Muscle pain

Unknown
Unknown
edited December 2016 in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1

does anyone have any ideas/experience controlling muscle and body aches with something other than prednisone? I think it could be classified as neuralgia and came along as an uninvited guest with my lymphoma. I just hate the side effects of prednisone. The NSAIDs like naproxen and ibuprofen help but damage my stomach. My Dr. Says to limit any use of acetomenophen because of my enlarged liver. Hot baths seem to help as much as anything. I tried alkaline water with no effect. I know several of you have complained of muscle pains. This is different from leg/knee pains when on Rituxan.

Comments

  • illead
    illead Member Posts: 884 Member
    #2
    Statins

    Are you on any statins?  They cause terrible muscle pain in some people.

    Becky

  • OO7
    OO7 Member Posts: 281
    edited November 2016 #3
    Glucosami & MSM

    It helps me, they say it helps joints plain and arthritis.  I have all sorts of pain.  I only take this and it really has made a difference.  I do put Epsom salts in my baths.  I hope it works for you too!

     

  • po18guy
    po18guy Member Posts: 1,505 Member
    #4
    Myalgia

    Some of this you simply must grit your teeth and bear, even though the myalgias can drive you to distraction. You can use opioids, and I did on occasion. Hot baths, careful use of quinine water along with earting Tums like candy (old triage nurse trick). I have just dropped from 95mg daily back to 80. Yes, I hate it, but sometimes it is necessary. You'll get through this.

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #5
    Thanks for the comments

    yes I do take a 5 mg dose of Crestor. However my Dr. Says its extremely unlikely to be the source of my pain since I have been taking it for 20+ years. I was given opioids but they constipate me and really dull my senses. My Dr. says my RA factor is 17, slightly higher than normal. It could be early stage RA I suppose. RA and lymphoma are both autoimmune diseases and both are treated with Rituxan. I plan to float the idea of occasional R infusions with my Dr in case that might help. However I do not want a bunch of x-rays etc. Meanwhile I am active and as Po says, I grin and bear it. 

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #6
    Gone!

    On a hunch, my gp gave me a course of antibiotics. The muscle pain is now mostly gone!

  • lindary
    lindary Member Posts: 711 Member
    #7
    muscle pain

    Glad to read that the antibiotics is helping the muscle pain to go away. One thing I use is aloe gel for reducing inflmation. If you can grow aloe plants, the fresh sap from the plant is supposed to be better. It is easier on our body than ibuprofen. 

    Last spring I was having problems with my knees  & hips. My dtr who is a massage therapist told me my hips were tight which was casuing me to not walk right. I started getting massages once a week and it was amazing how much better I felt after 2 weeks. Even my knees stopped hurtng as much. I haven't gone for a while because of the fall I took at the beginning of Dec. I do intend to get back on schedule soon. 

  • po18guy
    po18guy Member Posts: 1,505 Member
    #8
    unknown said:

    Gone!

    On a hunch, my gp gave me a course of antibiotics. The muscle pain is now mostly gone!

    Great news!

    Tolerable is livable, in our world. Gone, even better. And, it is hot bath season, should that be tried once again. Sometimes, these myalgias are like the lymphoma in that we have to therow the kitchen sink at it.

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited December 2016 #9
    po18guy said:

    Great news!

    Tolerable is livable, in our world. Gone, even better. And, it is hot bath season, should that be tried once again. Sometimes, these myalgias are like the lymphoma in that we have to therow the kitchen sink at it.

    Pretty Amazing

    Who would have thought muscle pain would be caused by bacteria? I was pretty much in agony at the beach so I called my gp. She contacted a local doc in the box which I went to and got the exam and meds. Probable cause was inflammation of muscle linings due to some sort of low level bacterial infection. As I said this is not the same as joint pain I had during R therapy. I can walk and get up and down with little or no pain. Big question is if this is related to the lymphoma and my very intense Rituxan therapy? I will never know but am relieved! Hope this was not too off topic for this board. Happy holidays!

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited December 2016 #10
    lindary said:

    muscle pain

    Glad to read that the antibiotics is helping the muscle pain to go away. One thing I use is aloe gel for reducing inflmation. If you can grow aloe plants, the fresh sap from the plant is supposed to be better. It is easier on our body than ibuprofen. 

    Last spring I was having problems with my knees  & hips. My dtr who is a massage therapist told me my hips were tight which was casuing me to not walk right. I started getting massages once a week and it was amazing how much better I felt after 2 weeks. Even my knees stopped hurtng as much. I haven't gone for a while because of the fall I took at the beginning of Dec. I do intend to get back on schedule soon. 

    Massage

    Have never had a massage here in the US. When I lived in Asia I used to go to the steam baths with "tiger balm" followed by a massage. It was great. In Sweden I would occasionally go to the sauna followed by pine boughs. Thailand was cheap, Sweden was very expensive. Both were very good. I will suggest a gift certificate for a massage might be a nice Christmas gift from my son. Thanks for the suggestion. I am so glad you are doing well!

