Aches & Pains 7 mos after treatments

jazzy1
jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
edited March 2014 in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
A yr ago having gone thru total hysterectomy, 6 rounds of chemo, 33 pelvic radiation, which ended August 1, '09. All tests -- blood, CAT-scans have been great thusfar. Noticing more and more achy muscles, especially after a nice walk or workout. Having a pain on/off in my right buttox which my chiropractor thinks is in sacroiliac area or could be arthritis??? I'm an avid work out gal and notice always needing lots of yoga stretches and more centralized in the sacroiliac area. Been doing some googling and see many posts about this area causing much pain and suggestings for toning down the running and hard pounding exercises, which I've been doing. Also, doing more stretches, but the proper ones.

Anyone found issues like this after their treatments? I'm especially thinking since I had radiation in pelvic area it's really dried out and on top of that, my bone density test last Feb, before treatments started showed "thinning in hip area".

I've got my 3 month checkup with oncologist in 2 weeks and he's not doing CAT-scan as I've been doing very well. Told me we'll go with the blood test and if my numbers aren't good, he'll suggest a scan. Should I call doc now and ask to do a test for pain in back area and ready for my meeting with him.....or just go on appt and then discuss my issues? He can then suggest the test or not.

Thanks for insight as I'm going back and forth and really not thinking of cancer...don't want to go there yet!

Jan

Comments

  • bots
    bots Member Posts: 53
    #2
    Aches and Pains after Seven Months Treatment
    Jan,
    Is there any possibility you might have neuropathy from the chemo? I finished my chemo last September, cutting it short because I was developing neuropathy. I have roving pains in my joints and muscles from my back to my toes--every day a different place--especially at night. My oncologist prescribed neurontin, but it really didn't do much and caused swelling in my hands and feet. I went to the orthopedic surgeon who did knee replacement surgery for me in 2007. He did some xrays and said everything looked fine. He is convinced the pain is from the neuropathy. He said marijuana works very well for it, but I am allergic to hemp, so I went to my internist. He prescribed nortriptilyne which is actually an old antidepressent, but it has been found to work well in easing chronic pain. I have only taken it for five day, but I had a pain-free night last night for the first time since I finished the chemo.
    Lori
  • livenow09
    livenow09 Member Posts: 60
    #3
    bots said:

    Aches and Pains after Seven Months Treatment
    Jan,
    Is there any possibility you might have neuropathy from the chemo? I finished my chemo last September, cutting it short because I was developing neuropathy. I have roving pains in my joints and muscles from my back to my toes--every day a different place--especially at night. My oncologist prescribed neurontin, but it really didn't do much and caused swelling in my hands and feet. I went to the orthopedic surgeon who did knee replacement surgery for me in 2007. He did some xrays and said everything looked fine. He is convinced the pain is from the neuropathy. He said marijuana works very well for it, but I am allergic to hemp, so I went to my internist. He prescribed nortriptilyne which is actually an old antidepressent, but it has been found to work well in easing chronic pain. I have only taken it for five day, but I had a pain-free night last night for the first time since I finished the chemo.
    Lori

    Aches and pains
    Aloha All
    still around an kicking; I wake up every morning and sit at the side of the bed and assess what hurts NOW; I am convinced chemo aged me 10 years and the aches and pains are partly the weakening in the body caused by the chemo combined with the aging process (62 yrs old as of 12/09); I read somewhere it takes 3 to 5 years for your body to fully recover from the trauma of cancer; my last chemo was 11/26/08; I've been for physical therapy two times so far, R shoulder and L knee; had two urinary tract infections (never had one before in my life!!); I've learned to ignore the neuropathy in my feet; Gladly found a wide toed pair of walking shoes (the Crocs just didn't provide enough long term support)which I can tolerate for about 6 hours before my feet start screaming;
    I'm working out 3 x week after complaining to the dr about hurting something every time I start an exercise program; she sent me to the physical therapist again who worked up a program for strength, endurance and much needed balance; my motivation is a trip to Europe for 21 days; gotta be ready... so I have nothing about which to complain;
    I see the oncologist on Wed 3/3 for my three month surveillance check; Xanax is a wonderful drug; I don't really think about "THE BEAST" returning until just before I have to return to the scene of the crime (gyno/onc); the body remembers the mutilation, poisoning and torture (paps); hope my wry sense of humor isn't offensive but I call it like I feel it
    Best wishes to all
    Marie
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    #4
    livenow09 said:

