This forum was never intended as an outlet for complaining about my cancer. I got it, I'm dealing with it, and it doesn't define me. But the conversation about that aspect of my health can't overlook other aspects of my six-decade-plus physiology that many others are dealing with themselves as well, such that I can also share my insights about them. Cancer is becoming increasingly common (even more so once you have it or know someone with it). But back pain seems to be even more pervasive. The varieties and outcomes are equally varied. The effects on so many aspects of your life are similar. The amount of medical process and treatment can be just as involved. And the stories . . . oh, the stories!
My "back issues" story is not that uncommon from so many other broke back brothers and sisters. But my spinal spiel could have had other potential origins. Besides having the cancer itself (affecting red blood cell replenishment), with multiple myeloma, the cancerous plasma cells can make my bones break down faster than usual - resulting in the quandary that existing bone is broken down sooner than new bone is made. This is referred to as bone lesions, and they can make your bones weak and break more easily. So my interest in determining the cause of my "back pain" was not just osteo-related, it was onco-related as well.
The short story is: bent over innocently to reach for something, felt a knife-stabbing in my right buttock, excruciating pain ran up and down my leg, Web MD pointed to sciatica, went for diagnosis, did some PT, had a couple of MRI's (go for the 'wide bore' MRI machine every chance that you can), and ended up in the herniated disc club (a chip seemingly popped out/off of the disc and dropped down into the adjacent nerve area - which I can convey that it hurts). My journey progressed from the initial epidural pain-relief option to the more comprehensive and surgical approach to remove the offending item and relieve the nerves of their unintended guest (I've come to learn that medical insurance companies like to see you try the less expensive approach first - in cancer and in back issues). I'm successfully on the other side now - thank you - but my tail of woe is not all that unusual, my treatment was fairly standard, and my eventual prognosis/outcome was actually fairly predictable. Once again, luck shown down on me unlike so many others - and for that I acknowledge my gratefulness and good fortune.
Life is never just about one thing. And, despite the desire to avoid all medical maladies, they can often come in waves and be varied within just one person's body. Is it the "rewards" of aging? - some of it. Is it the inevitability of being human? - that, and opposable thumbs are part of it. Is it just the way shit happens? - absolutely. So here we find ourselves once again; contending with the next thing in life that comes down the pike, and doing the best that we can to keep the wheel steady and navigate around the potholes in the road. No doubt something new, challenging and hopefully surmountable is waiting around the corner. We best keep a firm grip!
