--I am concerned about my latest MRI (12/24) report.  Last April I experienced
severe sciatic pain in lower left buttocks down back of that leg and down front
and around ankle.  I had an MRI which was ordered finally by my internist after
being bounced around between physicians, which reported either a synovial cyst
or mass.  (My onc. told me to call my neurologist and ask to see a
neurosurgeon.  My neurologist had retired and was scheduled for a neurologist
appt. 3 weeks after this happened.  I tried to get appt. sooner but was told by
on-call neurologist that 'she' didn't know me so all she could do was put me on
wait list.  Meanwhile my internist who never wants to get involved in anything
possibly cancer related referred me to the neurosurgeon.  He referred me to the
spine M.D.'s.  The spine M.D. recommended surgery to remove the cyst and rough
up the bone to prevent its return.  His partner whom we all consulted with
recommended the same.  I asked if they  could get clear margins.  I was told
that would not be possible because of its location that would most likely
result in paralysis if that were attempted.  I then asked even if it were
benign, did they ever do prophylactic chem just in case there were
micrometastases.  They told  me to ask my oncologyst.  The oncologist told me
that that was the reason he did not recommend surgery.  It was also recommended
that I just use an exercycle and give up walking for exercise.  (I had recently
gotten a treadmill).  I did for awhile but in June had the opportunity to sign
up for the Susan G. Komen 3-day breast cancer walk--and wondered if I was
completely nuts for even considering it.
I then had a second MRI in July and all was status quo.  The sciatic pain was
intermittent.  I then began walking more in July---went on vacation with my
husband where we did alot of hiking--pain and all.
In September I went on my first training walk for the 3-day, a 7-mile walk.  I
started out in agony.  I made myself continue.  The more I walked the less I
felt the pain--not sure why but thought it might have to do with the
endorphins.  I continued to train for the walk over the next few mos.  I did
the walk in November and must say by then the pain had lessened and still has.
I thought the spine dr. had said to have another MRI in 3 mos. after the last
one.  I didn't call until December--and the dr. ordered an MRI of the lumbar
and thoracic spine.
(I had also begun to have daily shoulder pain in August--and was bounced around
between physicians like a ping pong ball over that--nobody wanting to take
direct responsibility.  I finally had an MRI in October which showed increased
activity in the shoulder but the orthopedist thought the problem was in my
neck.  I had also had an MRI of the cervical spine in July and supposedly
something was going on there, too.  However, when the spine dr. ordered the
most recent MRI he only ordered it for the thoracic and lumbar spines, not the
cervical spine.  So, I called to see if I could get that done, too.  The
receptionist called me back--and said the dr. put in an order for that as well
and faxed it to facility I use for most care and where tests are done.
However, the day before MRI they said they hadn't received any fax or order.
So, on 12/24 I had the MRI done of just the lumbar and thoracic spines.  I put
a call into the receptionist last week asking about the order for the cervical
spine.  I received a call yesterday--she told me she had done it but doesn't
know why they didn't have it and did it again.  Yesterday, my facility
called--they now had the order and gave me an appt. to have it done in 2 weeks.
Meanwhile, today I got the report from the 12/24 MRI and am concerned.  I won't
go  into all of it on this post--it's long enough--but am concerned because it
states that "the previously demonstrated probably synovial cyst or other
extradural mass along the medial aspect of the left sided L4-5 facet joint
demonstrates a more heterogeneous contrast enhancement on the current study.
In addition, the borders are less well defined and there is a suggesion that
hte overall size has decreased in the interim.  The contrast enhancement is the
region of the left-sided neural foramen is also more prominent in this study.
Cause not clear."
I am not sure if that is good or bad or mixed.  My thoughts are that it is
both.  It had been previously pointed out to us that they (dr's were sure it
was a cyst rather than a malignant lesion because the borders were 'smooth.'
However, the latest report now states that 'the borders are less well defined.'
 At the same time it states that the 'overall size has decreased in the
interim' which sounds good.
My take--is that it wasn't a cyst but a mass.  I forgot to mention that in
October the dosage of Celebrex I was on was increased to 800 mg/day--the
highest 'safe' dosage--and the level recommended for anti-tumor activity (at
least for those who have colon cancer---which, as far as I know, I don't
have--but that level is also thought to be helpful for other tumor types).
Anyway, my thoughts are that that may have helped reduce the size of this mass
or whatever it is.   I am a bit uneasy about what may be going on.