stiffness from chemo

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jillpls
jillpls Member Posts: 238
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I have had 8 months of folfiri and I am now very stiff. My joints hurt! It happened after I had 4 months of folfox. Does anyone have the same issue? I've been going for a massage monthly and trying to get back into yoga. I walk 3.5 miles about 6 days a week so I know i'm in ok shape for what I've been through. But the stiffness is tough. Last time it lasted about 4 months I think.
Jill

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  • kmygil
    kmygil Member Posts: 876 Member
    #2
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    Joint Stuffness
    Hi Jill.
    I hear you about the stiffness. Have you had a bone scan done? My chemo threw me into immediate menopause and bone pain followed directly. Had a bone scan and it was determined that I had severe osteopenia, close to osteoporosis. Tried the Biophosphonates, but that incapcitated me with even more joint/bone pain, so now I'm just doing high dosage calcium/vitamin D. The bone pain has abated somewhat, but I still have to take painkillers every so often. Joint stiffness looks like it's here to stay, since it's been almost 2 years since my last treatment, and I still have to stand up in stages. Everything loosens up after moving for a minute or two, though. Anyway, just thought I'd recommend a bone scan.

    Hugs,
    Kirsten
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #3
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    also had joint stiffness
    Hi Jill,
    I also experienced joint stiffness following a few momths of taking Folfox. I have recently been tested for the rheumatoid factor and sed rate to see if I might have arthritis. They both came back within normal limits. My thoughts are that somehow the chemo did my joints in and it doesn't show up officially as arthritis, although the joints ache. Some days I don't even think about it because it doesn't bother me every day. Other days, I feel like I've been hit by a truck. I also had a bone scan and nothing abnormal was found. What I haven't had yet is a bone density test, which is different than a bone scan. The bone density test is what checks for osteoparosis or other bone density issues. My mom had osteoparosis, so I know I'm at risk for that anyway. For some reason, my primary care physician didn't see the need for the bone density test at this time. I'll push to have it sometime within this next year. By the way, I'm 42, so it shouldn't be considered normal to have aching joints at this stage in life yet (I don't think so anyway!) I also went through menopause from the oxaliplatin and radiation (my last period ever was on my first day of chemo- haven't had one since & it's been a year and a half).
    Best wishes to you. Oh- I've been taking glucosamine for the joints and I've been much better lately!
    Lisa
  • MoonDragon
    MoonDragon Member Posts: 183
    #4
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    Hi Jill!
    I started out with
    Hi Jill!
    I started out with just 5FU and Oxypilatin and then when Gallbladder cancer was found (not a met) I was upped to Folfox. I too was thrown straight into menopause and have had joint problems. One thing that seems to really help is a higher protein diet (this has helped with diahrrea too) and a much lower sugar content. I find that the more sugar I eat the more joint pain I have. Just a thought.

    :) Jorie
  • jillpls
    jillpls Member Posts: 238
    #5
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    MoonDragon said:

    Hi Jill!
    I started out with
    Hi Jill!
    I started out with just 5FU and Oxypilatin and then when Gallbladder cancer was found (not a met) I was upped to Folfox. I too was thrown straight into menopause and have had joint problems. One thing that seems to really help is a higher protein diet (this has helped with diahrrea too) and a much lower sugar content. I find that the more sugar I eat the more joint pain I have. Just a thought.

    :) Jorie

    joint pain
    Thank you for help. I'll ask the dr about another bone scan. I had one two years ago. The lost time I had chemo it had the joint pain but it went away. Now that I've complete the folfiri I have the stiffness again. I do east some sweets so I'll try and watch it. I hope it goes away. Some days I can barely get my shoes or socks on. My radiation put me immediately into menopause as well so I think my body is way older than I am at 52. I'll check with my dr. Thanks.

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