living with joint pain long after chemo (WHY)

Rachael1970

colldoll said:

Joint pains
This is so interesting. My 11 year old son had chemo for stage 3b rhabdomyosarcoma alveolar for 2 years and radiation for 6 weeks. He was on vincristine, iphosphamide, cyclophosphamide, etopside, actinomycin and adriamycin. He has been cancer free for exactly 5 years. Woo Hoo! However he still gets really horrible muscle cramps. He is very active but feels very sore regularly. Each time I mention this, the doctors say the drugs are out of his system now. So why does he still get them so often?

joint pain
Hi everyone!
I was diagnosed in 2004 with non-hodgkins lymphoma and went through 6 rounds of CHOP and it still didn't resolve the large node in my chest cavity plus CHOP affected my heart function that i wasn't able to continue that. I then received 2 rounds of ICE which still didn't help. in 2005 i underwent a stem-cell transplant and luckily i was able to use a research drug and was able to use my own stem cells. I am coming up on my 6th birthday and within the last 5-6 months I have noticed an increase in joint pain, mainly elbows but sometimes knees. I shrugged it off as arthritis and possibly rheumatoid. all my lab work came back normal for inflammation factor and all rheumatoid. The pain has now gotten so bad I would seriously think of cutting my ars off above the elbows just so I wouldn't be in pain anymore. The pain is getting worse and now starting to feel like the bone pain i felt during treatment. I have found out that this is a bad side effect and there are so many different types of treatment so my oncologist has referred me to a rheuatoidologist so we will see how that goes. the pain is awful. it feels like there is something inside the joint with a fist full of muscles and ligaments and twisting it then letting it go. after investigations the only thing i have found out is is that it is due from the chemo affecting the tissues and fluid within the joints. As soon as i see a rheumatoid specialist i will definately post their recommendations

Rachael1970

triciagold said:

Joint pain after chemo
I, too, am suffering pain after chemo that ended 10 months ago.It is also a problem in my fingers and shoulders. My heel and hips were especially bad. I have been diagnosed with tendonitis in a couple of places and burcitis in my hips and arthritis in my fingers and shoulders. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was coming up on needing my second hip replacement. I was 50 years old. I had arthritis going in to this treatment in my hips and spine but never in my fingers or shoulders. That said, I suffered 0 arthritis pain while being treated with chemo. Probably due to the large quantities of steroids pushed through each chemo day. After treatment, pain was soooo bad. I have tried physical therapy, motrin therapy and steroids. All helped while I was taking them. I, now, am following the advice of Dr. Andrew Weil (On-line). He has an anti-inflammatory' diet. It is helping some. My fingers and shoulders are back to normal after a couple of days. My bursitis is gone and my heel feels better. I gave up sugar in the way of candy, ice cream, marshmallows and white rice,bread,sugar. I have been a heavy sugar eater. I have also increased the food and teas that he has recommended. I don't think anything is wrong with my knee joints but the tendons above my knee caps have been a problem too. I have had some relief with this diet, I am hoping for more as time goes on. I'll post again if I get ahead of all of this with my new diet. I have found some of this 'anti-inflammarory' diet on Livestrong as well. I have read ehough to think that the pain may not come from the chemo but as a reaction to the massive amounts of steroids we are put on while being treated. Maybe they need to take us off of those more slowly.

joint pain
Hi Tricia,

I was having increased joint pain for the last 5 months and i thought it was just arthritis so i pushed it off until it was gettig so severe i had to walk for hours to wear myself out so I could fall asleep. My oncologist thought i was nuts so i was sent to rheumatoid eventhough all lab work came back normal. I saw him today and explained the severe pain to where if it went on any longer i would amputate both my arms above the elbows because the elbows were so painful. after his exam he told me i have "restless arm syndrome", exactly like restless leg. the restless elbow he said is from anemia and i am severe anemic. I was shocked. so i am on requip now and will start tonight. i thought it was very interesting and wanted to share

Rachael

lizalv

Joint Pain long after Chemo
My cancer was non hodgkins B cell lymphoma. All lymph glands throughout my body. I originally had (6) treatments of Vincristine, Cytoxan and Rituxan.

