John Young

I have had a little bit of back pain now and again for about 6 months. Nothing bad just the odd ache. The a few weeks back it got really bad. Went to doctors and they did blood tests and one test showed Immunoglobulins A was slightly high and my M was slightly low. I had no idea what this was but after googling it seems it can be a sign of something nasty called Myeloma (Cancer)

Now the thing is I have no other symptoms like fatigue etc and my calcium levels are normal (another sign) but I am worried sick.

But another thing it could also be is a slipped disk which I would of course prefer.

Anyone on here had a slipped disk and if so what symptoms ?

coffeesnob

They should do x-rays. I have back pain it is from DDD (arthritis). Certain things will cause severe pain like snow shoveling, lifting wrong and putting my legs higher than my back like on a desk at work. Where is the pain at in your back.

John Young

Thanks for the reply..

The ache / pain is in my lower back right down low in my bum area

I also have a little numbness in a small part of my forearm and a sometimes a little weird feeling down my leg (both left side) - Arm is only a small area and leg is not all the time

Machka 

A) See a doctor already.

B) Google sciatic pain

John Young

Thank you - Yeah I have been to the doctor and been refereed to a hematologist as I have history with cancer - I had Hodgkins 20 years ago

hillyman

Well Im no doctor but sounds like what I've got, good old fashioned Spondylolisthesis. I get the numbies sometimes and have to be careful with some activities. Just have patience. Your doctor will do what he can to find your problem.

John Young

Thank you for replying

Do you have numbness in part of your arm and sometimes a weird feeling a bit like very mild pins and needles in your leg (one side only) ?

And did you ever have your bloods done and have Immunoglobulins A Raised a bit over normal ?

Sorry for all the questions just trying to ease my worry

cyclist2000

Didn't the doctor recommend a treatment regimen? I had a friend that had back pain that sounded like mine herniated disc but it ended up being a tumor.

I don't want to scare you but easing your worries when you have a doctor that has already examined you may be harmful in the long run.

hillyman

Mine mainly right side. Right foot kinda feels asleep. Sometimes an arm feels tingley in spots. Jolts of pain now and then shooting thru an arm, leg or up spine. Rest usually fixes. Avoid twisting or stooping type strain like shoveling or changing a car tire. Riding a bike has actually helped mine but I don't ride like Lance either.

hillyman

Do not overstress that area! It will feel like you've been hit in the back with a sledge hammer.

John Young

Yeah sounds similar to me its just the blood test that separates us

Riding my bike also helps (thank God) and any exercise such as walking is good

KraneXL

Back pain is like headaches: it can be caused by a million things from a bad mattress to just bad posture. The good news is that almost everyone will experience some measure of back pain at some point in their lives, and it usually goes away on it own in a day or two. Its only truly becomes an issue when it lasts longer than that or becomes chronic. Lower back pain is typically less serious than upper back pain. Sadly, I suffer from both.

hillyman

I hope nothing to bad for you and rest and doctors get you fixed up for many more years of good health

hillyman

And so common many doctors just kind of roll their eyes at it.

Bald Paul

Do not trust Dr. Google. Instead, call one of those Hollywood actors that portrays a doctor on TV.

Or, you could just let an actual, trained and certified doctor handle your diagnosis and treatment.

(Personally, I always go with Plan B)

thumpism 

Doctors can be wrong, even a mature, highly respected one. I had intermittent back pain that I suspected was the onset of a kidney stone but the guy I saw said, "Muscle spasm." It turned out to be a kidney stone, the first of several I've since had the pleasure of experiencing. Twenty years later, I've yet to experience a muscle spasm but might be willing to trade the kidney stones.

John Young

Thanks everyone I appreciate you all replying. I know I might seem to be worring for nothing and of course everyone is right about Dr Google I am just a little paranoid.

I had Stage 4 Hodghkins years back and was luck to survive it and don't want to go through anything like it again or put my family through it

Troul 

Go see a heart specialist as soon as you can. What you have stated, questioned, & altogether described are causing me to link it to a heart situation.

cyclintom

Excuse me but why would be you asking a group of cyclists instead of your doctor? And if you don't like you doctor GET A NEW ONE. I had to go through six doctors recently until a friend got me to someone that knew what he was doing.

You can bet your ass that even a totally incompetent doctor would know if your elevated levels of immunoglobulins were far enough off to be of concern. I'm 73 and started riding to help a bad back. Now my back is the best part of me. (No smart-assed comments you guys.)

Brob2

Give the guy break. I found out that I have a fatal heart condition (when left untreated) on a bike forum, and it saved my life. Oh wait, hold on a second, no, I actually went to a doctor who diagnosed it. Oops. Oh yeah, it was a doctor who told me my back problems were caused by degenerative disc disease at c3 and4 too. I don't think there's a download for a CT scan on here quite yet.

There are so many things, both benign and not so benign, that can cause back pain it would really behoove you to visit one of these medical folks you trust. My 2 cents.

Cuyuna

Huh?

John Young

I was not after a diagnosis and I am seeing a doctor in a few weeks for that I suppose I was just asking in case anyone had a similar thing after riding bikes.... Is that not what a forum is for a discussion

Troul 

wutt?

Cuyuna

Your post didn't make sense.

KraneXL

On the other hand, if you went to the doctor every time you had a cough you could end up with a very expensive medical bill. Nothing wrong with doing a little research on your own before you take more drastic measures. Of course they can, but its not simply a question of them being wrong as much as it is lack of sufficient information. Doctors make diagnosis based on the amount of information from you and their test results. None of it is fool-proof, but the more information received, the better the diagnosis will be.