Requesting Knowledge: Surrounding potential nerve damage from HDR Brachy treatment/One year later??

BenSam

Regular Member

Joined : Dec 2014

Posts : 185

Posted 3/7/2016 10:11 AM (GMT -5)

Hello friends @ HEALING WELL site. It has been a while since I have ventured back in for a visit. It has been approx. 13 months since I was treated using the HDR Brachy Radiation approach here in Chicago, IL. It has been an interesting journey but I am well.... mostly.

I do have one question I would like to ask my fellow travelers:

Have you ever heard of damage to surrounding nerves (Sciatica Bundle) as a result of HDR Brachy? I am wondering if my most recent bout of Sciatica can be correlated to this specific treatment. I have a physical therapist helping me with this issue and he insinuates that it could be quite possible that this is a direct result of said treatment 13 months ago? I thought that the radiation is so very targeted that this was not a likelihood? I suppose I should ask my RAD ONC. as well. Or it could of course be correlated to my ...getting older... as it happens .

Thank you for any responses and sending out wishes of good life to all.

BenSam

JNF

Veteran Member

Joined : Dec 2010

Posts : 6097

Posted 3/7/2016 11:08 AM (GMT -5)

I haven't head of that and I certainly haven't experienced it from my HDR. What does your rad-onc say?

NKinney

Veteran Member

Joined : Oct 2013

Posts : 1159

Posted 3/7/2016 11:38 AM (GMT -5)

Radiation ... the gift that keeps giving.

13 months, you say? I think generally that's a little early for the major issues to start showing up after RT...but the reality is that without a deep, deep dive into the root cause (which may not be worthwhile), you may never really know.

JFL1957

Regular Member

Joined : Jul 2014

Posts : 158

Posted 3/7/2016 11:48 AM (GMT -5)

I haven't had Brachy. So I can't speculate on that. But my sciatic nerve issues are a result of spinal stenosis and a bulging disc confirmed my an MRI of my spine and a consult with a neurologist. I used a physical therapist for a while until I realized all he was doing was coaching me on my core exercises. Something I can do on my own without paying. I also use the Teeter suspension for relief that also works. The neuro just recommended core exercises to build up the core muscles. I suspect you're experiencing some of the same. But if it's painful enough I would schedule a neuro consult and MRI on your spine to rule it out.

Tall Allen

Elite Member

Joined : Jul 2012

Posts : 10645

Posted 3/7/2016 11:57 AM (GMT -5)

No - for two reasons:
(1) The sciatic nerve is nowhere near where the HDR brachy was used.
(2) Radiation has very little effect on nerve tissue

That's why we don't ask chiropractors for advice about radiation therapy.

- Allen

InTheShop

Elite Member

Joined : Jan 2012

Posts : 11468

Posted 3/7/2016 12:27 PM (GMT -5)

It's somewhat natural that post treatment we want to blame each new pain or problem to RT. I know I have. The major thing that happens post RT is that we get older and more things go wrong.

Lately my foot has been hurting and I now have to use a CPAP machine. Of all the new problems I got at my last doctor's appointment, only one is possibly due to RT.

I've thought for awhile that being touched by PC does tend to make us more sensitive to medical problems than before we were treated.

Peace,
Andrew

Michael_T

Veteran Member

Joined : Sep 2012

Posts : 4110

Posted 3/7/2016 12:43 PM (GMT -5)

Well, I happen to have spinal stenosis that occasionally manifests itself by affecting sciatic and I also had HDR brachy. But they are two completely different issues. As Tall Allen says the nerves that press on sciatic are nowhere near the treated area for HDR brachy--if the radiation could travel that far you'd be damaging an incredible amount of organs and tissue in between.

It's highly likely that a disk is pressing on the nerve, but you'd need an MRI to diagnose that. And it's a bit disappointing that your physical therapist doesn't realize that since I'm sure he/she sees a lot of sciatic cases.

I know it hurts like crazy, so I hope the PT is helping. Good luck to you!

BenSam

Regular Member

Joined : Dec 2014

Posts : 185

Posted 3/8/2016 4:39 PM (GMT -5)

Thanks to all for the insightful responses. It is great that this home continues to be such a great source of information and a comfort as well.

Best

BenSam.....

(Come on SPRING-time)

(GO CUBBYS)

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