chronic joint pain

Hi Patteee,
It
Hi Patteee,
It really does seem to go with the territory. But as my rheumatologist said cancer and chemo did not help but you were going to have problems at some stage with arthritis. I am nearly twelve years post stge 3 colon ca into 6 nodes. My life quality is diminishing before my eyes. I have been dx with sveral forms of serious kidney disease and treated with all manner of terrible steroids and blood pressure meds. I had a bone scan that showed arthritis in every joint. I now have to take methotrexate(another chemo agent) for the arthritis. And now the methotrexate has dropped my protein loss to almost normal levels. My nephrologist said that cannot happen with damaged kidney filters. He now believes that all along it has been auto immune arthritis attacking my kidneys,veins and nerves. I suffer neuropathy in both legs and left hand. The meth is an immuno-suppressant and is stopping some of the auto immune attacks. He will not change any of my meds as he thinks it may cause a flare. As a result I am always tired and have low blood pressure 90/60 in the morning. I have a scope coming up next tuesday and my gi is so concerned that she is admitting me to hospital to do the prep(I live alone). My nephrologist is of the opinnion that my current condition is the result of my serious malignancy and year of chemo. Just to make things even better I have been dx with a frozen left shoulder and that it will take 18 mos to 2 years to come good. I applied for a disability pension and was told I was not sick. The moral of the story is that surviving cancer for me was easy ,surviving survival is very hard. But we survivors are tough stuff so hang in there and just keep swinging,Ron.

Candida and allergy
Hi Patteee!

You asked for some input and here's mine:

Yes, I would continue to seek advice from Mayo on the Western Diagnostic front BUT and that's a BIG BUT :-) I would seriously look into an anti-fungal and low allergy diet with extra digestive enzymes and probiotics to help with the arthritic issues. And here's why:

Chemo kills EVERYTHING so one needs to reintroduce good bacteria into the gut lining. There are many out there (me being one) who believe that ALL disease starts in gut. Gut health is key and the chemo has done a number on you (and ron--which is a HUGE reason I didn't do it).

Candida albicans can have a field day in your gut after drugs so killing them off with an anti-fungal diet could be helpful for you. This means no sugar, no fruit, no grains -- anything that feeds the yeast. The low allergy diet would be no wheat, no eggs, no dairy, no soy, no nightshades (notorious for promoting arthritis) such as potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers.

You may want to keep a food journal and see how your body reacts after certain foods. Here's my experience of late....

I get headaches from popcorn but not from cornbread. So when I went on a gluten free diet with my daughter recently I was eating a lot of cornbread for three days in a row. On the fourth I could barely get out of bed due to my muscles being sooooo sore and my joints were stiff and achy much like I figure arthritis feels like. My feet were so stiff and sore I hobbled around for a few minutes until I loosened up. My hands were stiff and puffy. I took the corn out of my diet and presto chango I was much better.

I am experimenting with a low histamine/low allergy/anti-fungal diet myself after dealing with this Mast Cell Activation Disorder that my allergist at Mayo says I have. He did NOT put me on this diet, if fact he has said nothing about diet (oh surprise), but I am doing my own research on line about this issue. It is working really well so far and I'm not having allergic episodes as I work on healing my gut.

It so happened that I started having serious allergic reactions after being on penicillin for a strep infection in my foot and my system went haywire. So I can imagine what a body has to deal with trying to heal from the chemo.

Anyway, just some thoughts because I REALLY don't think you should "learn to live with it"!! I think that's a COP OUT on the part of the Western Medical profession. Please think about searching out a Naturopathic Doctor who WILL help you heal from your chemo problems and get your body back to balance.

peace, emily

ps. and juicing could really help too ;-)

Patteee said:

thanks Lisa- actually this
thanks Lisa- actually this is a direction I hope to get myself organized in this coming week. I have a friend (from my past, no contact in years) who not only does acupuncture he also has a homopathy (think that is what it is called) clinic in downtown Minneapolis. So, I have been thinking about it, just haven't moved on it yet

MPLS!?
Either I totally forgot or I didn't know you were from MN. So, knowing this I can suggest two practitioners whom I used for my cancer healing protocol. My Naturopathic doctor is in St. Paul and my WONDERFUL!!! Traditional Chinese MEdicine practitioner is in Bloomington. She does acupuncture, massage, aromatherapy, herbs, supplements, you name it she's licensed for it. She was a nurse who just continued to get educated in alternatives. I just love her and give her a lot of credit for me still being alive after 8 years! Her treatments were like going to a spa and she was always researching cancer healing for me.

If you're interested I can give you names and numbers.

peace, emily who's a Cheesehead living in MN!

lesvanb said:

pain
I'm 5 months out from FOLFOX and still have Grade 1 neuropathy in tips of fingers and feet. I had osteoathritis before dx and the cancer treatment process has accelerated the aging process (one of my oncs agrees with me). I've had some improvement in function with my feet with less blocky numb feeling and now no balance issues. I still have pins and needles and can understand feeling like something is under your big toes (for me it's under my arch). What seems to be working is acupuncture 2 x/week. My insurance pays for it. I also work closely with my naturopath and get infrared treatments at physical therapy. Physical therapy, plus yoga and weight training with a trainer has also been very helpful in quality of movement. I still take 1/2 Vicodin at night to sleep because of pain/discomfort. I look forward to the neuropathy from the oxaliplatin being gone in the 6 months the drig companies said it would be.

Leslie

I have pain that I was attributing to Levaquin antibiotic
Off of chemo going on 4 weeks now. For the past three weeks I have had major pains on my neck, shoulders, lower back, my glutis maximus(sp?), and the back of my legs. I have been on Tylenol, Tylenol PM, and Vicodin, hot showers, heat aids and nada, it still hurts. I am waiting to talk to my oncologist on 10/21 but it sounds like it may be what you all are describing.

Great. I need a massage!