JOINT PAIN AFTER CHEMO
Comments
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bone scan testHannah1 said:Pain after chemo
I also remember I had so much pain on my hips after chemo. It was that bad that I have a hard time getting out of the car and from sitting position.
I kept complaining to my dr so she had me do bone density scan. Found out I had bad osteoporosis. She put me on fosomax 70mg once a week and calcium 1200mg and after a month or so I felt much better. I was diagnosed 2004 with uterine cancer stage 3c, went on 7rounds of chemo and internal and external radiation. Have your bone density checked. Hope this help
Thank you Hannah1, I think I will ask my doctor for a bone denstity checkup. She checked for inflammation markers in my blood the other day, but said they were negative. I will ask about that test. Very glad you feel much better. it certainly gives me hope where I feel hopeless0 -
Hola
I developed joint pain 3 months after I finished chemo, carbo/taxol.
I had a bone density scan 3 months after last treatment, and of course I was diagnosed with osteopenia in the neck and hips and osteoporosis in the spine.
The results did not have anything to do with my joint pain.
My oncologist told me to give 1 year or so.
It has been 1 year, and I still have joint pain.
I was referred to a pain management center, and this has worked for me.
I do not take any medication for pain, but this is just my choice.
The pain management center teaches patients to manage pain through relaxation and breathing (biofeedback). I was in treatment for about 4 months. It helped me a lot.
The parts that hurt the most are my elbows.
My knees also hurt, but walking is the greatest medicine for it.
My fingers and toes also hurt, especially in the mornings, but as I move throughout the day I feel better.
I lot of people tells me it is arthritis, but I refuse to label myself with it since these pains started right after chemo. I never had joint pain before, even though I am 44 now.
There are some foods that irritate the joints. You may want to do some research about it.
I hope you find something to alleviate your pain.
Stay well and positive...there is light at the end of the tunnel.
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Joint PainFayard said:Hola
I developed joint pain 3 months after I finished chemo, carbo/taxol.
I had a bone density scan 3 months after last treatment, and of course I was diagnosed with osteopenia in the neck and hips and osteoporosis in the spine.
The results did not have anything to do with my joint pain.
My oncologist told me to give 1 year or so.
It has been 1 year, and I still have joint pain.
I was referred to a pain management center, and this has worked for me.
I do not take any medication for pain, but this is just my choice.
The pain management center teaches patients to manage pain through relaxation and breathing (biofeedback). I was in treatment for about 4 months. It helped me a lot.
The parts that hurt the most are my elbows.
My knees also hurt, but walking is the greatest medicine for it.
My fingers and toes also hurt, especially in the mornings, but as I move throughout the day I feel better.
I lot of people tells me it is arthritis, but I refuse to label myself with it since these pains started right after chemo. I never had joint pain before, even though I am 44 now.
There are some foods that irritate the joints. You may want to do some research about it.
I hope you find something to alleviate your pain.
Stay well and positive...there is light at the end of the tunnel.
I had 8 cycles of taxol/carbo and radiotherapy. Had terrible pain and was treated with Valium, Difene and Oxycontin. (Morphine) three times a day! I got tired of feeling stoned from all the medications and in the end took Tramadol (not sure if it available in USA). The good news is the pain will go away, ie unless you have developed some necrosis of hips joints from Chemo. I had an MRI to outrule this and also a bone scan to outrule mets in bone. Suggest if pain continues discuss with your medical team and request pain management referral. It takes time for the chemo to leave system.. I only feel back to myself now and I am one year post chemo ! You will be OK.. For more details I posted my story on discussion board titled USPC Discussion. Olivia ..Ps Reflexology and massage if indiciated by your docs helps.0 -
Feel helplessCatmalogen said:Joint Pain
I had 8 cycles of taxol/carbo and radiotherapy. Had terrible pain and was treated with Valium, Difene and Oxycontin. (Morphine) three times a day! I got tired of feeling stoned from all the medications and in the end took Tramadol (not sure if it available in USA). The good news is the pain will go away, ie unless you have developed some necrosis of hips joints from Chemo. I had an MRI to outrule this and also a bone scan to outrule mets in bone. Suggest if pain continues discuss with your medical team and request pain management referral. It takes time for the chemo to leave system.. I only feel back to myself now and I am one year post chemo ! You will be OK.. For more details I posted my story on discussion board titled USPC Discussion. Olivia ..Ps Reflexology and massage if indiciated by your docs helps.
