living with joint pain long after chemo (WHY)

shannong · June 2003

joint pain 9 months still after chemo (WHY)
Message: I finished chemo approx. 9 months ago and towards the end of chemo I started developing joint pain in the hip. Now the joint pain has spread to every finger joint,my toes,ankles,knees and wrists. Docters have no explanation for my pain. I have had MRIs, pet scans,bone scans,& CT scans of everything and everything is normal. Have been checked for avascular necrosis. Have been seen by neuro doc,endo doc, rheumo doc, and every other doc there is. They can't explain why I have this
excruciating pain. Has anyone gone through this? I
need help from anyone that has gone through this and found some answer. Or ideas of what I should have doctors look for that they already have'nt.
I am stuggling everyday with this pain. Tomorrow
doc is checking my bone marrow but could still be a dead end. Was diagnosed with autonomic dysfunction in 1996. Docs know this but they seem to think not related. Please help!!!

maemaebears · June 2003

hi shannon.. i went through chemo and radiation in 95 nd 96 and to this day i am still dealing the fatigue,muscle and joint aches and severe weakness that seems to be worsening each year and i still come down sick very easily and noone can tell me what is going on with me either and it is frustrating because i am being crippled and i don't know why.. so i understand what you are saying about tests coming back fine but pain not being fixed.. my email is littlebearcrying@juno.com if you eever feel like emailing me and talking take care and good luck and God Bless
mae-mae

MrsSantolla · June 2003

Hi Shannon. I'm sorry to hear about your pain however I'm happy to tell you this. I had chemo and radiation 22 months ago and I as well have aches and joint pains. I can't say it was/is excruciating but I felt my body was turning into this old crippled woman. I had to do something.
About 3months ago I started exercising. NOT for weight loss/control but for a healthy well being. I was walking some however I didnt feel the benefit until I increased my workout. I do a combo of may different things since I tend to get bored with the same exercise an quit! I jump rope, jog some, do some stairs, some Taebo, sit- ups, weights and a little toning. It takes about a hour. I cannot express how much this has helped me. I now occasionally have pains. Usually in my hips. Some have totally disappeared. The numbness and tinglessness in my feet and toes seems to have improved. I feel like I have my life back, after almost 2 years! I now have the energy to do things I couldn't. Starting out was VERY hard. My knees hurt terrible and ankles. It was very frustrating. I was trying to help other things but created other pains. However I kept doing it, (5 days a week) and it passed within a couple of weeks. I dont know if you have a exercise routine, but I hope this will encourage you and others to do so. Especially those that have joint pains. I feel this has been my saving grace. I hope to hear from you. Take care and God bless.

bullfrog13 · June 2003

Dear Shannon,
I know this sounds crazy but I feel the more you get up and go and do the better you may feel. I was having so much pain in joints that on some days I could not get myself up the stairs to my bedroom! I would sit and cry in the living room until my husband got home to help me to bed.
My last chemo was almost a year ago (August 2002). About September 2002 I started an exercise program and some of the pain seemed to ease, I wwaaayy overdid it and pushed myself to hard. I regrouped and started over again a short while later. I have lost 63 pounds and like 34 inches. This took a great deal of wieght off my bones, and joints. I had gained weight while on chemo-they say becuase of the steroids. I also feel better and recently hiked the grand canyon, a trip there is no way I ever though I'd make. EVER.

I do a work out at least 3 days a week, and when I don't I can tell the difference. Im more tired when I dont go--who knew? go figure!
Much luck to you
and God Bless
Jerilyn
Jerilynfrog13@yahoo.com

miraclemom · July 2003

Hi there,I know its been awhile since your posting but when I read it, it was like I was reading about myself.Its been a year since I finished chemo and I ache some days so bad and when its rainy and cold my body hurts even more.I was told that it was the after effects from chemo and the tamoxifen I'm on so bascilly-live with it.I do find that staying active does help and when I remain in one postion to long I get so stiff-just like a old lady.Would love to hear from you and know how your doing with this ache and pain business. Takecare and my e-mail is miraclemom12632001@yahoo.com

