The Chronic Pain Chronicles, Part 10: The GCTOB

The GCTOB (giant cell tumor of the bone) is still with me, albeit, smaller in size. The Neurosurgeon who performed the surgery retired, but I was left in good hands. My first Oncology appointment after surgery was nerve-wracking. I was given more information about the tumor and the recommended protocols for permanent removal. Radiation or chemotherapy. Making that kind of decision is like choosing the lesser evil...and I chose chemo. Since there's no case like mine that's ever been documented, I guess you can say that my drug protocol is customized for me. I'm almost positive my case will be discussed in forums and conferences as well as written about in medical journals.

It took almost 10 months for my hands to be rid of the feeling of pins and needles, but the pain in my neck and arm on the left side is reminiscent of the pain prior to surgery. My left arm is weak and painful. My trapezium spasms any time I use my left arm and the spasms are painful. My left arm appears to be part of the permanent spinal damage I was warned about. Other spinal damage includes the inability to walk normally. I don't exactly walk like I'm drunk, but my gait is not stable. No amount of muscle strengthening seems to help thus far, but I'm going to keep on trying.

The amount of chronic daily pain I experience can be debilitating. The daily chronic migraines are blinding. Knowing your triggers helps, but it doesn't prevent the migraine from occurring at all. Attempting to find joy in life is hard.


This blog isn't called "The Chronic Pain Chronicles" for nothing. Continue to Part 11.