Thank you everyone for your help and advice. My legs hurt so bad now and my left knee feels like it is so tight I can barely bend it. I worry so much about this being a permanent condition and not ever feeling normal again. My regular doctor said to give it time, but she is not that familiar with chemo effects. I really want to print off report after report of joint pain right after chemo is done to prove to my oncologist it IS due to chemo. I sort of want to say..HERE....TAKE THIS!!!!
My next CT scan is next week. I feel pretty good about it, although I have noticed some odd cramping. Very little, but still something out of the ordinary. Hoping everything is ok.
Right now I am just trying to do anything I can to aleviate this horrible joint pain. They sure don't worn you about this when you are making your decision to do chemo or not.0 -
ALSO HAVE JOINT PAIN AFTER CHEMO
I'm 47 years old and I too went through 6 rounds of carboplatin and taxol chemo treatments this past year for uterine cancer. I finished in May and several weeks after, I began to have hip pain. Sometimes it feels almost like sciatica pain. I had never been diagnosed with any arthritis, until my last CT Scan revealed it in my hips and shoulders. I really wonder if the chemo brought on the arthritis or made it worse. I find that using joint supplements brings some relief. I too wonder if I will be able to get up and walk after sitting for long periods of time. It occasionally, affects my sleep, but usually a couple Tylenol and Melatonin is enough to stop the pain and allow sleep.0 -
joint pains
Hi, read your post and can sympathize! I finished radiation/cisplatin July '11, then started 4 rounds of carbo/taxol in Aug 11, finishing October 2011. After 5 weeks, joint pains started in the knees and butt. Someone here said the butt aches are your body producing blood cells. That may be the case, because butt aches went away in about a month and never returned.
Joint pain in the knees is pretty constant, some days better than others. Also, my old left knee injury came back and stuck around from 11/11 to 5/12. I went for a bone scan in april '12, due to complaining to my oncologist. It showed nothing! Not even arthritis. I believe it is true chemo gets into the old injuries and makes them hurt all over again, like your body remembers...
I joined a gym. Treadmill helped knees a little. Then I stopped the guy after 3 months. I also take glucosamine/chondro'n on a regular basis. It helps the joints lubricate.
My left knee pain finally went away in July...I kept my leg wrapped with an ace bandage for support. But my underlying knee joint pain is still around, but it is more mild. However I bend down differently, not really having to use my knees to push me up. So I think its better but not really back to normal at all. I also get into my car differently, sitting down and then swinging my knees in...I just don't leap into the drivers seat any more.
My hands have developed a stiffness in the morning, before I rise out of bed...they feel like claws...but that can be worked out after 15 minutes of using them.
All my joints creak more now as well. I feel horrid when I get up and have to walk down the stairs, going really slow, yes, a lot of us feel so old. I am not sure if this will go away. I am approaching 1 year of joint pain around Thanksgiving...I am hopeful.
I do a lot of juicing, wheatgrass and vitamin supplements. Gave up meat mostly. Tried to cut back on dairy and sugar.
P.S. I started to ride a bike this week, and it did not worsen the knee issue...so I think in the long run, it may strengthen the muscles around the joint and help somewhat. Give yourself time and stay positive!0 -
Joint painclr129 said:bone scan test
Thank you Hannah1, I think I will ask my doctor for a bone denstity checkup. She checked for inflammation markers in my blood the other day, but said they were negative. I will ask about that test. Very glad you feel much better. it certainly gives me hope where I feel hopeless
Hi how are you? How is your pain now. Did you ever get a bone density test?
