Effects from Chemo...Need Advise

Lin,
I have been dealing with this illness since my 20s & at 46 can say that I suffer from the same problems. I attribute some to the fact that I also have artritus, but not all of it. It is difficult as we get a bit older & go through conventinal treatment for cancer>{chemo, radiation} .... There are many side affects to using these treatments as they are so radical & invasive to our bodies. One Dr told me that I brace myself in my sleep because of the pain & I thought he was full of it untill I woke up gritting my teeth so hard that I had to do to the dentist to get a peice of plastic to wear at night to prevent me from grinding them apart. At the same time I noticed the pain in all of my muscles. It was only part of my problem because my bones seem to hurt as well. Joints & sometimes I would awake with swollen hands & feet>{still do have that problem}.... I am not trying to say that your Dr is wrong because I don't know the history of your case. The last time I took chemo I lost 22 lbs in a week after i treatment. I was told that I could never take chemo again. As far as radiation goes it is no longer a option. I had to take alternative meds. I am in no way suggesting that you do what I am doing, but I am sympathetic or should I say emphathetic to your problems. If you would like to email me you can do it throught this site. I will be praying for you & hope or have faith in the Lord that this too shall pass.
God Bless You
Love Cathy

billandpatty said:

lin:
I'm a 4 year survivor and I had all those aches and pains too. I had a lumpectomy, lymphnode dissection, A/C and radiation (no tamoxifen, ER-). While I was in radiation I started to notice how stiff I was, I had just turned 48 -- I kept telling the doctors I felt like I was 80 (the doctors didn't validate my complaints). But my primary care physician felt that my body had been through so much, it was exhausted and it gave everything it could to get me through the treatments. The terrible aches and stiffness finally subsided. I was found to have osteopenia about a year after my dx, (they think brought on by chemo-menopause --- not a medical term, my own). I take Evista to build the bone, I don't know if that had any effect on having less aching. My hands still ache at times, esp. my thumbs (I think I have arthritis).

Give yourself time to heal but also make your doctors aware of how you're feeling. Take care.

Patty

You might want to consult a naturopathic MD. Sounds like your on the right supplements, but it's possible you need something more.
Believe it or not green tea helps my joints tremendously.
Also, check with onc, sometimes tamoxifen, aromasin, and especially femara are associated with joint pain. Just a thought, you may not even be on any of these, can't remember if you said. Chemobrain! Another lovely side effect. LOL
God bless.
hummingbyrd

Hi Lin, I had a lumpectomy last August with an agressive chemo treatment of 4 rounds of A/C followed by 4 of Taxotere, followed by 36 radiation treatments (on my last two weeks now). I started having pains after the first round of Taxotere - bone and muscle...at first they would disappear, but after the 3rd treatment they never left. The oncologist said they should disappear "over time" and suggested physical therapy and accupuncture. I haven't done much with the physical therapy yet, but have seen a accupuncturist twice and already the pain in my legs is gone. The pain in my arms and hands is not quite as bad either. The accupuncturist also suggested (and I've started on this too) a product called Medi-Clear. He said a lot of patients that have been through chemo take it as it helps detox the body of the chemicals. Its also full of vitamins and minerals and he has been using it for 13 years himself - he said it helped a lot with his allergies. If you'd like to check it out, there is a website that gives details on it: http://www.naturalhealthconsult.com/Monographs/MediClear.html

Yesterday was my first really good day in months! So, I think what I'm doing is working.
Hope this helps and I wish you all the best!
Joni

I had the same surgery and the same chemotherapy as you, and have the same hip and joint pain, especially if it is going to rain or snow. I, too, hobble. I have tried suggestions one after the other... gelatin every day, glucosamine and chondroitin, green tea, etc. I still wake up every hour and have to roll over on the other side. I was taking Actonel (cousin of Fosamax) prior to it hitting the fan, and honestly believe that this is indeed a long-lasting side effect of chemotherapy. I have mentioned it to the oncology surgeon, the medical oncologist and the radiation oncologist. If I did not have this message board to find half a zillion other women who have the same aching discomfort after chemotherapy, I'd be inclined to become morose over the utter lack of actual knowledge encountered by patients who bring their concerns to their physicians. If so many of US have it, it cannot be rare! I have even explained that naproxyn, ibuprofen, aspirin, Vicodin ES do not alleviate the problem of pain-related lack of sound sleep. I get a blank look from the doctors. If I discover the way to get rid of it for a solid 7 hours, I will let you know.
Love and hugs,
Denise

It is amazing to me that so many of us have the same side effects as having the same treatment and yet the docs still won't believe that it is related to what they have prescribed for us. Don't get me wrong, I love my doc. He's great and he listens when I tell him there is a problem.

As for my bone and joint pain, I have found that VIoxx has helped me when narcotics and other anti-inflamatories didn't. (By the way, when I was in an extreme amount of pain before they diagnosed my bone met, I was told that the pain meds i.e. narcotics did not work when you are in pain. They work in anticipation of pain.)

When all else fails, Ativan helped me sleep when nothing else did.