samill · July 2003

Hi there. So sorry you are suffering so much. I understand fully. I finished chemo in oct 2000 and developed neuropathy in my feet and legs. So they put me on Neurontin. That worked very well. Neurontin numbs the nerve endings. I have had arthralgias in different parts of my body since chemo. Now it is in my feet. The doc tried prednisone for the inflammation and it did not work this time. It has been very effective in the past. I go to PT 3X a week and I still have pain. Exercise does not seem to do it for me, everytime I exceed the little I do at PT I suffer greatly. This feet thing has been going on since May now. You might want to consult a pain management clinic they specialize in all kinds of pain. It sounds like you have the side effect from chemo of arthralgia, which I am told is not uncommon in people who get chemo.
hang in there, have you tried a hot tub or soaking in your bath, in warm water. I find that helps too.
Let me know how you make out
samill
I also was tested for everything and every pain I complained of, because the CA metastasized to the bone, and they were all negative.
Neurontin is very effective in my case. It numbs the nerve endings and I don't feel the pain as much. However it makes me sleep alot. So I increase it as I need to for the pain.

.

Unknown · July 2003

This comment has been removed by the Moderator

beefjerky · August 2003

samill said:
Hi there. So sorry you are suffering so much. I understand fully. I finished chemo in oct 2000 and developed neuropathy in my feet and legs. So they put me on Neurontin. That worked very well. Neurontin numbs the nerve endings. I have had arthralgias in different parts of my body since chemo. Now it is in my feet. The doc tried prednisone for the inflammation and it did not work this time. It has been very effective in the past. I go to PT 3X a week and I still have pain. Exercise does not seem to do it for me, everytime I exceed the little I do at PT I suffer greatly. This feet thing has been going on since May now. You might want to consult a pain management clinic they specialize in all kinds of pain. It sounds like you have the side effect from chemo of arthralgia, which I am told is not uncommon in people who get chemo.
hang in there, have you tried a hot tub or soaking in your bath, in warm water. I find that helps too.
Let me know how you make out
samill
I also was tested for everything and every pain I complained of, because the CA metastasized to the bone, and they were all negative.
Neurontin is very effective in my case. It numbs the nerve endings and I don't feel the pain as much. However it makes me sleep alot. So I increase it as I need to for the pain.

.

I too am experiencing joint pain ten months after I finished chemo. I had six months of 5fu and leucovorin. I wonder if anyone else has joint pain from this chemo.

jyoung · October 2003

Oh my gosh....I finished my Chemo a few months ago. All through my treatment and radiation my joints were giving me so much pain.Now worse.Only in my hands and elbows, shoulders. I have a hard time gripping my purse, drinks ect...aches. I am shorted of breath now. I do not like this at all. My Dr. said they will run blood work they did this today. I hate it. I am not on much here. But anyone feel free to to email me. I am 47 female with One breast removed in Dec then the other removed 6 months later.I would like anyone emails also. jyoung56@wwwebservice.net

aminmi · November 2003

Very interesting reading your message and the replies. I finished chemo 7 months ago-Platinol and adriamycin. 2 months later I needed to have some dental work done and was given amoxicillin prior because my white counts were still low. I have taken this med several times before in my life with no problem, but this time it gave me awful pain in my shoulder and arm. A few wks. later I had to take it again and had the awful pain again only in my leg. I talked to my pharmicist and he had never heard of such a thing, said it must be a hypersensitivity I developed. Also, starting about the time chemo ended I began to notice that my joints would stiffen up much quicker than usual. After just holding the phone to my ear for a few mins. I would find it difficult to unbend my elbow to hang up. I thought it might be because I had not been able to do much in the way of exercise for about 9 months due to surgery, radiation and then chemo. Also, I had entered menopause due to surgery and thought that might have something to do with it. I'm just 50, but feel like I expected to feel when I was about 70. I'm now dealing with some numbness in my feet not unlike neuropathy which started several months after finishing chemo. I'm on B6, but Neurontin is my next step if B6 doesn't start to work so it is good to hear from those who have used it. It seems to be pretty evident from the replies that exercise helps, so I'm going to try to figure out a way to do that at home. Any suggestions of what type works best would be appreciated. Feel free to e-mail me at aminmi@hotmail.com.

Graeson5682 · December 2003

bullfrog13 said:
Dear Shannon,
I know this sounds crazy but I feel the more you get up and go and do the better you may feel. I was having so much pain in joints that on some days I could not get myself up the stairs to my bedroom! I would sit and cry in the living room until my husband got home to help me to bed.
My last chemo was almost a year ago (August 2002). About September 2002 I started an exercise program and some of the pain seemed to ease, I wwaaayy overdid it and pushed myself to hard. I regrouped and started over again a short while later. I have lost 63 pounds and like 34 inches. This took a great deal of wieght off my bones, and joints. I had gained weight while on chemo-they say becuase of the steroids. I also feel better and recently hiked the grand canyon, a trip there is no way I ever though I'd make. EVER.