My last chemo treatments were in September of 2011. My oncologist has scheduled me for rituxan once every other month for the next two years as a maintenance program.

I too have developed joint, muscle and what feels like bone pain everywhere. In my hands, fingers, lower back, legs, knees etc.

I'm making my doctors crazy, as they all have no explanation for my symptoms. I am schduled for an emg with a nuerologist next month. I am sorry to hear you too are experiencing these symptoms. I will let you know if any explanation comes my way. Thank you for sharing.
lizalv

lizalv

Rachael1970 said:

joint pain
Hi Tricia,

I was having increased joint pain for the last 5 months and i thought it was just arthritis so i pushed it off until it was gettig so severe i had to walk for hours to wear myself out so I could fall asleep. My oncologist thought i was nuts so i was sent to rheumatoid eventhough all lab work came back normal. I saw him today and explained the severe pain to where if it went on any longer i would amputate both my arms above the elbows because the elbows were so painful. after his exam he told me i have "restless arm syndrome", exactly like restless leg. the restless elbow he said is from anemia and i am severe anemic. I was shocked. so i am on requip now and will start tonight. i thought it was very interesting and wanted to share

Rachael

Joint pain
Yes, this was interesting. thank you for sharing. Have you had any relief?

lizalv

lizalv

Rachael1970 said:

joint pain
Hi everyone!
I was diagnosed in 2004 with non-hodgkins lymphoma and went through 6 rounds of CHOP and it still didn't resolve the large node in my chest cavity plus CHOP affected my heart function that i wasn't able to continue that. I then received 2 rounds of ICE which still didn't help. in 2005 i underwent a stem-cell transplant and luckily i was able to use a research drug and was able to use my own stem cells. I am coming up on my 6th birthday and within the last 5-6 months I have noticed an increase in joint pain, mainly elbows but sometimes knees. I shrugged it off as arthritis and possibly rheumatoid. all my lab work came back normal for inflammation factor and all rheumatoid. The pain has now gotten so bad I would seriously think of cutting my ars off above the elbows just so I wouldn't be in pain anymore. The pain is getting worse and now starting to feel like the bone pain i felt during treatment. I have found out that this is a bad side effect and there are so many different types of treatment so my oncologist has referred me to a rheuatoidologist so we will see how that goes. the pain is awful. it feels like there is something inside the joint with a fist full of muscles and ligaments and twisting it then letting it go. after investigations the only thing i have found out is is that it is due from the chemo affecting the tissues and fluid within the joints. As soon as i see a rheumatoid specialist i will definately post their recommendations

Joint Pain after Chemo
Your explanation is exactly what I am experiencing. My doctors too looked at me at if I was making this stuff up. Thank you, please keep in touch.

Kay5

lizalv said:

Joint Pain long after Chemo
My cancer was non hodgkins B cell lymphoma. All lymph glands throughout my body. I originally had (6) treatments of Vincristine, Cytoxan and Rituxan.

My last chemo treatments were in September of 2011. My oncologist has scheduled me for rituxan once every other month for the next two years as a maintenance program.

I too have developed joint, muscle and what feels like bone pain everywhere. In my hands, fingers, lower back, legs, knees etc.

I'm making my doctors crazy, as they all have no explanation for my symptoms. I am schduled for an emg with a nuerologist next month. I am sorry to hear you too are experiencing these symptoms. I will let you know if any explanation comes my way. Thank you for sharing.
lizalv

Joint & Muscle Pain Continues
Lizalv,

How was your appointment? My doctors still tell me that the chemo should be out of my system. They can not explain why I feel this way.
I have been exercising with a trainer and I have changed my diet but I have found very little relief.

