RITUXAN AND PAIN

Hello folks:

I have always had a problem with low back pain.  Started Rituxan in 2012.  In 2013 I developed pain in knees, hips and back.  Eventually I am going to a physical therapist.  Anyone had pain problems from Rituxan???

Nancy

 

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Comments

  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    R pain

    Nancy,

      I do not think I kave had any pain related to R. The only pain I can remember having is after my BMB and that was in my left hip. There were several people that used to post and they said the same thing. We are all different so I am sure the R affects us all in different ways. I lucked out on any pain related to R as far as I can remember. John

  • Shoopy
    Shoopy Member Posts: 210
    Back pain

    Nancy,

    I have experienced (moderate) lower back pain but it has been related to the Neulasta shot (or as I call it...the LueNasty shot).  I received 2 doses of R with R-CHOP and 3 doses of R with R-DHAC in the last 4 months.  Don't know if that helps.

    Karl

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,803 Member
    Rituxan Discussions

    Nancy,

    Rituxan is one of the most heavily discussed topic at this Lymphoma site.  If you go to the Topic Thread titled "Rituxan Only," the last 20 or so replies all relate to various Rituxan side-effects, etc.  Several older threads are similiar: mostly Rituxan questions and replies .   It is a little ironic, since Rituxan is used a lot for arthritis, but yes, Rituxan very frequently causes significant pain in a lot of patients.  It caused pain for me .  This link has an overview of the drug :

    http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/Rituxan.aspx

    I did physical therapy for a year (in 1987), learning to walk again after being crushed in an auto accident (18 fractures, ripped off knee cap, warped chest cavity, displaced sternum, two collapsed discs), so I know the great value of seeing a P.T.  

    I hope P.T. helps you also,

     

    max

    .

     

  • Yes!

    I was beginning to think I was the only one. I have severe leg, knee and shoulder pain from my Rituxan only therapy. Maybe its something else but it certainly has gotten worse the two years I have been on rituxan.

  • Rocquie
    Rocquie Member Posts: 868 Member
    Nancy

    Nope, no pain here. I feel achy and flu-like for about 72 hours after my Rituxan treatment, but not anything I would call pain. I'm sorry you are experiencing pain and hope you find relief with PT. Does a hot bath and heating pad help?

    (((Hugs)))

    Rocquie

     

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289
    COBRA666 said:

    R pain

    Nancy,

      I do not think I kave had any pain related to R. The only pain I can remember having is after my BMB and that was in my left hip. There were several people that used to post and they said the same thing. We are all different so I am sure the R affects us all in different ways. I lucked out on any pain related to R as far as I can remember. John

    R Pain

    John:

     

    Yes, that Bone Marrow Biopsy I had was painful too.  If there is a "next time," I will opt for anesthesia.

    Nancy

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289
    Shoopy said:

    Back pain

    Nancy,

    I have experienced (moderate) lower back pain but it has been related to the Neulasta shot (or as I call it...the LueNasty shot).  I received 2 doses of R with R-CHOP and 3 doses of R with R-DHAC in the last 4 months.  Don't know if that helps.

    Karl

    R Pain

    Thanks for your comment, Karl.  I have had only Rituxan, so who knows.  You have had a "mixed bag" of stuff.  I will need to get out the cancer dictionary, if there is such a thing.

    Nancy

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289
    unknown said:

    Yes!

    I was beginning to think I was the only one. I have severe leg, knee and shoulder pain from my Rituxan only therapy. Maybe its something else but it certainly has gotten worse the two years I have been on rituxan.

    YES!!

    GKH:

    I have had low back pain and some arthritis.   But it has gotten worse after taking Rituxan for about one year.  I am in the second year.  Think I am going to a physical therapist.  Now the pain is also in hips and knees.  I was blaming it on the fact that I am not a "spring chicken" or "spring duck."  If all goes well, I think my last infusions will be in November and then I will have periodic checkups.  We will see.

    Nancy

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289
    Rocquie said:

    Nancy

    Nope, no pain here. I feel achy and flu-like for about 72 hours after my Rituxan treatment, but not anything I would call pain. I'm sorry you are experiencing pain and hope you find relief with PT. Does a hot bath and heating pad help?

    (((Hugs)))

    Rocquie

     

    Rituxan

    Hello Rocquie:

    I think I will try a PT.  I know a hot shower helps for awhile.  Maybe I will buy a heating pad.  Always afraid I will go up in smoke with those pads, but I bet they feel great.  Just remembered:  I have an old hot water bottle in the closet.

    Thanks for your note.

  • Shoopy
    Shoopy Member Posts: 210
    NANCYL1 said:

    R Pain

    Thanks for your comment, Karl.  I have had only Rituxan, so who knows.  You have had a "mixed bag" of stuff.  I will need to get out the cancer dictionary, if there is such a thing.

    Nancy

    Dictionary

    Nancy,

    Here's a link to a great website that I use to help with the abbreviations, etc: http://www.lymphomation.org/

    Someone here passed it on to me and I found it useful.

    Karl

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289
    Shoopy said:

    Dictionary

    Nancy,

    Here's a link to a great website that I use to help with the abbreviations, etc: http://www.lymphomation.org/

    Someone here passed it on to me and I found it useful.

    Karl

    ABBREVIATIONS

    Karl:

    Thanks for the great website you sent me!  Smile   Appears to be very comprehensive.  Thanks much.