I do a work out at least 3 days a week, and when I don't I can tell the difference. Im more tired when I dont go--who knew? go figure!
Much luck to you
and God Bless
Jerilyn
Jerilynfrog13@yahoo.com

Dear Bullfrog,
Thank you so much for your comments. I have been looking for some answers re: joint pains that keep me up at night. My last chemo was only a month ago, so I guess I should have more patience. But I don't want to just keep taking pain pills forever.
Like you, I gained weight when they put me on steroids (Prednisone). I am now off the steroid but the weight has not come off. I really would like to get rid of the weight and manage the pain through excersize rather than drugs, if possible. Can you recommend an excersize routine for a beginner?
Thanks again. You've inspired me. Hope you are still feeling well.
: ) kate123

dflannigan · April 2004

Graeson5682 said:
Dear Bullfrog,
Thank you so much for your comments. I have been looking for some answers re: joint pains that keep me up at night. My last chemo was only a month ago, so I guess I should have more patience. But I don't want to just keep taking pain pills forever.
Like you, I gained weight when they put me on steroids (Prednisone). I am now off the steroid but the weight has not come off. I really would like to get rid of the weight and manage the pain through excersize rather than drugs, if possible. Can you recommend an excersize routine for a beginner?
Thanks again. You've inspired me. Hope you are still feeling well.
: ) kate123

I have been trying to find information for about 10 years now concerning the long term effects BMT on joints. I had a Bone Marrow Transplant for CML in 1990 and my joints have been aching for about 10 years now. It wasn't until last year that I was diagnosed with arthritis but now I'm told that it is unrelated to my cancer treatment or more likely caused by the extra 50 ibs I've put on. I've long since left my support group and I know it sounds crazy but I'm happy to hear more people are having this problem.

bimbler · August 2004

aminmi said:
Very interesting reading your message and the replies. I finished chemo 7 months ago-Platinol and adriamycin. 2 months later I needed to have some dental work done and was given amoxicillin prior because my white counts were still low. I have taken this med several times before in my life with no problem, but this time it gave me awful pain in my shoulder and arm. A few wks. later I had to take it again and had the awful pain again only in my leg. I talked to my pharmicist and he had never heard of such a thing, said it must be a hypersensitivity I developed. Also, starting about the time chemo ended I began to notice that my joints would stiffen up much quicker than usual. After just holding the phone to my ear for a few mins. I would find it difficult to unbend my elbow to hang up. I thought it might be because I had not been able to do much in the way of exercise for about 9 months due to surgery, radiation and then chemo. Also, I had entered menopause due to surgery and thought that might have something to do with it. I'm just 50, but feel like I expected to feel when I was about 70. I'm now dealing with some numbness in my feet not unlike neuropathy which started several months after finishing chemo. I'm on B6, but Neurontin is my next step if B6 doesn't start to work so it is good to hear from those who have used it. It seems to be pretty evident from the replies that exercise helps, so I'm going to try to figure out a way to do that at home. Any suggestions of what type works best would be appreciated. Feel free to e-mail me at aminmi@hotmail.com.

Hi,

I'm a 31 yr old guy, finished 12 months of treatment for Hodgkins disease about 9 months ago, had radiation to the abdomen and chemo called frontal hybrid - think it's a more aggressive version of ABVD.

Within about 3 months of finishing my treatment I was getting fit again. started working out regularly and taking the stairs in my 11 floor appartment block. I progressively got fitter and at about 5 months clear could happily run up the 11 flights without any major problems.

Now, I find myself on the verge of being crippled. My knees are next to useless, my hips lock and cause my pain and my calf muscles are almost constantly going into cramps. On top of this, pain and stiffness put to one side, I now find it almost impossible to walk up a single flight of stairs due to what I can only explain as fatigue. Even more worrying I am getting back the pains that I had before starting my treatment and the fatigue is what caused me to be diagnosed initially.

I've been back to my cancer specialists but they seem pretty disinterested. They made it perfectly clear that they aren't interested in the after effects of treatment and that I should be happy to be alive.

Would be interested in hearing from anyone who has suffered from similar problems and especially anyone who has managed to find an answer to these problems.

