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SheilaG
SheilaG Member Posts: 8
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I underwent 4 rounds of a/c and 4 rounds of taxol 2 years ago at the age of 35. I am now having a lot of knee pain and difficulty walking up and down stairs, getting out of chairs, etc. I have read that chemo wrecks havoc on your joints and I was wondering if anyone else had similiar problems and if so, has anything helped? Thanks for any info! Sheila

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  • mssue
    mssue Member Posts: 242
    #2
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    Hi,

    Hope You feel better soon,my upper legs go numb -sometimes painful-thought it was my back - the orthopedic doctor said I have a black disk(whatever that means)but that would not cause the numbness in my thighs.In other words they don't know-but they prescribed nuerotin(sp) and has increased the dosage already too.The Physical therapist that I'm going to mentioned peripheral nerve damage probably caused from the chemo-I had A/C only,finished that in January 2004.All I know is that I can't stand for long, maybe 20 to 30
    minutes,can't sit for long periods either-if I lay down too long my ribs start hurting.You can't win for losing it seems,I do think the nuerotin helps to extend out the times I can stand or walk. Dag-gone it sounds like I'm in bad shape-LOL-didn't mean to go on like this,maybe You need to get up with Your Doctor and let them know what's going on-You know Your regular Physician.I feel for Ya - take it easy - keep us posted-and WELCOME
    ((hugs))
    Sue
  • jdubious
    jdubious Member Posts: 113
    #3
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    Hi Sheila,
    I had chemo (A/C and Taxol) now I'm on Femara. I also have knee pain. (I'm 44)
    Getting up from sitting seems to be the worst, going down stairs too. The best thing for me so far has been exercise. Going for a walk every day is so simple, but it's amazing how much it helps. I can really tell the difference when I'm not active. I also try to choose the tallest chairs when I sit down - it doesn't hurt as much to get up. If only we had a taller toilet! That's the worst hieght for getting up.
    Also, like mssue, I also get sore lying down, but you've got to sleep sometime! Activity seems to help with this too, plus a few advil if I really can't get comfortable.
    jill
  • britchick356
    britchick356 Member Posts: 45
    #4
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    My joints,wrists and neck, crack loudly. This never happened before chemo. My diagnosis has recently worsened from osteopenia to osteoporosis. I have problems taking the usual oral meds becuse I have a drug-sensitive stomach. I'm now getting Zometa in IV form every 6 months. I have found that mild exercise mostly just moving the joints gently, and Glucosamine&Collagen tablets help the situation. I heard about G&C by word of mouth. No doctor has ever offered it as an option.
    I hope this helps.Cyberhugs.
  • SheilaG
    SheilaG Member Posts: 8
    #5
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    mssue said:

    Hi,

    Hope You feel better soon,my upper legs go numb -sometimes painful-thought it was my back - the orthopedic doctor said I have a black disk(whatever that means)but that would not cause the numbness in my thighs.In other words they don't know-but they prescribed nuerotin(sp) and has increased the dosage already too.The Physical therapist that I'm going to mentioned peripheral nerve damage probably caused from the chemo-I had A/C only,finished that in January 2004.All I know is that I can't stand for long, maybe 20 to 30
    minutes,can't sit for long periods either-if I lay down too long my ribs start hurting.You can't win for losing it seems,I do think the nuerotin helps to extend out the times I can stand or walk. Dag-gone it sounds like I'm in bad shape-LOL-didn't mean to go on like this,maybe You need to get up with Your Doctor and let them know what's going on-You know Your regular Physician.I feel for Ya - take it easy - keep us posted-and WELCOME
    ((hugs))
    Sue

    Hi Mssue, I'm sorry to hear you are having a rough time! But thanks so much for taking a few and letting me know how they are trying to help you! Hope your standing/walking times keep getting longer! And thanks for the welcome, it helps to have people who understand!
  • SheilaG
    SheilaG Member Posts: 8
    #6
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    jdubious said:

    Hi Sheila,
    I had chemo (A/C and Taxol) now I'm on Femara. I also have knee pain. (I'm 44)
    Getting up from sitting seems to be the worst, going down stairs too. The best thing for me so far has been exercise. Going for a walk every day is so simple, but it's amazing how much it helps. I can really tell the difference when I'm not active. I also try to choose the tallest chairs when I sit down - it doesn't hurt as much to get up. If only we had a taller toilet! That's the worst hieght for getting up.
    Also, like mssue, I also get sore lying down, but you've got to sleep sometime! Activity seems to help with this too, plus a few advil if I really can't get comfortable.
    jill

    Jill, You are describing everything I am feeling! I used to walk a great deal, but not so much lately. But if there was ever an incentive to start up again, this is it! I may see an orthopedic soon if walking doesn't do the trick. I'm tired of feeling like my grandmother and probably looking like her trying to get out of a chair too!!! Thanks for the advice! Sheila
  • SheilaG
    SheilaG Member Posts: 8
    #7
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    britchick356 said:

    My joints,wrists and neck, crack loudly. This never happened before chemo. My diagnosis has recently worsened from osteopenia to osteoporosis. I have problems taking the usual oral meds becuse I have a drug-sensitive stomach. I'm now getting Zometa in IV form every 6 months. I have found that mild exercise mostly just moving the joints gently, and Glucosamine&Collagen tablets help the situation. I heard about G&C by word of mouth. No doctor has ever offered it as an option.
    I hope this helps.Cyberhugs.

    I had been considering Glucosamine, I figure it can't hurt right? I think excercise is a great treatment to try! Thanks for the reply and I hope the treatments keep improving things for you!
  • mailu
    mailu Member Posts: 1
    #8
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    hi, I'm new here, but yes. I can only sit for about an hour, then so stiff, like an old lady to get up. I took Glucosamine for years. Problems with liver processing meds, so I quit. Lots of bone cracking. I was on Fosamax for osteoporosis (from chemo). Quit that. Now I only take the Arimidex. It's all I can handle. None of my docs will admit that these side effects are from treatment. I just try to deal with it all the best I can.
  • Moonwalk
    Moonwalk Member Posts: 7
    #9
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    Hi Sheila, I had CMF chemo, then radiation, then started Arimidex Sept 1. It was then that I began to feel all of the joint pain and difficulty rising from a chair, etc. I see where this is the main side effect of Arimidex. I just got back into excercising to tapes a half an hour each morning, and what a (good) difference it has made. I was also on Lodine (supposedly a stronger anti-inflammatory) and it did nothing. I switched to regular ibuprophen (Motrin) and that is now helping. I never thought of this being a result of chemo, and I doubt if it is in my case. Best of luck to you, I think the excercise, even walking, may be your key. Take care and good luck.
  • SandyV
    SandyV Member Posts: 9
    #10
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    The only difference between your chemo and mine was that I had Taxotere (sp) instead of Taxol. During those 4 treatments, I had alot of discomfort in my hips and lower back when I attempted to rise from a chair, etc. It would take several steps to straighten up and for the discomfort to subside. It's been almost 2 years and I still feel some discomfort. Most of the time it's minimal. It has taken almost 2 years of going to the park to walk 2 or more times a week for this to ease. Still, if I lay in bed too long or lay on one hip or the other too long, it hurts. Once I move, I'm fine. I have also found that if I don't get enough calcium or don't walk for 2 or 3 days, the discomfort increases.

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