I am taking fosomax for osteoporosis which relieved the pain. Been taking for
2 years now. Hope you are feeling better. God bless.
Hannah10 -
Joint pain..clr129 said:Finally some answers
Thank you Jaqlin for your advice. I was worried that this condition may last the rest of my life as the pain seems to be getting worse and now my left knee for no apparent reason seems to have gone out. But I noticed it "creeks" that is where your info on the destruction of fluid in my joints really makes sense. I will go get some glucosamine and chrondroitin right away. It was so thrilling to see that you received less pain after a few months. I was tested for arthritis and diabetes and both were negative. I just pray this gets better and not to the point where I can't walk anymore.
Hi clr129. Noticed this post July 23/12. I am wondering if you having been taking the glucosamine regularly & if it making a difference since it has been about 2 months since your post. I finished chemo end of July/12 and also find I have a lot of generalized joint discomfort specially in the morning when I get up and if I have been sitting for any length of time. My hands feel really sore and stiff in the mornings.0 -
Joint pain after chemoclr129 said:Feel helpless
Thank you everyone for your help and advice. My legs hurt so bad now and my left knee feels like it is so tight I can barely bend it. I worry so much about this being a permanent condition and not ever feeling normal again. My regular doctor said to give it time, but she is not that familiar with chemo effects. I really want to print off report after report of joint pain right after chemo is done to prove to my oncologist it IS due to chemo. I sort of want to say..HERE....TAKE THIS!!!!
My next CT scan is next week. I feel pretty good about it, although I have noticed some odd cramping. Very little, but still something out of the ordinary. Hoping everything is ok.
Right now I am just trying to do anything I can to aleviate this horrible joint pain. They sure don't worn you about this when you are making your decision to do chemo or not.
I had five different chemos on a weekly basis for choriocarcinoma from August to December 2011. I have had horrendous joint pain and just plain bone pain since. Its hard to describe. Almost like growing pains. I have become a vegetarian, avoid dairy and wheat mostly, exercise, hike, and am not overweight. The pain has slowly gotten better but I was really resigned to waking up most mornings with extreme hand pain, hurting getting in and out of cars, etc. HOWEVER, I asked my physician to check my vitamin D. I am outside a lot but my vitamin D was extremely low. He prescribed a 10 week regime of 50,000 units of D2. I started taking calcium too. I don't know if it is coincidence, or a miracle but my radiating femur pain and finger pain has markedly improved. It is dramatic. I am only 4 weeks into the treatment. I would NEVER have thought this could be it. Check your vitamin D.0 -
Joint pain after chemoclr129 said:Feel helpless
Thank you everyone for your help and advice. My legs hurt so bad now and my left knee feels like it is so tight I can barely bend it. I worry so much about this being a permanent condition and not ever feeling normal again. My regular doctor said to give it time, but she is not that familiar with chemo effects. I really want to print off report after report of joint pain right after chemo is done to prove to my oncologist it IS due to chemo. I sort of want to say..HERE....TAKE THIS!!!!
My next CT scan is next week. I feel pretty good about it, although I have noticed some odd cramping. Very little, but still something out of the ordinary. Hoping everything is ok.
Right now I am just trying to do anything I can to aleviate this horrible joint pain. They sure don't worn you about this when you are making your decision to do chemo or not.