Mark (UK)

christmasang · April 2005

aminmi said:
Very interesting reading your message and the replies. I finished chemo 7 months ago-Platinol and adriamycin. 2 months later I needed to have some dental work done and was given amoxicillin prior because my white counts were still low. I have taken this med several times before in my life with no problem, but this time it gave me awful pain in my shoulder and arm. A few wks. later I had to take it again and had the awful pain again only in my leg. I talked to my pharmicist and he had never heard of such a thing, said it must be a hypersensitivity I developed. Also, starting about the time chemo ended I began to notice that my joints would stiffen up much quicker than usual. After just holding the phone to my ear for a few mins. I would find it difficult to unbend my elbow to hang up. I thought it might be because I had not been able to do much in the way of exercise for about 9 months due to surgery, radiation and then chemo. Also, I had entered menopause due to surgery and thought that might have something to do with it. I'm just 50, but feel like I expected to feel when I was about 70. I'm now dealing with some numbness in my feet not unlike neuropathy which started several months after finishing chemo. I'm on B6, but Neurontin is my next step if B6 doesn't start to work so it is good to hear from those who have used it. It seems to be pretty evident from the replies that exercise helps, so I'm going to try to figure out a way to do that at home. Any suggestions of what type works best would be appreciated. Feel free to e-mail me at aminmi@hotmail.com.

Hi my name is noelle.my last chemo was feb 04 my chemo were taxol/carboplatn . I have been experiencing joint pain . The pain is not sever but there I wake up in the morning my feet hurt my ankles hurt and now my fingers are starting to ache. But the good news I am a ovarian cancer survivor.

lilcj7498 · June 2005

christmasang said:
Hi my name is noelle.my last chemo was feb 04 my chemo were taxol/carboplatn . I have been experiencing joint pain . The pain is not sever but there I wake up in the morning my feet hurt my ankles hurt and now my fingers are starting to ache. But the good news I am a ovarian cancer survivor.

I finished chemo (CAT) in March 05 and am now experiencing joint pain. I have been very active all my life and now I feel crippled when I get out of bed to walk. Gets better through the day. The doctors just dismiss it. Also at night my left hand falls asleep, sometimes to the point my whole arm just aches. My doctor thinks I have carpal tunnel syndrome. I don't think so, it seemed to just start happening. They don't think it is from the chemo drugs. I'm wanting answers and solutions, but it seems the doctors don't really have any.

denbarlow · June 2005

lilcj7498 said:
I finished chemo (CAT) in March 05 and am now experiencing joint pain. I have been very active all my life and now I feel crippled when I get out of bed to walk. Gets better through the day. The doctors just dismiss it. Also at night my left hand falls asleep, sometimes to the point my whole arm just aches. My doctor thinks I have carpal tunnel syndrome. I don't think so, it seemed to just start happening. They don't think it is from the chemo drugs. I'm wanting answers and solutions, but it seems the doctors don't really have any.

I finished chemo in Jan 05 (I did 6 months of CAT chemo on a dose dense clinical trial with over 100 filgrastim injections) and completed radiation in Mar 05. I am also experiencing joint pain that makes it hard to get out of bed in the morning (that first walk down the stairs in the morning is awful), get out of the car, or get up from my desk at work. It does get better once I am up moving around awhile. My shoulders and hands are also sore and my right thumb, index and middle fingers are swollen. They have called it lymphedema but the rest of my arm isn't swollen. Xrays have shown generalized degeneration in the hand joints but RA tests have been negative. My oncologist calls it "jelling" but that isn't a diagnosis and I am miserable with it. I believe that an active exercise program may help but the pain seems to have gotten progessively worse over the past couple months. I have been searching the internet for similar complaints and found that we are not alone but it doesn't appear that we are getting much support from the medical community. I take at least 800-1600 mg of Motrin each day (which my stomach doesn't like) but it doesn't take all the pain away. I have also tried Indocin with no better success. I am worried that I will not be able to keep up with my nursing position if the pain and stiffness progress. It has been good to find that this problem is shared by others if only to confirm to myself that I am not crazy and it is a real disability. I absolutely believe it is from the chemo drugs but I don't think it is neuropathy. I also have been active...only 45 when diagnosed with invasive ductal breast cancer in May 04. I had just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq so I was not out of shape or overweight. Granted I am not working out now and I do believe that may be contributing to the problem but not the cause. Please e-mail me. I would like to try to contact some of these other contributors to see how they feel this much later. Take care. Denise