Kay5

jazzy1

Kay5 said:

Joint & Muscle Pain Continues
Lizalv,

How was your appointment? My doctors still tell me that the chemo should be out of my system. They can not explain why I feel this way.
I have been exercising with a trainer and I have changed my diet but I have found very little relief.

Kay5

Auto immune disease?
Something like this which entails arthritis and fibromylegia? All have lots of joint pain which sounds like what you're experiencing.

I had lower pelvic radiation (external) for uterine cancer and 6 months after treatments ended, started with pain in hip/lower back. Oncologist told me not cancer see your PCP. This has been on/off pain, so I can deal with it. See a chiropractor who has done no xrays, and his thinking sciatic issues which most likely means nerve damage. Radiation really fries the joints, bones and nerves which in end, cause pain.

It's a maze out there in the medical community, just never know what doc to go with first. I'll start with PCP for some scan and go from there...

Best luck to you all...
Jan

colzee

Kay5 said:

Joint & Muscle Pain Continues
Lizalv,

How was your appointment? My doctors still tell me that the chemo should be out of my system. They can not explain why I feel this way.
I have been exercising with a trainer and I have changed my diet but I have found very little relief.

Kay5

joint pain
I have been reading all these posts about achy joints & muscles. I did chemo & had 4 surgeries & was thrown into menopause. I feel like an old lady somedays because I get so stiff. I have been using a natural supplement called Hyaluronic Acid which restores the synovial fluids in your joints & it is a miracle worker! When I run out & go for a week or two without it, I become "crunchy" and stiff again. I go to a local health food store & they are sooo helpful. They asked me if I felt like the Tinman & that was exactly how I felt. They recommended the Hyaluronic Acid & it has worked incredibly. It can be found at Vitamin world & I think Gnc too. I hope this helps some of you Survivors out there!

DWS49

colzee said:

joint pain
I have been reading all these posts about achy joints & muscles. I did chemo & had 4 surgeries & was thrown into menopause. I feel like an old lady somedays because I get so stiff. I have been using a natural supplement called Hyaluronic Acid which restores the synovial fluids in your joints & it is a miracle worker! When I run out & go for a week or two without it, I become "crunchy" and stiff again. I go to a local health food store & they are sooo helpful. They asked me if I felt like the Tinman & that was exactly how I felt. They recommended the Hyaluronic Acid & it has worked incredibly. It can be found at Vitamin world & I think Gnc too. I hope this helps some of you Survivors out there!

Fatigue,muscle and joint aches & short term memory loss
I had Non-Hodgkins Follicular and Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma diagnosed in 2002. After six months of CHOP and Rituxan therapy I have been cancer free since. But I have had steadily worsening fatigue, muscle and joint pain and my short term memory is so bad, I need to write everything down, and then I forget to look at what I wrote.

I have had high dodes of Prednisone (sp) because of lung problems for a number of years. This led to joint deteriation so bad I had necrosis of the hip joints. I had them replaced. I fell after the second replacement and shattered my femur. Now after three months in bed or a wheelchair, I can walk with a cane or, for short distances, with no assistance. But the body pain is getting worse. I have exercise class twice a week for people over 50, I'm 63 now.

I wish somehting can be done about the body pain. Anyone have any ideas? I have tried Lyrica (edema limits me to one a day), ibuprofen (had to quite becaus of stomach problems, and I have an implanted pain pump. I also take Oxycodone 10 mg orally once a day.

DWS49

Body aches and pain after Chemo ten years ago
As I previously mentioned, I have had increasing body aches and pains since my R-CHOP treatments in 2002. Just recently, my blood test showed a deminished amount of vitamin D.
I have taken vitamin D supplements (2000 IU, or 50 mcg) every day for two weeks. It has helped some in lowering my body aches. FYI

lch

joint pain
I just finished chemo in March 2012 and I'm having incredible knee pain. It spreads to my muscle too. Trying to work out now is an issue as I am concerned about worsening the issue. I will try working out after reading what's shown here. Sometimes icing the pain can bring blood to the area to work out the issue.

