Joint Pain

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britches
britches Member Posts: 10
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
It has been 8 months since my last chemo treatment, but now and since i have been going through terrible pain in my joints and muscles and especially in my hip. I can hardly walk, I just woould like to find others that have experienced this and what there doc. did and what they are doing ... I took cytoxian and eparubison. sorry about the spelling and thanks to anyone that replys

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  • ksfc
    ksfc Member Posts: 251
    #2
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    I think residual joint pain is just part of the after-effects of chemo for a lot of us. Of course, you should definitely mention it to your onc to make sure that's all it is, but I've had to start taking arthritis meds since my chemo 2 years ago. I take Bextra. I know other survivors that take Celebrex or Vioxx and some that take stronger pain meds. I find my pain to be somewhat cyclical and wonder if it's connected with loss of estrogen or something like that. On the worst days, I have difficulty walking. My joints hurt, but my muscles also feel very tight. I'm trying gentle exercise to see if it helps. I had AC - I think that's very similar to your regimen. Diane
  • Mosis50
    Mosis50 Member Posts: 59
    #3
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    Hello britches,
    I was so glad to see your post as it sounds so much like me and I was wondering if I was doing (or not doing) something. I finished my chemo in October (AC- 4 rounds, Taxol/taxotere 4 rounds). Since I finished my joints hurt every time I try to get up or move around. It seems some better after I am up for awhile but the pain when I first get up is really bad. I told my oncologist about this at my three month checkup and he insisted it is because I was not exercising enough. I thought I was just being too lazy to exercise so I was relieved to hear that someone else is experiencing this. I hope you get better soon. I will tell my dr. again when I go back in two weeks. Maybe he will listen to me this time.
    Seems my legs and hips are worse than any other joints. I also still have some numbness (neuropathy) from the taxol/taxotere. My prayers are with you. Keep your head up and let me know if something helps. Susan
  • live42day
    live42day Member Posts: 64
    #4
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    I think Diane is right. Most I have talked to have joint pain after chemo. I assumed it was from the taxol. My oncologist gave me neurontin for the pain after he ordered another bone scan and some x-rays to rule out that my cancer had not spread. Neurontin is an anti seizure medication that helps with the residual muscle and joint pain. I am 2 yrs post chemo and I have quit taking the neurontin, but I still have days that I feel like an old woman when I get up. I quit saying anything about it to friends and co-workers when they would ask how I am, because they would say they have pains too, or that I'm not getting any younger. I'm 52. Not old enough to feel 80. I don't think people that haven't had this problem can understand. You are not alone. There are many of us out there with the same problem. Janet
  • I_will_survive
    I_will_survive Member Posts: 31
    #5
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    Its only been 6 weeks since my last chemo treatment (had 4 a/c and 4 taxotere) and I've been living off Vicadin for over 8 weeks now due to pain. I asked my oncologist about it and he said it should disappear in time (couldn't say how much time tho). He suggested I look into physical therapy and acupuncture. So that's my next step. I'm glad the Vicadin takes away most of the pain, but I can't keep taking that forever either. Most of my pain is in my arms and legs, some in my back and hands too (thankfully none in my feet).
  • jhope
    jhope Member Posts: 58
    #6
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    Hello all. Yea! At least we are all in the same boat and not crazy! I finished chemo (6 mon of "dense dose" 12x Adrimyicin, Taxol, Cytotoxin (sp?)) in November and feel exactly like others when I get up, or can't hardly lean over, etc. I though my cancer was back. Thanks for all your replys they help us all, Julia
  • Future
    Future Member Posts: 133 Member
    #7
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    I went through same treatment regime as Mosis50 and have had similar pains. I started taking gluco condroitin and it has really helped. I don't feel like an old athritic lady in the morning anymore. It's an over the counter medication.

    Just a thought

    Future
  • Future
    Future Member Posts: 133 Member
    #8
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    I went through same treatment regime as Mosis50 and have had similar pains. I started taking gluco condroitin and it has really helped. I don't feel like an old athritic lady in the morning anymore. It's an over the counter medication.

    Just a thought

    Future
  • pattyrg
    pattyrg Member Posts: 16
    #9
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    Taxotere was very hard on my joints, on top of already having osteoarthritis. Definitely tell the oncologist, and has for meds to relieve it.

    I take 2 Celebrex a day, take a lot of Tylenol ES, and have recently added 2 herbal supplements that may actually be helping. Not enough time to tell yet.

    Do not suffer more that you need to!
  • britches
    britches Member Posts: 10
    #10
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    ksfc said:

    I think residual joint pain is just part of the after-effects of chemo for a lot of us. Of course, you should definitely mention it to your onc to make sure that's all it is, but I've had to start taking arthritis meds since my chemo 2 years ago. I take Bextra. I know other survivors that take Celebrex or Vioxx and some that take stronger pain meds. I find my pain to be somewhat cyclical and wonder if it's connected with loss of estrogen or something like that. On the worst days, I have difficulty walking. My joints hurt, but my muscles also feel very tight. I'm trying gentle exercise to see if it helps. I had AC - I think that's very similar to your regimen. Diane

    thanks for replying to my question, I still have no answers from the doc. I hate this im way to young to feel this old, and i hate not having answers when i know its not in my head.lol thanks again

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