weazer · March 2010

MrsSantolla said:
Hi Shannon. I'm sorry to hear about your pain however I'm happy to tell you this. I had chemo and radiation 22 months ago and I as well have aches and joint pains. I can't say it was/is excruciating but I felt my body was turning into this old crippled woman. I had to do something.
About 3months ago I started exercising. NOT for weight loss/control but for a healthy well being. I was walking some however I didnt feel the benefit until I increased my workout. I do a combo of may different things since I tend to get bored with the same exercise an quit! I jump rope, jog some, do some stairs, some Taebo, sit- ups, weights and a little toning. It takes about a hour. I cannot express how much this has helped me. I now occasionally have pains. Usually in my hips. Some have totally disappeared. The numbness and tinglessness in my feet and toes seems to have improved. I feel like I have my life back, after almost 2 years! I now have the energy to do things I couldn't. Starting out was VERY hard. My knees hurt terrible and ankles. It was very frustrating. I was trying to help other things but created other pains. However I kept doing it, (5 days a week) and it passed within a couple of weeks. I dont know if you have a exercise routine, but I hope this will encourage you and others to do so. Especially those that have joint pains. I feel this has been my saving grace. I hope to hear from you. Take care and God bless.

living with joint pain long after chemo (WHY)
I am so glad that I took it apon myself to try to find out if anyone else was suffering like me.
I went to my Onc yesterday for this reason and I'm set up for another bone scan on the 12th of April.
I'm six months out of Chemo and radiation....and my pain started right at the end of treatment and is getting gradually worse.
However now I have hope that I wont be crippled from this because I will try to exercise more and keep with it, I was discouraged because after a walk or even really doing some house work I would feel worse.
But you have given me hope and I will try to put an excercise routine together,
I'm a triple negative Breast cancer survivor and that in itself is frightening to me because of the lack of knowledge on how to treat it if I should have a reacurance. But it it what it is, and I'll be 51 in a week and I'm truly looking forward to regaining my strength and to concure this pain that I have, my fingers are a little bit better but my wrists elbows, hips and knees are aweful.
Thank You so much for giving me hope.
Weazer

dennis318 · March 2010

possible answer
Are you on Hydrocodones for the pain, I have stage 4 throat cancer, and to eat soft food i require 2 tablets before meal to get the food down, the soreness and the stretching kills me, and the pain is terrible. I also noticed the hip and wrist pain, i thought the hip was losing alot of weight, the wrist someone told me the drugs. I think the drugs have alot to do with depression. hope something to ask or get an answer back. I've noticed a metal smell from my throat, Dr. advisd me it was the radiation scares healing??? I hope so. Have a Good One. Dennis. P.S..My Doctor looks puzzled, But like i say, they have bever been threw this, and if you haven't been there, what answer can you give?

bluerose · April 2010

Sounds familiar to a point
I am a 20 year survivor of NHL and had a bone marrow transplant and total body rads. I too have pain as you describe all this time after, in fact it's getting worse and I went through many many specialists before I got any answers at all. My family doctor gave me what she felt the pains were related too but I didn't have good solid diagnosises til just 3 years ago - the pains started many years before that.

In the end it was my 4the rheumatologist who sent me for every test they do looking for arthritis etc and she finally diagnosed me with osteoarthritis, probably bursitis in my hip (that causes pain and to the touch too) and fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia involves the nerves and to me that is a big part of the key as to pain for survivors - just my opinion from how it has all played out. Too I was told before radiation that early arthritis was possible and that came to be the situation.

I will be going in for a nerve conduction test in a couple of months and I have no doubt that will show nerve damage for all the treatments I had years ago as well. I am not familiar with that auto disease you mention but that sounds suspicious to me too but again I don't know much about it. Have you had a nerve conduction test? They also do another test with the nerve conduction test and I cant for the life of me remember the name of it but I think they are commonly done together.

If I were you I would try a second opinion or even third from specialists - in particular a really well known rheumatologist, another neurologist, an internal specialist (in the U.S. that specialty might be known as something else but basically our internal specialists cover a wide variety of issues). Also it wouldnt hurt if you saw a doctor who specializes in hormones and immune system - again don't know what they are called in the States. Second and third opinions may well help. My bet is on either the new rheumatologist or the immune system specialist. Also the nerve conduction test could be key.