    FUBAR,

    Nancy

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289

    Rituxan Discussions

    Nancy,

    Rituxan is one of the most heavily discussed topic at this Lymphoma site.  If you go to the Topic Thread titled "Rituxan Only," the last 20 or so replies all relate to various Rituxan side-effects, etc.  Several older threads are similiar: mostly Rituxan questions and replies .   It is a little ironic, since Rituxan is used a lot for arthritis, but yes, Rituxan very frequently causes significant pain in a lot of patients.  It caused pain for me .  This link has an overview of the drug :

    http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/Rituxan.aspx

    I did physical therapy for a year (in 1987), learning to walk again after being crushed in an auto accident (18 fractures, ripped off knee cap, warped chest cavity, displaced sternum, two collapsed discs), so I know the great value of seeing a P.T.  

    I hope P.T. helps you also,

     

    max

    .

     

    Rituxan pain

    Max:

    My goodness, I hope you are now OK after that terrible accident.

    Thanks for the info and the link.  I will check them out.  It really is ironic that Rituxan is used for arthritis pain.  I have always had some, and I have noticed that it disappears for a few days when having infusions.

    Nancy

  • anliperez915
    anliperez915 Member Posts: 770
    Hi Nancy

    Hi Nancy,

    I also have pain in the areas that you mention especially in my hip/lower back area. Not sure if I can blame Rituxan since even before treatment I was already in pain. It did get better for a couple of months but it has returned. I'm due for a CT this Friday so we'll see how things are going. I did the exact treatment that you are in, hope you're doing good! ^_^ 

    take care

    Sincerely,

    Liz

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289

    Hi Nancy

    Hi Nancy,

    I also have pain in the areas that you mention especially in my hip/lower back area. Not sure if I can blame Rituxan since even before treatment I was already in pain. It did get better for a couple of months but it has returned. I'm due for a CT this Friday so we'll see how things are going. I did the exact treatment that you are in, hope you're doing good! ^_^ 

    take care

    Sincerely,

    Liz

    RITUXAN

    Hello Liz:

     

     

    I am going to try a trip to a physical therapist, I think.  I had a PT Scan recently which was ok.  Good luck on your CT-Scan this Friday. 

    Hope you are doing well, too.

    Nancy

     

  • twbrans
    twbrans Member Posts: 1
    Rituxan

    Hi all,

    It was great to find this website and find out about experiences with Rituxan.  I have been getting infusions for the last year and a half for the treatment of RA.

    A week after my last infusion I developed sever (read terrible) pain in my knees,  At this point I can hardly walk.  Will this go away?  I can't help but think that this is an anomly after having it worked so well in my previous treatments.  Has anyone else had this problem?   Since I'm a guy I think that this is just a minor thing and will go away.  Will it?

    Any thoughts?

     

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289
    twbrans said:

    Rituxan

    Hi all,

    It was great to find this website and find out about experiences with Rituxan.  I have been getting infusions for the last year and a half for the treatment of RA.

    A week after my last infusion I developed sever (read terrible) pain in my knees,  At this point I can hardly walk.  Will this go away?  I can't help but think that this is an anomly after having it worked so well in my previous treatments.  Has anyone else had this problem?   Since I'm a guy I think that this is just a minor thing and will go away.  Will it?

    Any thoughts?

     

    RITUXAN

    Hello twbrans:

    What is RA?  A form of arthritis?  I have had Rituxan since May, 2012 for Lymphoma.   When having infusions, my back pain goes away.

    Maybe someone on this board will have some thoughts on your situation.

    Nancy

  • Pain

    I had what had been diagnosed as sacriliac pain for years. It went away almost immediately when I started Rituxan and hasn't been a problem since. Unfortunately it was replaced by leg pains.

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289
    unknown said:

    Pain

    I had what had been diagnosed as sacriliac pain for years. It went away almost immediately when I started Rituxan and hasn't been a problem since. Unfortunately it was replaced by leg pains.

    RITUXAN

    GKH:

    How weird:  Replaced by leg pains.   I am beginning to think I cannot blame Rituxan.  After an infusion, the pain goes away for a few days and then returns.   I need an M.D. plus physical therapist, which I have been putting off.

     

    Nancy,

  • NANCYL1 said:

    RITUXAN

    GKH:

    How weird:  Replaced by leg pains.   I am beginning to think I cannot blame Rituxan.  After an infusion, the pain goes away for a few days and then returns.   I need an M.D. plus physical therapist, which I have been putting off.

     

    Nancy,

    Its hard to say.......

    ....... What is cancer, what is Rituxan and what is just something unrelated. However my pain is very real. Medicine seems to look for the most usual circumstances. However the way I see it not everybody wins the lottery but if one disbelieves every person who says they won then they will be wrong on occasion.

    i am surprised how different your and my therapies are. The onc called mine the "european protocol". 8 weekly infusions followed by 1 infusion every 8 weeks for 2 years. Its probably because I did not have the chemo first. My Rituxan ends Jan 28. It will be interesting to see what happens with the leg pains after it stops. I suspect some sort of nerve damage.

    good luck!

  • Mary N.
    Mary N. Member Posts: 100
    unknown said:

    Its hard to say.......

    ....... What is cancer, what is Rituxan and what is just something unrelated. However my pain is very real. Medicine seems to look for the most usual circumstances. However the way I see it not everybody wins the lottery but if one disbelieves every person who says they won then they will be wrong on occasion.

    i am surprised how different your and my therapies are. The onc called mine the "european protocol". 8 weekly infusions followed by 1 infusion every 8 weeks for 2 years. Its probably because I did not have the chemo first. My Rituxan ends Jan 28. It will be interesting to see what happens with the leg pains after it stops. I suspect some sort of nerve damage.

    good luck!

    Rituxan

    I've been having rutixan for about the last three years.  Together with High Dose MTX.  I sometimes have pain and I sometimes don't.  I like someone else really have no pain for a few days and then sometimes my leg pain or other ones creep in.  Truthfully, my very dry eyes are more difficult to deal with and I'm not sure where they come from.