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,817 Member
    edited December 2016 #11
    unknown said:

    Pretty Amazing

    Who would have thought muscle pain would be caused by bacteria? I was pretty much in agony at the beach so I called my gp. She contacted a local doc in the box which I went to and got the exam and meds. Probable cause was inflammation of muscle linings due to some sort of low level bacterial infection. As I said this is not the same as joint pain I had during R therapy. I can walk and get up and down with little or no pain. Big question is if this is related to the lymphoma and my very intense Rituxan therapy? I will never know but am relieved! Hope this was not too off topic for this board. Happy holidays!

    Who knows ?

    GK,

    I inherited RLS from my mom, confirmed in sleep labs.  I also take statins, which Becky mentioned.  My legs hurt all day, every day.  I myself have not found a remedy, but delighted that antibiotics cured your issues (Have you ever noticed that about half of all chemo drugs are antibiotic ?). My wife at times puts these adhesive 'salon' pads on my lower back for spasams, which work well (they seem to be akin to Ben Gay).

    But I have mostly used Po's insight: 'Deal with it.'  Actually, I have never been given an option. 

    I do benefit from extremely hot showers, which have short-term benefit, although they seem to excerbate fluid retention in my lower legs/ankles.  Rob Paul to pay Peter....

    Again, thanks for sharing the benefit derived from an antibiotic,

    max

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,817 Member
    edited December 2016 #12
    unknown said:

    Massage

    Have never had a massage here in the US. When I lived in Asia I used to go to the steam baths with "tiger balm" followed by a massage. It was great. In Sweden I would occasionally go to the sauna followed by pine boughs. Thailand was cheap, Sweden was very expensive. Both were very good. I will suggest a gift certificate for a massage might be a nice Christmas gift from my son. Thanks for the suggestion. I am so glad you are doing well!

    Nordic climes....

    A trip to Sweden: that would make anyone feel good, massage or no.

    I spent four days on the west coast of Norway once, the cleanest, most beautiful place on earth.

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #13
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 said:

    Nordic climes....

    A trip to Sweden: that would make anyone feel good, massage or no.

    I spent four days on the west coast of Norway once, the cleanest, most beautiful place on earth.

    Yes if you get out of town

    cities are cities. Stockholm is very cold but with warm people. Lots of minarets there now. To me it was very, very expensive. A meal in a Thai restaurant that costs $9.95 here in Virginia is easily $50 there. But there are bargains if you know where to go. Despite the climate, there are a lot of bikers there. Riding a motorcycle through the Swedish countryside is nice even with the $7 a gallon gas.

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,817 Member
    #14
    unknown said:

    Yes if you get out of town

    cities are cities. Stockholm is very cold but with warm people. Lots of minarets there now. To me it was very, very expensive. A meal in a Thai restaurant that costs $9.95 here in Virginia is easily $50 there. But there are bargains if you know where to go. Despite the climate, there are a lot of bikers there. Riding a motorcycle through the Swedish countryside is nice even with the $7 a gallon gas.

    Yea

    GK,

    The ship stopped in Bergen, Norway's westernmost town, nestled in the fyords of the west coast. While it is the second-largest city in Norway, it seemed remotely set, with just rural, wilderness areas around it.  A sort of Scandaniavian Asheville.  The ancient little harbor inlet in the center of old downtown has been in use for over 1,000 years; they have a fishmarket on Wednesdays that is spectacular.  The town was a Hanseatic Center. 

    Because the city would not allow a reactor near the population, we actually moored in Haakonsvern, about 20 miles away. Center of Norway's Navy and Special Operations Forces.

    I cannot say how typical Bergen was, but I never saw a piece of litter anywhere, never saw a damaged car being driven, never saw a country house that did not look freshly painted. Everything was stunning.  It was expensive. Norway is one of, or the, wealtiest per capita country on earth (North Sea oil rigs). Most shops, and all hotels, had a clerk who spoke some English. Compared to Bergen, an American city like, say, Newark, is like dying and going to hell.  So different: filth, ignorance, violence.

    If I were going on a European vacation, Bergen absolutely would be my main focus: Large enough to have a lot to see and do, but off the usual tourist trek, and close to the isolated lodges available on the west coast.  Perfect.  Second choice for me would be Prague, where my ancestery came from.

    max

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #15
    Yes its nice certain times of the year

    oddly enough one thing I enjoyed going there was eating the forbidden foods of our ancestors  - reindeer, raw salmon, lutefisk, whale, dolphin, seal flippers etc. you can even buy canned seal flippers in the supermarket. I was in Bergen once for the summer solstice. It was magical. Killer whales jumping in the fjords, lots of booze, pretty girls and just fun! Go back Max. You will find it has changed but still very, very, nice. I was last there in 2011.

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