Good luck and I hope you find your answers. Bluerose

beckym69 · January 2011

bluerose said:
Sounds familiar to a point
I am a 20 year survivor of NHL and had a bone marrow transplant and total body rads. I too have pain as you describe all this time after, in fact it's getting worse and I went through many many specialists before I got any answers at all. My family doctor gave me what she felt the pains were related too but I didn't have good solid diagnosises til just 3 years ago - the pains started many years before that.

In the end it was my 4the rheumatologist who sent me for every test they do looking for arthritis etc and she finally diagnosed me with osteoarthritis, probably bursitis in my hip (that causes pain and to the touch too) and fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia involves the nerves and to me that is a big part of the key as to pain for survivors - just my opinion from how it has all played out. Too I was told before radiation that early arthritis was possible and that came to be the situation.

I will be going in for a nerve conduction test in a couple of months and I have no doubt that will show nerve damage for all the treatments I had years ago as well. I am not familiar with that auto disease you mention but that sounds suspicious to me too but again I don't know much about it. Have you had a nerve conduction test? They also do another test with the nerve conduction test and I cant for the life of me remember the name of it but I think they are commonly done together.

If I were you I would try a second opinion or even third from specialists - in particular a really well known rheumatologist, another neurologist, an internal specialist (in the U.S. that specialty might be known as something else but basically our internal specialists cover a wide variety of issues). Also it wouldnt hurt if you saw a doctor who specializes in hormones and immune system - again don't know what they are called in the States. Second and third opinions may well help. My bet is on either the new rheumatologist or the immune system specialist. Also the nerve conduction test could be key.

Good luck and I hope you find your answers. Bluerose

Curious
Bluerose,

I have just been diagnosed with Follicular NHL in Sept 2010. Prior to being diagnosed they told me I had fibromyalgia, cervical and lumbar spondylosis, and while being tested have bursitis in my right hip which they thought originally was the lymphoma because they way it lite up on the pet scan. I am not sure what I am in for exactly, but am on my 4th cycle of chemo in 6 close ones then I have to go every 3 months for 2 years. Once I get in remission they said if there are very few cell left in my bone marrow we won't do anything with it at this time. If not we will have to address it, next bone marrow biopsy should be in April. I guess what I am curious about is I still have alot of bone and joint pain and I don't know if it is from the cancer, chemo, or the other junk they said I have. I am just very scared because I pray my remissions last a long time, but who knows. I just don't like being sick and hurting. I am a 35 year old single mother and nurse and haven't got the energy to do either. Does this get better? I have wonderful daughters who are thank god old enough they are very low maintenance but I still feel worthless. By the time they finally found it I was a stage 4B and my spleen was large enough you could see it protruding and I couldn't eat and keep anything down. If you have done this for 20 years do you have any tips or advice because I am up for anything.

Thank you in advanced,
beckym69

bluerose · January 2011

Hello
I don't know if you had radiation or not but even though my treatments were 20 years plus ago even then the radiation specialist told me that side effects might include early arthritis after treatments just from the rads alone. I didn't get a long list of later side effects that I can remember but I do remember that and it has come true, I have alot of arthritis all over as I had total body radiation. That's one thing to think about as far as why you might be experiencing the pain.

I know too, have heard, that some chemo will do that as well and can also affect nerves that can lead to pain. I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia which is pain not only in joints but in the fleshy areas as well, can be almost anywhere, and that can be linked to nerve damage some say although I don't know if the jury is really in on that as yet.

Chemo and rads is hard on the body and as you no doubt know many cancer treatments are not specific to the tumours/cancer cells so there can be collateral damage of healthy tissue and joints in many treatments. I don't know how much chemo you had or what drugs were used and I am not a doctor so best thing is to maybe contact a late effects clinic to see if they can go over your treatments and give you some idea of what you might be experiencing.

Don't be afraid to go for second opinions either. Some doctors are leary of 'blaming' side effects on past treatments for who knows why and it is hard to pin down sometimes but there is a real likelyhood that some of your pain comes from the treatments and late effects clinics can help you pin that down, or try to. You can probably find a late effect clinic near you if you are in the states, here in Canada where I am they don't have that type of clinic but our bigger cancer hospitals are covering things like that now in some areas.

All the best with pinning down your health issues and remember you aren't alone. Many of us have side effects from chemo treatments. It's still a relatively new field - the treatment of cancer so they are working things out and one big area is cutting down on side effects if at all possible.

Blessings,

Bluerose

living with joint pain long after chemo (WHY)

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