Some hand holding needed please, I'm scared my DH's cancer has returned.

[Bohica]

DH has a bad back, he has had it for over 2 weeks and it is getting worse.
Even with Tramadol, Diazipam and other tablets he is in a huge amount of pain, struggling to get around and has pins and needles in his legs and arms.

He has no appetite and is generally feeling down and unwell and I'm really worried.

I'm hoping to get him refered through our private health cover and get a scan, he is due his 6 month check soon but I think he needs to be scanned /x-rayed.

He will be 5 years clear at the beginning of 2012, please come and tell me I'm over worrying and he just has a bad back due to getting old other reasons.

A bad back can have a tremendous impact on your health, there's virtually nothing you can do without needing to use it so it affects everything.

I know it is impossible not to fear the worst but bad back pain can reduce the hardiest men to tears. It could well be his back causing the problems.

It is definitely worth getting him referred ASAP. My dh struggled on for ages with a back problem and when he was seen the dr asked him why he hadn't come sooner as he had caused more damage by leaving it.

Good luck and I hope they get to the root of the problem soon.

Bohica - I've been in your position and I know how you feel. I spent 3 weeks mentally preparing for worst case senario and then it turned out that DH had a virus that gave him the same symptoms he had when he had cancer.

I hope your situation turns out to be the same

I think the problem is once someone has had cancer it is inevitable to assume every symptom is a reoccurance.

Have you voiced this concern to the Dr who has pescribed the tramadol etc?
Can you speed up the 6 month check?

The symptoms sound EXACTLY like those of my my friend who has two discs slipped out of line.

But to set your mnd at rest, of course you will want him checked out asap.

Thank you for the replies, I can't tell DH what I'm feeling as it's not fair and I'm sure he is thinking the same and that's why he is putting the referral off

His DM was diagnosed with her cancer through back pain, she died within 3 months of the diagnosis, I know he is most probably as scared as I am.

Tarquin I hope you dh is now fit and well.

Thank you Bohica - we're cautiously optomistic at the moment - his last set of scans were clear. if he has another all clear in 3 months I might allow myself to relax a bit.

It's such a bugger to live with cos as you said you're both afraid, but you can never tell the other person how scared you are because somene needs to be strong.

I do hope you have good news

i have 2 slipped disks and yes its so painfull, i was on every pain killer going and on the highest doses but i still screamed out in pain when i had to get up, i was laid up for weeks and it got worse before slowly getting better, i was on crutches for weeks after as well due to balance issues and it was all down to 2 slipped disks, i lost weight, and felt so ill and down, i was sent for an mri scan because the doctors were worried and it showed up that 2 of my disks had slipped and were pressing down on nerves, i was also given tablets that are given to amputies for the pain in my leg and they were great and really helped, i know it is very difficult not to worry and i hope everything turns out fine.

Your so right Tarquin it's always there even when the news is good news.

I worry and worry in the weeks before check ups and then the relief is there that we got an all clear and then I start worrying about the next set. We are now on 6 month checks, should be 12 month but they wern't happy with a couple of tests so decided to keep us at 6 month for now.

DH is currently hobbling up and down the hall way moaning that I'm allowed wine and he isn't!

Blu the Dr did say she thinks it may be a slipped disc but I worry that a slip disc would be the same pain not get worse as the days go on and the medication settles in iyswim.

The pins and needles and dullness around hs legs worried me to.

My sister had very similar symptoms. It was a disc. Pain did worsen before it got better and she had the pins and needles too.
Enjoy ur wine! All the best to you both.

Wolf thank you for posting, certainly makes me feel more positive reading about similar experiences, especially ones that lean away from going through cancer again.

We had an easier time than most when DH was diagnosed, quick diagnosis and surgery with minimal chemo/radiotherapy.
I think DH remained very positive and that really helped.

Still so scary though

You sound so strong. Would never associate easier with your story. Here's to many happy and healthy years together

Not sure about being strong, so wish I had found MN around that time but I some how managed without it

You do just have to get on with it really, nothing I could do to take it away and wish it wasn't DH I tried I would have taken his place in a heartbeat if given the chance.

I'd rather go through it all myself than watch him go through the pain and fear again.

My friends slipped discs are higher up - in her neck - and yes the pain has been getting worse and worse, and she has pins and needles and loss of sensation in both her arms.

It all sounds very traumatic, Bohica, no wonder you and your DH feel very unnerved.

Hopefully the pain and the worry will both be sorted out v soon.