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QUESTION:
My mom broke a rib about 2 months ago while diving into the pool. She's
64 years old and a smoker.
Since then, she had pain in turn just about everywhere on her upper
body. Now the broken rib area seems fine but the pain is now moving
around in her back. She can hardly walk anymore and the pain has become
quite severe.
She's now in hospital and has had several tests run on her such as
liver,
pancreas and spleen ultrasound and tons of x-rays of her torso. All
where
negative except a spot was found on her right upper quadrant and the
doctors aren't sure if it's located in her breast or her lung. She's
supposed to have a mammogram tomorrow but the doctors found no apparent
lump in her breast. She is also scheduled for several advanced scans of
her bone structure. They are now measuring the amount of urine she puts
out I guess to see if her kidneys are okay. Her urine has no blood in
it and it smells fine it is, however, a little cloudy but the doctor
says it might be the medicine they've been giving her.
Some doctors have talked about possible bone cancer but this doesn't
seem to be supported by their findings so far. I've read that this
particular form of cancer mostly occurs among children and is rare in
older people.
We are getting no info from the doctors and are very anxious because of
the uncertainty. Could a pain that moves around in her upper body
(mostly in her back but also in her front) be caused by cancer, by a
simple slipped disk in her spine or maybe some kind of infection? If
she had a tumor, wouldn't the pain be located in one specific area?
ANSWER:
Has Mom checked into a chiropractor. Activator methods are good - if you
have a good practioner. I like cranial/sacrial people myself.
With moving pain it is likely there is moving subluxations of the torso
that is still dealing with the broken rib and diving accident. That kind
of body concussion can take 6 months to stoped bouncing though the body -
like slapping a water bed full of jello - it will rattle and roll for a
bit before it settles down.
Specific bone movements to relieve pressure on nerve joints regarding any
refered pain issues, and to "catch" the bouncing pattern to help settle it
down faster can be helpful.
Mom giving up the nicotine and addictions is a good idea.
But it dont seem you got some big worries yet.
Ice the back and refered pain areas, bed rest, massage, accupuncture even
would be helpful to settle this stuff down. But time is a big part of it
also. And just keep on - keeping on until something decisive comes in.
I just think mom is dealing with the body concussion and the slower
healing that comes with nicotine consumptions primarily - and maybe other
stuff - but that seems distant and less worrisome.
I am uncertain by reading your e-mail whether cancer has been indicated
by the doctors as a possibility. If it has, then appoint the most
verbally persistent of your family and ask, ask, ask until your doctor
gives you an answer as to what he/she has found in the test resutls to
make them suspect this.
Express how fearful the whole familly is by being kept in the dark - let
them know that this isn'tust happening to your mom, but to all of you
and that you need some answers so you can be of some help to her.
I can appreciate that waiting seems like an eternity. All I can say is
that canccer can manifest itself as individually as there are different
types of people, if indeed, it is caner that the doctors suspect.
Plese, if you are unable to get an answer, try talking to his/her chief
assistant nurse - they see more the emotional crisis that patients and
family members bear after a doctor's appointment and are usually very
receptive to emotional concerns.
You also might inquire as to wheter there is an oncology social work
department. Trained counsellors can help you become more effective in
addressing your mom's health care team.
Should you mother be diagnosed with cancer, also look for a support
group in your hospital and call local cancer help lines. There are
groups for patients and for family members.
I hope I have been of some help to you. If all else fails try another
doctor. After all, it's your mother's life you are talking about so she
deserves answers so, together, you can make the best decisions.
I have interviewed many newly-diagnosed people and thier family members
and this issue of dealing with uncertainly and trying to extract the
information you need was an often expressed problem. So, I addressed
maximizing doctor-patient relationships and living with uncetainly in
two of the audio programs I produced under advisement of an
international editorial board of cancer care experts. I can fax you
copies of the National Cancer Institute (Bethesda, MD) and Canadian
Family Physician reviews on our work, if you wish.
I don't knnow if I would have a listing for resources in your part of
Canada, but if yoiu have difficulty please don't hesitiate to e-mail and
I will go through my lists.
Until you get some concrete answers, try not to let your mind carry to
to far ahead. Take your mom out to do one of your favourite things and
take a break for it all for a while. The change of focus really helps.
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