post-chemo arthritis

jamjar62
jamjar62 Member Posts: 135
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I finished my chemo in May of last year and my radiation in July. I started Tamoxifen right after. I have bone & joint pain that seems to coincide with my menstrual cycle. Well, actually its a phantom cycle because I haven't had a period in over a year but I get all the physical symptoms every 30 days! But the joint pain comes and goes about every 30 days also. Am I going crazy or has anyone else experienced this? Thanks!

Karen

Comments

  • tlmac
    tlmac Member Posts: 272 Member
    #2
    Hi jam, Although not officially listed as a side effect of Tamoxifen, many women taking the drug report joint and muscle pain. Chemo can cause similar pain but usually resolves itself after the first year following treatment. I finished my chemo in May 2003 and have been on Arimidex ever since. I have tolerable pain all the time but especially when getting out of bed in the morning or after sitting for an extended period of time. My doctors have me taking Bextra and it helps.
  • creetcreet
    creetcreet Member Posts: 5
    #3
    I don't know if this will help, and I'm new to this message board. But I've been a breast cancer survivor for 3 years. Before, during and after my chemo/radiation (I'm not on Tamoxifen), I started immediately taking Glucosamine Chondrite, twice a day ---- I am a short person, and have joint pain anyway, so this really really helped. Glucosamine takes a while to get in your system, but it helped me.
  • kolzig37
    kolzig37 Member Posts: 2
    #4
    I finished 6 3-week cycles of ACT on March 17, 2003. Then I did radiation. I'm on Arimidex, and I too notice the joint pain -- mostly in my hands, feet, and elbows -- especially in the morning. At 46 I feel like an old lady when I first get up in the morning or if I've been sitting for a long time. The better my diet (low fat, low sugar -- you know the drill) and the more regular exercise I get the less the symptoms are. I was taking Feldene (piroxicam) for pain relief, but now find I don't need it (I can't take aspirin or ibuprophen).

    As for phantom cycles, I know what you mean: I used to always react to my gold watch (whatever the alloy is in it tarnishes my wrist) -- I still do about once a month, though I haven't had a period in 1 1/2 years. You're not going crazy -- just one of the priveleges of being part of the Sisterhood of Survivors.
  • billandpatty
    billandpatty Member Posts: 86
    #5
    I too had joint pain after chemo and radiation. I kept telling the doctors that I felt like I must me 80+ years old (I was 48 at the time). I was really stiff and it took me a few moments to get out of bed or up from a chair. My thumbs ached, I couldn't use a stapler to staple papers together. I also was diagnosed with carpel tunnel syndrome -- my arms would fall asleep and ache so bad at about 4 in the morning I'd have to get up for the day. The good news is that it finally went away (my thumbs still ache at times). I was diagnosed with the beginnings of osteoporosis and was prescribed Evista. I don't know if that helped to get rid of the aching, but I'm a lot better and I'm not having the bone loss that I was having a couple of years ago. I am not on Tamoxifin (I am estrogen negative). It's not good that all of you have had similar aches and pains, but it's good to hear that others have the same stuff -- doctors were telling me "they had never heard of joints aching" and didn't think it had anything to do with the treatments I had been through -- you're all confirming that we're not all going crazy! It took a year or so to be in less pain.
  • AuthorUnknown
    AuthorUnknown Member Posts: 1,537 Member
    #6
    I found a product that I think everyone should take, and I take it too. It's called THE GREATEST VITAMIN IN THE WORLD. I have a website that you can go to to find out some very interesting stuff about cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, indigestion, weight loss, and why it is proven to be the best in the world. It is made from whole foods, and is the most complete, highest grade, and most absorbable vitamins, minerals(amino acid chelated), enzymes, and probiotics known on the planet ALL IN ONE CHEAP BOTTLE!! It has everything you need to nutritionally support your entire body and it's all for $40 bucks. Some of the ingredients cost more than that for a single ingredient, not to mention that most of what you buy in the store can actually cause cancer, heart disease, and more. Just read the label, if it doesn't say words like carrots, wild yams, and other vegetable words that you know, then they are synthetic and they could be hurting you, and eveen if they're not they not doing you much good either. Please for you and everyone you know, share this website- it's www.dontforgettotakeyourvitamins.com/wiley15427

Discussion Boards