    Aches and pains
    Aloha All
    still around an kicking; I wake up every morning and sit at the side of the bed and assess what hurts NOW; I am convinced chemo aged me 10 years and the aches and pains are partly the weakening in the body caused by the chemo combined with the aging process (62 yrs old as of 12/09); I read somewhere it takes 3 to 5 years for your body to fully recover from the trauma of cancer; my last chemo was 11/26/08; I've been for physical therapy two times so far, R shoulder and L knee; had two urinary tract infections (never had one before in my life!!); I've learned to ignore the neuropathy in my feet; Gladly found a wide toed pair of walking shoes (the Crocs just didn't provide enough long term support)which I can tolerate for about 6 hours before my feet start screaming;
    I'm working out 3 x week after complaining to the dr about hurting something every time I start an exercise program; she sent me to the physical therapist again who worked up a program for strength, endurance and much needed balance; my motivation is a trip to Europe for 21 days; gotta be ready... so I have nothing about which to complain;
    I see the oncologist on Wed 3/3 for my three month surveillance check; Xanax is a wonderful drug; I don't really think about "THE BEAST" returning until just before I have to return to the scene of the crime (gyno/onc); the body remembers the mutilation, poisoning and torture (paps); hope my wry sense of humor isn't offensive but I call it like I feel it
    Best wishes to all
    Marie

    Oh what's another ache or pain..
    Thanks ladies for the good experience insight. Part of the disease is our minds tend to wander towards side of "oh the cancer is back" rush to doc for tests. Well...with the aches and pains I continue my alternative sides of working.....yoga, exercise 5x per week for 1 hour and eating very nutritional plus taking all my good vitamins. I would rather never take a pill, but try to work it out on my own. Just me!

    Hadn't even thought about the neuropathy and will do more research in that area. Even chiropractor mentioned could be arthritis and asked him even in area where I see more discomfort...yes!!! Test will show more inside therefore I'll know.

    Marie, 5 years before we're somewhat "normal"? Oh well I'll just learn to deal with it as each day brings new pains....very doable though! My motto -- just happy to be alive, so what's another ache & pain!!!

    When you all had particular spots with pain, did you ask doc for test? Such as MRI, Cat-scan? Or your doc told you probably due to side affects from treatments? Each doc is so different and mine doesn't like to just do tests for the heck of it.

    Best to you all,,,,
    Jan
  • Songflower
    Songflower Member Posts: 608
    #5
    jazzy1 said:

    Oh what's another ache or pain..
    Thanks ladies for the good experience insight. Part of the disease is our minds tend to wander towards side of "oh the cancer is back" rush to doc for tests. Well...with the aches and pains I continue my alternative sides of working.....yoga, exercise 5x per week for 1 hour and eating very nutritional plus taking all my good vitamins. I would rather never take a pill, but try to work it out on my own. Just me!

    Hadn't even thought about the neuropathy and will do more research in that area. Even chiropractor mentioned could be arthritis and asked him even in area where I see more discomfort...yes!!! Test will show more inside therefore I'll know.

    Marie, 5 years before we're somewhat "normal"? Oh well I'll just learn to deal with it as each day brings new pains....very doable though! My motto -- just happy to be alive, so what's another ache & pain!!!

    When you all had particular spots with pain, did you ask doc for test? Such as MRI, Cat-scan? Or your doc told you probably due to side affects from treatments? Each doc is so different and mine doesn't like to just do tests for the heck of it.

    Best to you all,,,,
    Jan

    Aches and pains
    I think this chem regimen we take does give more aches and pains. I think you have to take it slowly. You sound like you are in high gear. Sometimes backing off and changing the workout can give muscles a rest. I am convinced the taxol affects the muscles for a long time and the fibers need to time to heal and rest before they make the come back. and they will come back. I know because I took it ten years ago for breast and it did come back and I could do step. I never could run. Actually, I thought after a few years I was actually stronger. But I had to give it time. Now I have neuropathy and must make big changes in my life. But I am doing it.

    Diane
  • dan2010
    dan2010 Member Posts: 1
    #6
    Songflower said:

    Aches and pains
    I think this chem regimen we take does give more aches and pains. I think you have to take it slowly. You sound like you are in high gear. Sometimes backing off and changing the workout can give muscles a rest. I am convinced the taxol affects the muscles for a long time and the fibers need to time to heal and rest before they make the come back. and they will come back. I know because I took it ten years ago for breast and it did come back and I could do step. I never could run. Actually, I thought after a few years I was actually stronger. But I had to give it time. Now I have neuropathy and must make big changes in my life. But I am doing it.