Natural meds that might help: Glucosamine (if you are a man stay away from chondroitin as it may cause prostate cancer, though this has not been proven yet); glucosamine is already in your joints and if taken helps with cartilage damage

Also, Vitamin D is amazing for bone health. It helps treat several bone concerns as well as boosting the immune system. Most of us with cancer are probably not getting enough vitamin D from the sun so a little boost could help.

If you don't like meds, try finding vegetarian versions of the pills...or just work out as mentioned. Both meds are pretty natural if you buy the right one.

Any good therapy workout that builds strength in joints while working out will help not increase the pain and make the pain leave.

I hope this works for me! Glad I looked up the pain I was having. The doctors think my joint and liver pain was there before chemo. That should tell you something.

dloven1

pain
how long did it last?

afschrieffer

dloven1 said:

pain
how long did it last?

pain after treatment
i have been suffering from joint, bone pain, nerve pain in my hands and feet. sometimes i swell very badly in my feet. at times the pain is so terrible i can't walk. i have brittle bones as well. i have broken both my wrists and had to have surgery to fix them and i don't know where all the pain is coming from. please help i need help.

Ryu

dloven1 said:

pain
how long did it last?

pain a cancer indicator or consequence of treatment? or both?
Hello and hope you all a speedy recovery!!!!

I have a gut feeling that the pathology of cancer as well as its treatment both independently trigger some of autoimmune symptoms that we all seem to be experiencing...yes? no? yes? no?

For years I had a lower back pain that disappeared as soon as they removed my sigmoid with an obstructing adenocarcenoma late march this year... And I am grateful to the surgical team for actually saving my life- sincerely..

But now, 3 months- after only two chemo sessions (2x 42 hour infusions folfox/ oxaliplatin) that I stopped due to painful side effects; at 49 years of age I also hobble around with painful sticky joints in hands and feet coupled with weak muscles.. have interrupted sleep due to painful shoulders,hips and legs feet and hands.. and experience chronic fatigue after the most basic activities. Swimming by contrast and anything water related is magic.. the pain comes back, but with a reasonable delay...

And then theres the bloating.. Like never before in my life...in under 3 months my wt has increased by 33.069339 pounds... arrrrrrrrgh..
I walk everywhere, run up steep hills, cycle if I can.., etc... especially since my resection.. But I can no longer do push ups or any of the stuff I did before the rheumatoid symptoms set in.. And I'm sure the weight exacerbates the pain.. I have some edema as well..

As for the whys and what was that about!!!?????? and how... my experience with medics- friends and those who treat me..like other professions... they are too frazzled by their load.. More importantly, they're trained to adhere to procedural protocol learned or dictated by drug developers. So they cut the cancer out, fry the cells with toxins or radiation or both et c'est tout. New symptoms? new drugs.. which unfurls a cascade of other symptoms no???

My question is.. do post cancer treatment/ chemo symptoms persist chronically or are they temporary?? I suppose time will tell????

Ryu

ron50 said:

G'day all
I'm sort of in the catergory of bluerose but not so far down the track. I have just finished year 13 ex stage3c colon ca(6 nodes). I had a year ,48 sessions,of 5Flourouricil enhanced with levamisole. I have had no signs of ca since. I have had arthritis,pancreatitis,gallbladder removal.three lots of kidney stones,severe proteinurea(losing up to 3gramms of protein a day through urine). I was treated with 75mg daily of prednisone for 18mos. I was then dx with fsgs (scarring of the kidney filters) and treated with 4 blood pressure meds. I soon developed severe peripheral neuropathy in both feet ,legs and left hand. No one knows why. After pred I suffered a major auto-immune arthritis attack. A bone scan showed arthritis in every joint. I was put on methotrexate ,it helped for nearly 18 mos then started causing acute vertigo attacks. I have been on arava ,one of the new designer arthritis drugs for a couple of months. I had two lots of blood tests last week ,one for kidney the other for arthritis. My gp clinic called monday and said to see a doctor. I was scheduled to see the arthritis doc today so I rang the kidney specialist. My protein loss has stabalised to between.4 and .6 gram in 24 hrs (.15 is the max acceptible) in the last year now it has shot up to 1.5 again. I saw my arthritis doc ,four of my liver markers are in the red and I have moderate diahorreah.I have to stop arava immediately. He took more blood to look for another liver enzyme which has to me present for me to try another drug,imuran. This is a transplant drug for goodness sake. To top it all I just got the results of an mri I had to see if they could find a cause of the neuropathy. They couldn't but they did find a degenerative stress fracture of the spine with severe arthritic degeneration. At least I know why walking hurts. I have said it many times and I'll say it again,surviving survival ain't easy....Ron.

howsitgoin Ron?
How are you these days?

JWren

Ryu said:

pain a cancer indicator or consequence of treatment? or both?
Hello and hope you all a speedy recovery!!!!

I have a gut feeling that the pathology of cancer as well as its treatment both independently trigger some of autoimmune symptoms that we all seem to be experiencing...yes? no? yes? no?

For years I had a lower back pain that disappeared as soon as they removed my sigmoid with an obstructing adenocarcenoma late march this year... And I am grateful to the surgical team for actually saving my life- sincerely..

But now, 3 months- after only two chemo sessions (2x 42 hour infusions folfox/ oxaliplatin) that I stopped due to painful side effects; at 49 years of age I also hobble around with painful sticky joints in hands and feet coupled with weak muscles.. have interrupted sleep due to painful shoulders,hips and legs feet and hands.. and experience chronic fatigue after the most basic activities. Swimming by contrast and anything water related is magic.. the pain comes back, but with a reasonable delay...

And then theres the bloating.. Like never before in my life...in under 3 months my wt has increased by 33.069339 pounds... arrrrrrrrgh..
I walk everywhere, run up steep hills, cycle if I can.., etc... especially since my resection.. But I can no longer do push ups or any of the stuff I did before the rheumatoid symptoms set in.. And I'm sure the weight exacerbates the pain.. I have some edema as well..

As for the whys and what was that about!!!?????? and how... my experience with medics- friends and those who treat me..like other professions... they are too frazzled by their load.. More importantly, they're trained to adhere to procedural protocol learned or dictated by drug developers. So they cut the cancer out, fry the cells with toxins or radiation or both et c'est tout. New symptoms? new drugs.. which unfurls a cascade of other symptoms no???

My question is.. do post cancer treatment/ chemo symptoms persist chronically or are they temporary?? I suppose time will tell????

Joint pain
In 2001 I was dx'd with lung cancer. I had 2.5 years of chemo, radiation, and 8 surgeries. I had minor joint pain , I was told it was arthritis and spinal compression. In 2011 I was dx'd with breast cancer, surgeries and radiation thru 4/12. Every day since, the pain in my joints has become crippling. My right hip is so painful I can barely step. The doctors have never tied it to the treatments. Six doctor shave told me I have neuropathy, now a doc says no, it is sciatica. One doc refuses to treat me for pain unless I get off all my pain meds. (Huh?).

I have read every word of the above posts. For the first time I feel as if this all makes sense. I am not alone, nor am I crazy. I can only walk about 1000 feet before I fall apart. Now all I have to do is find a way back.

Deena11

Ryu said:

pain a cancer indicator or consequence of treatment? or both?
Hello and hope you all a speedy recovery!!!!

I have a gut feeling that the pathology of cancer as well as its treatment both independently trigger some of autoimmune symptoms that we all seem to be experiencing...yes? no? yes? no?

For years I had a lower back pain that disappeared as soon as they removed my sigmoid with an obstructing adenocarcenoma late march this year... And I am grateful to the surgical team for actually saving my life- sincerely..