I had five different chemos on a weekly basis for choriocarcinoma from August to December 2011. I have had horrendous joint pain and just plain bone pain since. Its hard to describe. Almost like growing pains. I have become a vegetarian, avoid dairy and wheat mostly, exercise, hike, and am not overweight. The pain has slowly gotten better but I was really resigned to waking up most mornings with extreme hand pain, hurting getting in and out of cars, etc. HOWEVER, I asked my physician to check my vitamin D. I am outside a lot but my vitamin D was extremely low. He prescribed a 10 week regime of 50,000 units of D2. I started taking calcium too. I don't know if it is coincidence, or a miracle but my radiating femur pain and finger pain has markedly improved. It is dramatic. I am only 4 weeks into the treatment. I would NEVER have thought this could be it. Check your vitamin D.0 -
Joint Pain after ChemoUltrasone said:Joint pain after chemo
I had five different chemos on a weekly basis for choriocarcinoma from August to December 2011. I have had horrendous joint pain and just plain bone pain since. Its hard to describe. Almost like growing pains. I have become a vegetarian, avoid dairy and wheat mostly, exercise, hike, and am not overweight. The pain has slowly gotten better but I was really resigned to waking up most mornings with extreme hand pain, hurting getting in and out of cars, etc. HOWEVER, I asked my physician to check my vitamin D. I am outside a lot but my vitamin D was extremely low. He prescribed a 10 week regime of 50,000 units of D2. I started taking calcium too. I don't know if it is coincidence, or a miracle but my radiating femur pain and finger pain has markedly improved. It is dramatic. I am only 4 weeks into the treatment. I would NEVER have thought this could be it. Check your vitamin D.
I was diagnosed as stage IV Ovarian cancer at the conclusion of debulking surgery in Feb. 2011. I started 14 rounds of Taxol/Cisplatin at the end of April '11. Joint pain started after conclusion of Chemo in Oct. Just like others, my knees, hips and most other joints hurt badly (like I was 90!), throughout the MN winter. Found that when I traveled South for work, pain wasn't as bad - (warmer weather?) Started working out 2X a week, which I had done prior to cancer. Not sure if it was working out or summer, but by July, all pain was gone and remains so. I now am doing 3 more rounds of Taxol/Cisplatin for reoccurance in lower abdominal lymph node. I recently read an article in a cancer magazine in the doctors's office, that discussed the joint pain after Chemo. For all those who have been told it is not a real issue or that it is arthritis, it gives credence to the fact that it is in fact REAL and caused by treatment! The magazine is Cancercure.com, Dec. 20, 2011 edition (see URL below to go to the article.) Will be interested to see if pain returns this winter. I wish all on this thread a good recovery. God Bless you and stay strong!
Note: Easiest to copy the URL below and either paste it into your browser or send it in an email to yourself, at which point it will take you to a redirect page. Click on the redirect and you'll be taken to the article.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CBsQFjAB&url=http://www.curetoday.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/article.show/id/2/article_id/1802&ei=8MKDUJXLC7CWyAHBnoGADw&usg=AFQjCNF2xSoM1jfmC9gboIVSMFfjB4eUxQ0 -
An article for you re: Treatment induced joint painclr129 said:Feel helpless
Thank you everyone for your help and advice. My legs hurt so bad now and my left knee feels like it is so tight I can barely bend it. I worry so much about this being a permanent condition and not ever feeling normal again. My regular doctor said to give it time, but she is not that familiar with chemo effects. I really want to print off report after report of joint pain right after chemo is done to prove to my oncologist it IS due to chemo. I sort of want to say..HERE....TAKE THIS!!!!
My next CT scan is next week. I feel pretty good about it, although I have noticed some odd cramping. Very little, but still something out of the ordinary. Hoping everything is ok.
Right now I am just trying to do anything I can to aleviate this horrible joint pain. They sure don't worn you about this when you are making your decision to do chemo or not.
Hi clr129,
Please see my post to take you to an article you can take to your doctor to prove the pain IS from Chemo. I hope things have gotten better for you and I pray your pain like mine resolves the farther out you get from Chemo.
God Bless you,
gambrell10 -
Lymph Node in adomengambrell1 said:Joint Pain after Chemo
I was diagnosed as stage IV Ovarian cancer at the conclusion of debulking surgery in Feb. 2011. I started 14 rounds of Taxol/Cisplatin at the end of April '11. Joint pain started after conclusion of Chemo in Oct. Just like others, my knees, hips and most other joints hurt badly (like I was 90!), throughout the MN winter. Found that when I traveled South for work, pain wasn't as bad - (warmer weather?) Started working out 2X a week, which I had done prior to cancer. Not sure if it was working out or summer, but by July, all pain was gone and remains so. I now am doing 3 more rounds of Taxol/Cisplatin for reoccurance in lower abdominal lymph node. I recently read an article in a cancer magazine in the doctors's office, that discussed the joint pain after Chemo. For all those who have been told it is not a real issue or that it is arthritis, it gives credence to the fact that it is in fact REAL and caused by treatment! The magazine is Cancercure.com, Dec. 20, 2011 edition (see URL below to go to the article.) Will be interested to see if pain returns this winter. I wish all on this thread a good recovery. God Bless you and stay strong!