    Diane

    Aches and pains and neuropathy
    My comments are intended for all of the respondents to this subject. I am recovering from TBI and I'm a professinal massage therapist. Before the TBI I was an engineer. My injury caused all of my muscles to become hypertoned. They kept compressing me more and more for years until I could barely breath and the pain was constant and excruciating. It took over 11 years to figure out what was going on and 5 more to begin to see a reversal of the trend. I was 54 years old with the body of an 80 year old. I now work almost almost exclusively with clients who suffer from the ubiquitous neuropathy that doctors use to explain just about anything that they don't have a clue about. It is routine for me to see clients get 10 - 20 years younger in a matter of 6 months or less. They don't like the wandering aches and pains, of course, but they love the new function that they experience and the ease of movement, etc. I am now 58 years old and my body is acting and feeling about 25 years old and getting better every day week. I still have wandering aches and pains and I'm thankful, though annoyed by them. As long as they are there I know I'm still alive.

    The fact that you all have these roaming pains is the best evidence that your body's are healing. Old disfunctional tissue always exposes muscles and nerves to tensions and movements that are new to them. They respond like they should, by changing to adapt to their new reality. You may remember the soreness that followed hard workouts when you were younger, before your body developed callouses internally to keep you from torturing it all the time. Here is what to do.

    Lighten up. Your body has a lot to deal with. Don't insist on going back to life as usual. That life was killing you.

    Hydrate, move. Hydrate, move. Hydrate, move. It is not about exercise, it is about movement and the pleasure of moving.

    Take nattokinase to help the body rid itself of damaged tissue, to improve microcirculation, and to protect yourself from the inevitable inflammation that results from the body's reaction to all of its "foreign" tissue.

    Find a good massage therapist or learn how to treat yourself.

    Choose a long slow uphill climb, enjoy the experience. It beats the heck out of a slow downhill battle with assured destruction at the bottom.

    Best of luck!
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    #7
    dan2010 said:

    Aches and pains and neuropathy
    My comments are intended for all of the respondents to this subject. I am recovering from TBI and I'm a professinal massage therapist. Before the TBI I was an engineer. My injury caused all of my muscles to become hypertoned. They kept compressing me more and more for years until I could barely breath and the pain was constant and excruciating. It took over 11 years to figure out what was going on and 5 more to begin to see a reversal of the trend. I was 54 years old with the body of an 80 year old. I now work almost almost exclusively with clients who suffer from the ubiquitous neuropathy that doctors use to explain just about anything that they don't have a clue about. It is routine for me to see clients get 10 - 20 years younger in a matter of 6 months or less. They don't like the wandering aches and pains, of course, but they love the new function that they experience and the ease of movement, etc. I am now 58 years old and my body is acting and feeling about 25 years old and getting better every day week. I still have wandering aches and pains and I'm thankful, though annoyed by them. As long as they are there I know I'm still alive.

    The fact that you all have these roaming pains is the best evidence that your body's are healing. Old disfunctional tissue always exposes muscles and nerves to tensions and movements that are new to them. They respond like they should, by changing to adapt to their new reality. You may remember the soreness that followed hard workouts when you were younger, before your body developed callouses internally to keep you from torturing it all the time. Here is what to do.

    Lighten up. Your body has a lot to deal with. Don't insist on going back to life as usual. That life was killing you.

    Hydrate, move. Hydrate, move. Hydrate, move. It is not about exercise, it is about movement and the pleasure of moving.

    Take nattokinase to help the body rid itself of damaged tissue, to improve microcirculation, and to protect yourself from the inevitable inflammation that results from the body's reaction to all of its "foreign" tissue.

    Find a good massage therapist or learn how to treat yourself.

    Choose a long slow uphill climb, enjoy the experience. It beats the heck out of a slow downhill battle with assured destruction at the bottom.

    Best of luck!

    Thanks!
    Dan, I do understand it's part of moving up the ladder past the treatments. For many of us with cancer we can't help but think -- soreness/pain = CANCER!! Know what I'm getting at now. So...had my 3-month checkup today and spoke with doctor about the pain. He didn't seem to think much, but after looking at my bone density scan last year before treatments, showed some thinning at head of my hip joint. He suggested more calcium and gave me prescription for Fosomax. Give it a try since I take vitamins and D3 and Calcium. I'm small boned and that can make it more difficult for keeping up my bones with calcium.

    After a few months if still have this and even mor intense, we'll do a scan of bones, etc. Nice to know not every pain and ache is linked to cancer.

    Working out is part of my being and having been a big runner before cancer, now I walk and/or do the machines at the gym. Yes I've toned it down a bit and it does help. Just trying to go down but still exercise and if feel better some day possibly get more into aggressive workouts. If not, I'll be happy where I am today.

    By the way I'm NED....yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Happy Tuesday..
    Jan

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