post chemo pain

• By jeaniet
• Posted June 9, 2009 at 6:01 pm
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Many of us have pain after chemo. I am almost a year out of chemo and I have tremendous shoulder/arm pain and stiffness. Recent PET says it is arthritis, which I never had before chemo. Oncologist is recommending that I see an Ortho doc and get steroid shots and physical therapy.
I started Glucosamine about 10 days ago and see some improvement. Not waking up at night with such aching anymore.
Jeanie

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• By AJ70
• Posted June 10, 2009 at 10:53 am
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I had my last chemo February 2/09 - and wake up every morning with stiff joints and muscles. Hands, feet, ankles, knees. I feel about 80 years old when I get up every morning! However, I do loosen up quickly as the day progresses, the busier I am the better. But I will stiffen up anytime I sit for too long, etc. I believe it is from chemo too - there are too many of us who have mentioned it to be a coincidence. (right?) I think maybe the toxins, steroids, etc do a number on our joints, etc.....I do hear from some women that it goes away in time....and in others that it doesn't.......here's hoping it is gone before too long!

Hang in there,

Amy

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• By FavoriteAunt
• Posted June 10, 2009 at 1:49 pm
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Chemo can cause arthritis. It's usually temporary and goes away, but it could remain. My long-time rheumatolgist told me this. His wife is a stage 3 ovca survivor so he pays a lot of attention to things like this. She developed arthritis after chemo, but it did go away. Mine vanished during chemo the first time, but came back worse than before and didn't ease up for quite a while.

See a good rheumatologist about this. There are many meds to treat arthritis and one should be right for you. Good luck and hope you feel better soon.

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• By Trip
• Posted June 11, 2009 at 9:44 am
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I, too, had long lasting pain after chemo. I finished chemo treatments in 10/05. In fact, I still have the pain. My gyn/onc was the one that that sent me to a Rheumatologist. He said Rheumatoid Arthritis was not uncommon in chemo patients. I did not have RA. I suffer from Fibromyalgia and probably Lupus. Looking back I could see that the FM probably started around the same time as the cancer (my guestamate no documentation for when the cancer started). The steroids from the premeds hid most of the pain during treatment but it did come back with a vengeance. In fact, I am typing this from bed as my body hasn't quite loosened up enough to get out of bed. Don't worry about me though, I have a great doctor for the FM and the drugs are starting to kick in for this morning.

Amy, you sound so much like me. I try to exercise daily. Just things like walking, yoga, pilates. If I do miss a few days in a row, the pain gets worse. It sometimes hurts to exercise but I have learned to deal with it. After all, it's not like I have cancer. Oh wait, I do have cancer, or should I say I did have cancer. That crap better never come back because I am stronger now than ever. :) If your pain gets too bad or uncomfortable, see a Rheumatologist.

Hope this helps let you all know that you are not alone.

Love, hugs and prayers,
Trip

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• By gvnmomba
• Posted June 11, 2009 at 12:22 pm
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I agree with all the posts that exercising is the best way to cope. I am 7 years out from Carbo/Taxol and IP Topotecan. I still get stiff with sitting but find that the muscle pains have eased over the years with my increasing activity of caring and riding our horse. I work as a hospital RN, so I have physical strain in my work but it is the grooming, riding and walking that has most helped my body to recover from the long term effect of chemo tx.

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• By lovemnms
• Posted June 11, 2009 at 3:38 pm
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My last treatment was Dec 08. I had severe muscle pain in my thighs until April 09. I believe what helped was powered glutamine mixed in water or juice. It was suggested to me by my oncologist. He mentioned 1x a day(didn't work) but the container said 3x a day and it did the trick.

I am still suffering terribly with joint pain in my knees, fingers and shoulders. Nothing seems to be helping that. If anyone has suggestions for joint pain-please...

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• By lovemnms
• Posted June 11, 2009 at 3:42 pm
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AJ70: I totally agree. I feel the same way! By the time I limber up it's time to go back to bed!! : )

Trip: This is true. I remembering my onco. telling me something similar.

"The steroids from the premeds hid most of the pain during treatment but it did come back with a vengeance."

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