Note: Easiest to copy the URL below and either paste it into your browser or send it in an email to yourself, at which point it will take you to a redirect page. Click on the redirect and you'll be taken to the article.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CBsQFjAB&url=http://www.curetoday.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/article.show/id/2/article_id/1802&ei=8MKDUJXLC7CWyAHBnoGADw&usg=AFQjCNF2xSoM1jfmC9gboIVSMFfjB4eUxQ
Hi Gambrell1
I am curious about your recurrence regarding the lymph node. Did you have any symptoms? How did they find it? I am doing tests now and I keep wondering if it is a recurrence and in abdominal lymph node.
Thanks
JanH0 -
Lymph Node in adomengambrell1 said:Joint Pain after Chemo
I was diagnosed as stage IV Ovarian cancer at the conclusion of debulking surgery in Feb. 2011. I started 14 rounds of Taxol/Cisplatin at the end of April '11. Joint pain started after conclusion of Chemo in Oct. Just like others, my knees, hips and most other joints hurt badly (like I was 90!), throughout the MN winter. Found that when I traveled South for work, pain wasn't as bad - (warmer weather?) Started working out 2X a week, which I had done prior to cancer. Not sure if it was working out or summer, but by July, all pain was gone and remains so. I now am doing 3 more rounds of Taxol/Cisplatin for reoccurance in lower abdominal lymph node. I recently read an article in a cancer magazine in the doctors's office, that discussed the joint pain after Chemo. For all those who have been told it is not a real issue or that it is arthritis, it gives credence to the fact that it is in fact REAL and caused by treatment! The magazine is Cancercure.com, Dec. 20, 2011 edition (see URL below to go to the article.) Will be interested to see if pain returns this winter. I wish all on this thread a good recovery. God Bless you and stay strong!
Note: Easiest to copy the URL below and either paste it into your browser or send it in an email to yourself, at which point it will take you to a redirect page. Click on the redirect and you'll be taken to the article.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CBsQFjAB&url=http://www.curetoday.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/article.show/id/2/article_id/1802&ei=8MKDUJXLC7CWyAHBnoGADw&usg=AFQjCNF2xSoM1jfmC9gboIVSMFfjB4eUxQ
dupe0 -
Lymph Node in Abdomenjanh_in_ontario said:Lymph Node in adomen
Hi Gambrell1
I am curious about your recurrence regarding the lymph node. Did you have any symptoms? How did they find it? I am doing tests now and I keep wondering if it is a recurrence and in abdominal lymph node.
Thanks
JanH
Hi JanH,
I'm sorry to hear you are having to go through this. I was having low grade dull pain on my left side. I was also bloating. I had a CT Scan which showed an enlarged lower left illiac (sp?) lymph node, and then a small needle biopsy that confirmed the reoccurance of cancer. My doctor told me that even ovarian cancer can be managed now like a chronic disease (i.e. hypertention or diabetes) if caught early. I am having quarterly scans because I am just a year out from the original diagnosis. That will continue now with the reoccurance. I've had two rounds three weeks apart and after the initial days of fatigue, feeling pretty good. I'm not having the pain and bloating anymore. Thank God. At the conclusion, they will do another CT scan.
I wish you the best and pray for good results for you.
gambrell10 -
Lymph Node in Abdomenjanh_in_ontario said:Lymph Node in adomen
Hi Gambrell1
I am curious about your recurrence regarding the lymph node. Did you have any symptoms? How did they find it? I am doing tests now and I keep wondering if it is a recurrence and in abdominal lymph node.
