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Posted 12/13/2010 5:02 PM (GMT -5)
For 3 months now, I have been experiencing increasing deep pains in my inner right hip area.  When I had a full bone scan done two years ago, prior to prostate surgery, only thing that showed up below, was what I expected, some hot spots from some arthritis in both knees.  I have had that for years, and know what it feels like when I bend down, or if I am in a lot of damp cold weather.  The pain in my hip started out mildly, and over that period of time, is increasing on a regular basis.  It's now a sharp burning pain.  Gets worse as the day goes on, the more I stand on my feet or walk.  Ive been killing the pain when it gets bad with Advil, but been tempted at times to use some of the stock of Loratabs I still have but never use.

Like many PC guys, I wonder if this could be an early sign of some met going on.  I had quick BCR after surgery, 9 months or less, and then had the troublesome SRT.  My first reading, knocked the PSA down 25%, the 2nd one, knocked it down another 300%, but the third reading, the PSA went up 50%.  I didnt take the 4th one, as you know, I have put it off till Feb, which will make it a full six months.

I use to think that you couldnt' get or feel any mets with low numbers, but our own Sonny has already disproven that theory, with the met he has already experienced post surgery and post SRT.  Its not uncommon for a PC met to start in the inner hip area, as its located next to the prostate bed.  Though most of my reported cancer was on the left side, due  to complications, they couldn't get into the right side as they wanted to, thus why I still have function nerves on that side.

I am wondering if what I am feeling is early signs of met pain in the inner right hip.  I have had no injury ever to the area, past or present, and my most recent surgery (Sept) had no connection to the area whatsoever.

I thought of getting a scan, but not sure what it would prove, or even what kind of scan to ask for.  Probably will just wait till Feb. 28 when I get the next PSA test done, and if it is still hurting or getting worse, will say something to the doctor.

Not looking for a new problem, just hoping there isn't one going on inside.

David in SC

 

Posted 12/13/2010 5:14 PM (GMT -5)
David, I'm sure you know what referred pain is. The fact you have had no work done in that area doesn't mean that it is mets, etc. With the slicing, dicing and radiating done on you, I would be surprised if you didn't have pain in areas never touched. Besides, I would think you are early in your post-SRT results, and it would 'normally' take years for mets to develop to this painful stage. I would put my money on either referred surgery pain or back problems. I have a pinched nerve in C7 that I don't know how it got pinched and that is slowly getting worse, which results in painful nerve pain in both forearms, and no working down into my hips, so you pain can be coming from just about any place. Sadly, it's time to see the doctors again for you. confused
Posted 12/13/2010 7:05 PM (GMT -5)
David,
All the reading I have seen indicates that for a bone met to be present and causing grief the PSA would be noticably elevated. Gleason grade 3 cells leak about 4ng per CC of tumour into the bloodstream. If a persons PSA was, say 0.2 ng/mL, then about 0.05cc of tumour would be present (roughly a sphere of 4mm diameter). I suppose something this small could cause pain but my money is on the old rumatiz. I get a good bit of arthritis that seems to wander around a fair bit. One week a couple of fingers are painful, the next week it'll be my ankle. Currently the right side of my jaw is giving me grief ......... it is a real drag.
Bill
Posted 12/13/2010 7:16 PM (GMT -5)
I realize its highly unlikely, but none of you have explained how Sonny had a met in his leg bone (cant remember which bone) which showed up right after his SRT, despite having a low PSA number at the time. It showed up enough for where they treated it seperately with radiation. So it must be possible.
Posted 12/13/2010 7:21 PM (GMT -5)
David,
I hope your hip pain turns out to be like my neck and shoulder pain....unrelated to PCa. My shoulder and neck area have been fiercely hurting for 3 weeks, but 2 MRI's and several consults with a neurologist have revealed two herniated discs in the neck, and a lot of inflammation in the shoulder, but no mets.

Self diagnosis can be very misleading, and I pray that you are wrong about this. Hip pain in men our age is certainly not uncommon...the joints get a lot of wear and tear. It may be a good sign that the pain worsens as the day goes on. I'm not sure prostate related bone pain would worsen with use, whereas arthritic pain surely would.
Posted 12/13/2010 7:43 PM (GMT -5)
David, I had one pelvis met discovered by bone scan about 3 weeks ago eventhough my psa was only 1.0.  It was confirmed by a pelvic MRI.  Doc said prior to bone scan that chances of a positive scan would be less than one in a thousand if psa under 7.0 but  "we'll do the scan just in case" - well guess what, the Old Sailor hit the jackpot again. I don't have any pain and discomfort but I find it very discomforting that in less than 16 months after surgery with a clean path report and 38 IMRT sessions, I am now in metastasis. But I am a gleason 4+5 so again, a whoe new ball game.  To be honest, my head is spinning because things are moving so fast.  My advice would be to get a bone scan and hopefully it will show no pca mets.  The Old Sailor 

Posted 12/13/2010 8:25 PM (GMT -5)
David,
two weeks ago, I had pain in my left hip. I went to my ortho doctor who took x-rays and diagnosed it as a sprain. I had done a lot of walking and standing (5 hours worth). Since then the pain is gone. What you are having is probably caused by using some muscles and joints that you haven't used for a while do to your surgery. I'm hoping that it will all clear u with time.
Posted 12/13/2010 8:29 PM (GMT -5)
David,

I have had discomfort/pain in my lower back, hip area for 9 months. In June it mentally drove me so crazy I asked for a bone scan. It didn't show anything. I still have it and it still drives me crazy. It seems to shift from the right side to the left.