But now, 3 months- after only two chemo sessions (2x 42 hour infusions folfox/ oxaliplatin) that I stopped due to painful side effects; at 49 years of age I also hobble around with painful sticky joints in hands and feet coupled with weak muscles.. have interrupted sleep due to painful shoulders,hips and legs feet and hands.. and experience chronic fatigue after the most basic activities. Swimming by contrast and anything water related is magic.. the pain comes back, but with a reasonable delay...

And then theres the bloating.. Like never before in my life...in under 3 months my wt has increased by 33.069339 pounds... arrrrrrrrgh..
I walk everywhere, run up steep hills, cycle if I can.., etc... especially since my resection.. But I can no longer do push ups or any of the stuff I did before the rheumatoid symptoms set in.. And I'm sure the weight exacerbates the pain.. I have some edema as well..

As for the whys and what was that about!!!?????? and how... my experience with medics- friends and those who treat me..like other professions... they are too frazzled by their load.. More importantly, they're trained to adhere to procedural protocol learned or dictated by drug developers. So they cut the cancer out, fry the cells with toxins or radiation or both et c'est tout. New symptoms? new drugs.. which unfurls a cascade of other symptoms no???

My question is.. do post cancer treatment/ chemo symptoms persist chronically or are they temporary?? I suppose time will tell????

Terrible Joint Pain
I just finished chemo 2 1/2 months ago for colon cancer. About a month ago, I started getting awful pains in my shoulder joints and finger joints. It is difficult to sleep while laying on my sides and my fingers feel very stiff and painful when I wake up. I am 53 years old and feel like a 90 year old. It takes me a while to limber up but the pain is constantly there. I see I am not alone now. I go back to my Oncologist to get my second check up after completing chemo in January. I'll see if he can advise me what I can do but in the mean time, I will try to move around more and get more exercise.

I really hope this isn't a permanent condition.

Tlynn1103

JWren said:

Joint pain
In 2001 I was dx'd with lung cancer. I had 2.5 years of chemo, radiation, and 8 surgeries. I had minor joint pain , I was told it was arthritis and spinal compression. In 2011 I was dx'd with breast cancer, surgeries and radiation thru 4/12. Every day since, the pain in my joints has become crippling. My right hip is so painful I can barely step. The doctors have never tied it to the treatments. Six doctor shave told me I have neuropathy, now a doc says no, it is sciatica. One doc refuses to treat me for pain unless I get off all my pain meds. (Huh?).

I have read every word of the above posts. For the first time I feel as if this all makes sense. I am not alone, nor am I crazy. I can only walk about 1000 feet before I fall apart. Now all I have to do is find a way back.

Joint pain...
I am sorry to read what everyone is going through here, but I am also grateful to read this. Now I do not feel like I am crazy. I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in jan 2011, and finished chemo in April of this year. My joints hurt so much, and my doctors act like since I am not in treatment anymore, I just need to get over it. I also gained weight during treatment, so they blow off my pain as it is just from my weight.

I know that weighing more than I should adds extra stress on my joints, but I have always been overweight and this pain is more than that. I am only 40 and I have a hard time walking. Most exercise is out because I just cant do it- not even that I wont exercise through the pain- because i have tried, my body just won"t ( walk fast, dance, run, bike, etc.) The only exercise i was able to do was swimming in the pool, but now that is getting harder because of my shoulder pain.

I am in a job in the medical field that is fast paced and requires me to be on my feet all the time. Does this pain ever go away? What has every one else experienced?

It seems since radiation and chemo, I have trouble swallowing certain foods, and I have overall muscle weakness and joint pain. I am constantly getting tendonitis, bursitis and needing cortisone shots.

