Back pain/chemo

SandiaBuddy

I admit, I would like to blame all my problems on chemo.  I have had more back pain than usual since starting chemo.  I know chemo effects the fast growing cells.  Does it make sense that I would be slower to heal from back pain? Has anyone else had this experience?  Thanks.

Canadian Sandy

Not specifically from back

Not specifically from back pain butt I have suffered from joint and muscle pain since chemo. Previous to chemo I did have this pain On a much smaller scale....after chemo it became a 9 out of 10 pain. Got a lot better with the warmer temperatures. My onc says not from treatments bit in my opinion it is. Hope it gets better for you. 

PamRav

Any chance

your on neupoge, or other such drug after the chemo?   That caused a sorts of bone pain for me.  

Woodytele

Back pain

my dr. Said the spine area and back get a lot of blood flow, which is why the cancer sometimes travels there.  if there is no cancer in the back, it could just be strain, or muscle fatigue. 

Bellen

Are you on neupogen - white blood cell shot

If you are on a white blood cell shot, you may experience fairly severe bone, spinal, sternum pain.  It is quite strange, and a pain that is hard to describe, but definitely painful.  Even depends if I am sitting, laying or standing - have 5 shots - one per day and take about 4 tylenol per day to help with the pain. Tylenol does help a lot. Have also heard that claritin can help.

SandiaBuddy

Chemo

I am just on oxilaplatin and capecitabine (Xeloda).  I am off the cycle now and my back seems to be improving, so who knows?  Thanks for your replies and suggestions.

tanstaafl

My wife had severe, long time back pains, for decades. She had some osteoporosis and tooth problems.  

Like many CRC patients she requires extra vitamin D3 to achieve acceptable blood levels - like over 15,000 iu per day.   Likewise spinal stenosis is often relieved by megavitmin C alone or in conjunction with other nutrients.   She gets IV vitamin C 1-2 times a week as part of her chemo package, for inflammation, HIF-1a and CA19-9/Kras related cells and takes several 1000 mg C tablets every day.  

Vitamin K also aids collagen and bone formation. Japanese doctors prescribe 45 mg per day of vitamin K2 (menatetrenone aka menaquinone-4, mK4 at 45,000 mcg) for osteoporosis.  It also helps 5FU and vitamin C kill some kinds of CRC lines.  So she takes that too. 

She takes big, concentrated fish oil caps and B vitamins.  Off and on she takes glucosamine-chrondroitin-MSM type formulas and evening primrose oil, too.

She doesn't have back pains anymore despite being on oral chemo for almost 7 years.  Her bones are rebuilding up and her tooth problems are minimal for the past 7 years.

SandiaBuddy

tanstaafl said:

My wife had severe, long time back pains, for decades. She had some osteoporosis and tooth problems.  

Like many CRC patients she requires extra vitamin D3 to achieve acceptable blood levels - like over 15,000 iu per day.   Likewise spinal stenosis is often relieved by megavitmin C alone or in conjunction with other nutrients.   She gets IV vitamin C 1-2 times a week as part of her chemo package, for inflammation, HIF-1a and CA19-9/Kras related cells and takes several 1000 mg C tablets every day.  

Vitamin K also aids collagen and bone formation. Japanese doctors prescribe 45 mg per day of vitamin K2 (menatetrenone aka menaquinone-4, mK4 at 45,000 mcg) for osteoporosis.  It also helps 5FU and vitamin C kill some kinds of CRC lines.  So she takes that too. 

She takes big, concentrated fish oil caps and B vitamins.  Off and on she takes glucosamine-chrondroitin-MSM type formulas and evening primrose oil, too.

She doesn't have back pains anymore despite being on oral chemo for almost 7 years.  Her bones are rebuilding up and her tooth problems are minimal for the past 7 years.

Thanks

Thanks for your specific recommendations.  There seem to be a lot of nutritional/supplemental strategies with promise.