- Does it feel better if you take a hot bath?
- if you lay down, does it help?

Thanks,
Jerry L.
Posted 12/13/2010 8:58 PM (GMT -5)
old sailor - i feel bad for you as a gleason 9, and now a confirmed met, but your case too, shows its possible with a low number.

unless it gets much worse, i plan to wait till end of feb. when i see my dr again and have the postponed psa test.

sometimes if i get off my feet, the pain eases, and other times, even lying in bed, it will hurt all night and the hurt will still be there in the morning.

clock - i dont know if i am right or wrong, i have no concrete opinion, only reporting what i feel, all i know, is i have never had pain in that area before, so its a bit unnerving to say the least. thought i was going to be out of the pain zone for awhile.
Posted 12/14/2010 7:31 AM (GMT -5)
I have this little puppy in my right thigh:

Meralgia paresthetica

Meralgia paresthetica causes tingling, numbness or other sensations on the upper thigh. It is a type of paresthesia caused by nerve damage to one of the nerves coming from the spine to the thigh region. Most commonly it arises from nerve compression or nerve entrapment, such as exertion of the thigh, pelvis, or hip area. In such cases, it usually gradually resolves over time, with appropriate rest, taking between a few weeks to months to cure.

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/m/meralgia_paresthetica/intro.htm

One doc told me to make sure I don't wear pants that are too thight. My upper right thigh always goes to sleep when I'm in a dental chair...

Posted 12/14/2010 3:12 PM (GMT -5)
Meralgia Paresthetica is common about at the area where the pocket of your trousers sits. Diabetes, tight girdles, and overhanging abdominal fat flaps are some causes. It is self-limiting and goes away. Surgical treatment is contraindicated!!!! Time will leave you likely with only a numb spot.
Posted 12/14/2010 5:46 PM (GMT -5)
David,

I won't even entertain the question!

My hip pain is the Cialis. Must be. Except it was there long before my PCa journey started. So it is not the Cialis.

Got a few damaged and compressed disks, pinched nerves, and the like, so I'll blame it on that.

But then you get me thinking about it .....

Seeing the uro tomorrow for my check up and psa, I should ask.

hrummph! Enough of that. It is the Cialis smilewinkgrin

Posted 12/14/2010 5:59 PM (GMT -5)
well, i know its not Meralgia Paresthetica or Cialis, never have taken any ED drugs before. And this pain area, didnt exist prior to 3 months ago, and is progressively getting worse, despite Advil and rest when possible. I am still on a 10 lb weight lift limit from surgery ,so I know I didnt lift too much. Probably nothing, just hurts a lot.
Posted 12/14/2010 6:27 PM (GMT -5)
David,

With the level of pain, I would definitely look into it with your doctors. You might have some lymph node swelling from your surgery (lymphocyte sp?) that can be quite painful. We see this from time to time after prostectomy due to the number of lymph nodes in the pelvic area. With your recent surgery I wouldn't rule out this type of problem.

Just a thought.
Posted 12/14/2010 6:45 PM (GMT -5)
Purg,

I feel for you and therefore searched for and found this case study re metastatic prostate cancer pain in the right hip.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1840035/

If this helps you, great. If not, I'm sorry to have troubled you.

The first half of the article is the most relevant; you already know everything in the second half. To state the obvious - it's only a case study.

Enjoy the holiday season!

Zen9
Posted 12/14/2010 6:57 PM (GMT -5)

David, I really hope this is not a new problem...you have had your share in the past couple of years.  I'm just gonna' pray and it's something simple and goes away...

Tudpock (Jim)

Posted 12/14/2010 8:07 PM (GMT -5)
zen, that was a good lead, very interesting, thanks.

tud, as i said, not looking for anything new, am hoping 2011 will be a good year, not like the past 2

thanks les, but my RP surgery was over 2 years ago, my recent surgery was not anywhere near the hurting area, its deep inside my inner right hip
Posted 12/14/2010 11:06 PM (GMT -5)
David -

I do have a similar pain, right hip three inches out from my spine, feels like it is about two inches in. It has to do with a nerve they hit when I had a spinal block for colon surgery. It was bad the first months after that surgery - went to one specialist after another, finally went to one that figured it out. After getting used to it, I don't notice it most days, but after being on my feet all day, it hits hard.

Never did ask for the details, and the mri report is incomprehensible for me.

I would rather blame it on Cialis -

Posted 12/15/2010 12:07 AM (GMT -5)
Hi David, there could be a connection between your weight loss and hip pain.
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