Thanks
JanH
Hi JanH,
I'm sorry to hear you are having to go through this. I was having low grade dull pain on my left side. I was also bloating. I had a CT Scan which showed an enlarged lower left illiac (sp?) lymph node, and then a small needle biopsy that confirmed the reoccurance of cancer. My doctor told me that even ovarian cancer can be managed now like a chronic disease (i.e. hypertention or diabetes) if caught early. I am having quarterly scans because I am just a year out from the original diagnosis. That will continue now with the reoccurance. I've had two rounds three weeks apart and after the initial days of fatigue, feeling pretty good. I'm not having the pain and bloating anymore. Thank God. At the conclusion, they will do another CT scan.
I wish you the best and pray for good results for you.
gambrell10 -
Gambrell1gambrell1 said:Lymph Node in Abdomen
Hi JanH,
I'm sorry to hear you are having to go through this. I was having low grade dull pain on my left side. I was also bloating. I had a CT Scan which showed an enlarged lower left illiac (sp?) lymph node, and then a small needle biopsy that confirmed the reoccurance of cancer. My doctor told me that even ovarian cancer can be managed now like a chronic disease (i.e. hypertention or diabetes) if caught early. I am having quarterly scans because I am just a year out from the original diagnosis. That will continue now with the reoccurance. I've had two rounds three weeks apart and after the initial days of fatigue, feeling pretty good. I'm not having the pain and bloating anymore. Thank God. At the conclusion, they will do another CT scan.
I wish you the best and pray for good results for you.
gambrell1
Thanks Gambrell -- I am having the same pain in the left side. Have had it for almost a year now. Drs can't figure it out.
I am having an MRI in December for a mass on the vaginal cuff. It was there last year but the hospital I am being treated in didn't agree with the radiologist report so no MRI was done at that time.
Stress definitely doesn't kill you - or we would all be dead!0 -
Questionjanh_in_ontario said:Gambrell1
Thanks Gambrell -- I am having the same pain in the left side. Have had it for almost a year now. Drs can't figure it out.
I am having an MRI in December for a mass on the vaginal cuff. It was there last year but the hospital I am being treated in didn't agree with the radiologist report so no MRI was done at that time.
Stress definitely doesn't kill you - or we would all be dead!
Hi JanH,
Is there any possibility of getting the MRI or a
CT scan now, rather than waiting until Dec?
I would almost demand it if they have also found
a mass.
I hope you are able to move up their timeline.
Take care.0 -
MRI - ONLY 2 months away!gambrell1 said:Question
Hi JanH,
Is there any possibility of getting the MRI or a
CT scan now, rather than waiting until Dec?
I would almost demand it if they have also found
a mass.
I hope you are able to move up their timeline.
Take care.
I am in Canada - and as much as Beila would disagree - our healthcare system is sadly lacking. Actually - not having to wait more than a year is a blessing! I am in Toronto where there are numberous hospitals with this capability. My family is in another part of the country and there is one MRI machine for the entire province - and the waiting time is one year.
So I am anxiously awaiting Dec 4 - but realize that if I were still in the US I would never have had to go through what I have gone through here. But I also never have to worry here about not being able to afford the care. So it is a catch 22!
Peace and caring
JanH0 -
Joint Pain
I have breast cancer and had Adriamycin/Cytoxan, Taxol/Herceptin chemo. About a month after ending the Taxol regime, I began to have pain in my hips, knees, elbows and thumbs, very arthritis-like. It is better with movement, worse in the mornings or in the middle of the night. My oncoligist said it was estrogen depletion, my GYN isn't quite so sure that's what it is. I just began taking a liquid Glocosamine/Chondroitin and also a baby aspirin daily. I really hope these help as my GYN doctor says this will not go away. She says it seems to be worse in women who were pre-menopausal before chemo, as opposed to older women who were already in menopause at the time of chemo. I am trying to stay active but I am distressed that this could be a permanent condition
0
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