/surgeon to make sure everything is ok from the surgery..
Lisa
- By erinroro
- Posted January 6, 2009 at 11:12 am
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Get him to see his doctor(s). No one should be in pain that long. If nothing else, they can give him something for the pain.
Erin
- By loy
- Posted January 6, 2009 at 11:12 am
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I HAVE PAIN IN MY NECK AND I KNOW I HAVE CANCER IN THE LYMPNODE IN THE SUPERCAVICULAR AREA OF THE NECK. I WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE A SCAN DONE OF THAT AREA,
- By MarionW
- Posted January 6, 2009 at 5:49 pm
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I would think that they would have x-rayed and scanned that area before surgery.
He certainly should have discussed it with his oncologist and surgeon immediately.
It's possible that he was on the table for surgery in a position that damaged a nerve.
Are you saying he told his surgeon and onc and they didn't get him in and x-ray him right away?
I just don't understand how he could have gone to a chiropractor all these times and not have told his surgeon and onc. I believe All the answers will come quickly once he does this.
Sorry, I don't think I'm understanding the whole picture. Wish you well.
- By Munker
- Posted January 6, 2009 at 5:59 pm
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I had upper right lobectomy in august and had excrutiating pain in my neck too. Surgeon told me he didn't know what it was but people on this site told me it could have been position i was in during surgery. It finally subsided after 3 weeks. I think it may have been a nerve but boy was it torture..worse than the surgery pain. I have heard other people that have had similar issues but since it has been going on for a while he may want to check it out with an xray.
- By GregGriggs
- Posted January 6, 2009 at 9:43 pm
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I had a complete lung removed
I have a bad neck due to my age mostly I think he should get Ex Ray's They gave me naproxen I think it's a inflammatory thing it seem to work.
Chemo makes things hurt that would not hurt other wise.
But any thing that puts your mind at ease is the thing to do.
Greg
- By KathleenO
- Posted January 7, 2009 at 5:51 am
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Hello Everyone, and thanks so much for your responses!
My love is a veteran. Since he previously had no health insurance; but, healthcare thru the VA hospital, we started this endeavor there. At the veterans hospital, over an hour away from home, he had an oncologist, thoracic surgeon, radiation oncologist, and cardiologist (previous heart-attack patient). While preparing for lung surgery & deciding if surgery was best route, we talked to surgeon 'bout getting another opinion (oncologist was against surgery IF ENTIRE LUNG would need to be removed; but, surgeon felt surgery was best); so, surgeon immediately set up an appt. with another thoracic surgeon he knew at Beaumont Hospital. CT scan, MRI, and mediastinoscopy were all performed within the last week prior to surgery. There were no signs of metastasis. We proceeded with surgery. We encountered complications during surgery which required a cardiologist to be brought onto the "case"; so, during Mike's stay at Beaumont hospital, these were the only 2 docs. assigned to him. In the meantime, he was approved for state medical insurance; therefore, we were trying to "transfer" care to our local area. We've had a few appts. with a local family doc who prescribed pain meds with the recommendation that if pain persisted after visiting chiropractor a couple times, we should have x-rays / MRI. We've seen local pulmonogist a couple times; but, I don't believe neck pain was such a concern at the time - so, not discussed; however, that doc did have a couple x-rays done then & there in his office (of chest area), which he explained looked just fine. We had 1 appt. with local onc., which was going to start adjuvant chemo tomorrow. Upon visit with him, he also explained if neck pain persisted, x-ray / MRI wouldn't be bad idea. We then called family doc & onc this am to get some medical imaging done (we would've called pulmonary doc, too; but, he's been out of town for past week). Onc office got back with us 1st., suggesting we go to ER & tell them he wanted x-rays. Family doc got back with us to schedule appt.; but, we were at hospital when they called & left msg.
The result, after x-rays & CT scan, was ER doc informing us cancer had metastisized to neck AND other lung. FURTHERMORE, his 3rd. vertebrae in neck was broke. He consulted with onc., who said everything was manageable (??) BUT the broken neck. ER doc then consulted with local spine / bone specialist, who said Mike should be transported to Beaumont Hospital since they did the pneumonectomy. I had to leave my man there a few hours ago. Their doc brought in their spine specialist, who needed to order more testing (MRI, & PET scan was also mentioned). Their doc also explained Mike would need to be admitted for at least a couple days. Ideally, an onc. should be the admitting on this case; however, we didn't have an onc. at this hospital yet; so, I imagine that was going to be arranged.
Munker: Wow! Your "neck-story" is quite interesting to me, considering....! & a little hopeful to me, also, 'cause it's quite similar (excruciating neck pain, and it's also been previously suggested to us this may be result of surgery position(s), and Mike has repeatedly said this pain was worse than the surgery!) Did you ever have any X-rays / CT / MRI done of this?
I'll definitely look forward to hearing back from any / ALL of you(s)!
Wishing yous all much love, peace, & happiness,
Kathleen
- By Nitatx
- Posted January 7, 2009 at 9:10 am
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I agree with all the posts. In addition I would suggest stopping the Chiropractor (as such) and finding a Chiropractor that does Activation only. I had pain in shoulders, hips, neck that no one could help and found an Activator who put my body back in line and stopped the majority of the pain. It doesn't happen over night, but could feel it improving. It is great to have just the pressure points treated instead of being crunched and pulled. My heart and prayers are with your love and you. You didn't give his age, but Medicare does cover this treatment.
- By KathleenO
- Posted January 7, 2009 at 12:14 pm
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I talked to Mike this AM, after (me) only getting a couple hours sleep. Last night he was told he was scheduled for that MRI for 7 am; but, as of 9:30 am, noone had taken him for this test. He's had nothing to eat / drink since 11 am yesterday, for it's undetermined whether procedures will be performed which require NPO. We don't really know anything more than we did last night. I'm trying hard to manage my emotions. Been saying many prayers, & sure do TREMENDOUSLY appreciate prayers for us - especially a speedy recovery for Mike (a MIRACLE, if that's what it takes!) I do know God has always taken care of me. Needless to say, this is a very scary situation.
By the way, Mike is 48 years young. (Nope! Not old enough for Medicare - yet!)
- By mawoni
- Posted January 8, 2009 at 1:43 am
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Wow, you sure do have your hands (and heart) full! So many unknowns right now. So glad Mike is finally getting the attention he needs with regard to the vertebrea. Hope the chiropractor didn't make it worse.
It is so easy to get lost in the system. You'll need to get very demanding about his care. It sounds like a "too many cooks in the kitchen" situation. Try to get an oncman on board that can stay with the whole process. It's important that Mike's situation be in the hands of one point person.
Many prayers for you and Mike. . . Maw
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