Severe jaw pain/spasms on Oxy?

Jaw pain
Hubby George did not experience jaw pain but he did have what I might describe as funny sensations on his tongue, nothing severe like pain. He decribed it as a numbness, tingling, mostly near the tip. He did not have the mouth sores. I have read where some experience jaw pain when they take the first bite and then it goes away. Sorry I could not be more help. Hang in there, one day, one treatment at a time.

just4Brooks said:

My face went numb
Hi Kathryn. After my 3rd chemo theatment (Oxy) My fase went numb for 4 days. I could hardly tell if I was blinking. I told my onc and he backed my Oxy down 20% without fear in changing my outcome. No problems sense and I'm now just got done with my 5th treatment.

Brooks

Same as Brooks #3
Kathryn,
I started to get first bite syndrome after treatment #3. It only happens sometimes, when I take the first bite of something. I get a pain/tingling sensation on both sides of my jaw where it hinges. It's usually worse on one side. I can live with it and will be going for treatment #6 next week. I'm almost half way there.

Don

Yes I did
I mentioned it in my post below along with my allergic reaction. When I first started chemo it happened, it eventually stopped. My nurse had never heard anyone complain of it before. Very painful, I do not believe it lasted more than half of my treatments, so I hope it goes away for you too.

Hi Kathryn
I'm sorry to hear this. On top of everything else you'r going through! It sounds common enough to be connected to oxy.

I didn't have this problem but do remember having my dose reduced 20% to reduce other side-effects while I was on it. I was told the same thing as Brook. There would be no change in outcome.

Thinking of you... Rob; in Vancouver

robinvan said:

Hi Kathryn
I'm sorry to hear this. On top of everything else you'r going through! It sounds common enough to be connected to oxy.

I didn't have this problem but do remember having my dose reduced 20% to reduce other side-effects while I was on it. I was told the same thing as Brook. There would be no change in outcome.

Thinking of you... Rob; in Vancouver

sorry too
kathryn I too am sorry you are having such a hard time. Oxy is not easy that's for sure and it does give strange side effects. I kept a little diary each month so I could go over those with the onc. I had a reduced oxy dose starting round 2 but it was still rough. Lots of nausea, fatigue, all the cold neuropathy. I did not have the jaw thing but lots of people here did. My eyes were twitchy, watery, would not focus and in cold air they felt like they were frozen, same with face. I ended up getting a big balaclava that covered the whole face.

hang in Kathryn
best wishes,
~mags~

Yes
I had this too. It would seem that my jaw would lock up for several seconds and the feeling was strange like I had 100 sour lemons in the back of my throat. I would end up rubbing both sides of my mouth just so that I could get my mouth open. Mine continued all through chemo and just now is improving. Hardly ever have it now. Good luck!

Kim

Fight for my love said:

My hubby had jaw spasm for a
My hubby had jaw spasm for a couple of days after the first round was done,then it just went away.Only the first couple of bites,he felt very strange,then he could eat normally.We reported to the oncologist,but he didn't make any comments.It is from Oxy for sure.

Yep its Oxy.....
and if he doesn't believe it tell him to try a little oxy and see for himself. First treatment should do it for him...LOL...It will go away about 2 weeks after the oxy is overwith.....I had it myself and send him in here if he doesn't cooperate, we'll rough him up a little for ya...LOL....Good Luck {{hugs}}}}, Clift

Oxy Neuropathy
Kathryn,

I wonder if the doctors are unwilling to acknowledge any side effects that are not specifically named in the drug monograph! It mentions nerve and feeling problems in the mouth and throat, but not the jaw pains or spasms in particular.

The detailed info on Oxy can be accessed on our BC Cancer Agency website here...

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/NR/rdonlyres/D0132051-8601-4B5E-89A0-5BB3B4739C83/31059/Oxaliplatinmonograph_1Nov08_formatted.pdf

It notes that infusions of cal/mag before and after Oxy infusions can help with peripheral neuropathy...

"To reduce the incidence and severity of peripheral neuropathy, patients should be considered to receive infusions of 1 g of calcium gluconate and 1 g of magnesium sulphate prior to and following oxaliplatin treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer, especially if peripheral neuropathy has developed while on oxaliplatin treatment. Calcium/magnesium infusions do not appear to reduce the efficacy of oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.36-38 However, they are not recommended in patients with hypercalcemia or receiving digoxin or thiazide diuretics. Calcium can precipitate arrhythmias when given with digoxin and increase the risk of hypercalcemia with thiazide diuretics."

Infusion is done... good days ahead!

TTFN... Rob; in Vancouver

Yes I had this
For me it came on after TX #2 or 3. Acupuncture greatly relieved the pain, thouigh i would have to watch what I bit into. Made a big mistake one morning last winter when I put a piece of cold gum in my mouth and took the first bite.

Leslie

I am not sure that
I am not sure that oncologist are the most versed in side effects. It seemed like mine wanted to immediately rule out everything (had to see an eye doctor for my eye pain, which included my eyelids swelling up like balloons)- that doctor said, yeah they are bad, but this is what chemo does to people's eyes. He gave me eye drops. Now, it seems to me that I didn't need to see an eye doctor about that.
I do think that there are so many variations of things and extremes that chemo does to the body. I didn't have the jaw pain at all, but I sure had a lot of other things. The mouth sores and thrush I had so bad- one of the reasons it got so bad so quick? Two of the oncology nurses looked in my mouth (ah, they tried, mouth too swollen to even get my teeth apart) and said, "start by rinsing your mouth with warm salt water and let us know tomorrow how it is". Basically, they patted my hand and made me feel like I was a wus. 24 hours later one of the inpatient oncology nurses was getting me set up for fluids. My mouth and tongue so swollen I couldn't speak. She immediately stepped to the phone in the room I was in and called for STAT admission orders. I remember thinking, OMG, somebody actually thinks this is as bad as it feels.
So, guess what? I definitely support you being vocal- because they do walk a fine line in expecting issues, but not knowing when they have gone overboard with them. It is those issues that help determine when they cut the oxy and how much.
Hope you are feeling better. I always felt my worse right after the pump was dc'd and for about 5 days after. That you are starting shots tomorrow-wow- hang in there and hang on as the ride is bound to get bumpy.