JWren , you are not alone. Hopefully, we can both find a way back. I get frustrated because it was a hard fight to beat the cancer, so when is it all over? When do I get to stop going to the doc appointments? Don't get me wrong, I am happy my cancer is gone, but the side effects are a pain- literally

teamjenn

DWS49 said:

Fatigue,muscle and joint aches & short term memory loss
I had Non-Hodgkins Follicular and Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma diagnosed in 2002. After six months of CHOP and Rituxan therapy I have been cancer free since. But I have had steadily worsening fatigue, muscle and joint pain and my short term memory is so bad, I need to write everything down, and then I forget to look at what I wrote.

I have had high dodes of Prednisone (sp) because of lung problems for a number of years. This led to joint deteriation so bad I had necrosis of the hip joints. I had them replaced. I fell after the second replacement and shattered my femur. Now after three months in bed or a wheelchair, I can walk with a cane or, for short distances, with no assistance. But the body pain is getting worse. I have exercise class twice a week for people over 50, I'm 63 now.

I wish somehting can be done about the body pain. Anyone have any ideas? I have tried Lyrica (edema limits me to one a day), ibuprofen (had to quite becaus of stomach problems, and I have an implanted pain pump. I also take Oxycodone 10 mg orally once a day.

Dealing with pain after chemo

I have just finished with chemo about 30 days ago and after every treatment the pain gets worse....I know neulasta causes pain after and that is not what I am talking about  I feel like I am going crazy, because I have explained this to my doctors and nurses and they just seemd confused. I am just glad to know I am not alone.

 

Tim6003

Deena11 said:

Terrible Joint Pain
I just finished chemo 2 1/2 months ago for colon cancer. About a month ago, I started getting awful pains in my shoulder joints and finger joints. It is difficult to sleep while laying on my sides and my fingers feel very stiff and painful when I wake up. I am 53 years old and feel like a 90 year old. It takes me a while to limber up but the pain is constantly there. I see I am not alone now. I go back to my Oncologist to get my second check up after completing chemo in January. I'll see if he can advise me what I can do but in the mean time, I will try to move around more and get more exercise.

I really hope this isn't a permanent condition.

I realize this thread is an older thread...but sure helped me

..relax a bit.  I can't tell what discussion board this is on, but I post regularly on the Head & Neck board.  A fellow warrior saw my post about joint pain and provided me the link.

I as dx base of tongue w/ one lymph node invovled, stage III HPV+ back in October 2011.  I finished radiation in January 2012.  I did not have surgery, and I only had Erbitux with my radiation (not the traditional chemo drugs). 

Well Sept of 2012 I was out hunting, cutting 5 cords of wood (we use wood to heat our home here in Idaho) as well as snowmobiling / hunting deep in the back country (wolf & mountain lion).  I was and am doing great.  However, about two months ago my elbow joints started to hurt, along with my wrists.  As of this post I have just seen my onco who ordered a battery of tests, blood profile, x-rays and what not. She seems to be looking to rule out lyphoma and leukemia and thinking it is either tennis elbow or RA ....so I am waiting on results.  I

I did not call my onco or GP until the pain got so bad tylenol and advil / aleve did not do anything and I found I could not split my wood (the old fashion way with an ax)...

So finding this post has been somewhat of a comfort.

 

Just about two months after my last rad I had the hip pain and still do.  It's not crippling pain, but at night it's bad especially if I sleep on one side to long.  No other joint pain.  I spoke to my onco about it as you all did and got the ??? don't know answer. I attributed it to my dramatic wieght loss in tx of 70lbs, to date I am 90lbs lighter than I was before dx.

Then as I say, about two months ago the elbows, wrists and shoulders started to hurt / ache , but the right elbow is giving me fits.

So I share this with you all to compare notes, and hopefully this threat will make it back to the top for others.  If anyone can tell me the discussion board it is on, that would be great.

I pray the best for all you warriors on here ...thanks to all those who continue to contribute to the board...good stuff and it helps so many follks.

Best,

 

Tim6003  / Idaho

Head & Neck Cancer Survivor 14 months

Stage III base of tongue HPV+ w/ one lymph node

Proud father of five / blessed husband of one