Sunday, September 27, 2009

Question - Muscle Pain (4 weeks after chemo)

I have had muscle pain in my legs and arms this past week, seems to be getting worse everyday. I am trying to figure out if this is a side effect from chemo or what is going on. I am fine otherwise, and not really tired or anything. I'm still walking, even did a bike ride. I'm sure I'm not overdoing it. The muscle aches are when I am standing or laying down.

And here I thought this would be when I would be feeling the best - 4 weeks after chemo and not yet started radiation!!

I am going for bloodwork on Tuesday so I will talk to my nurse about it as well. The bloodwork is to see if my counts are high enough to put me on the list to get my port removed.

Still no word on when radiation starts, although I've heard I may only get 1 day notice.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

51 comments:

  1. Did you have a taxane based chemo like taxotere or taxol? They will cause muscle aches and it takes some time before that is worked out of your system. I still have residual aches and numbness from taxol and I had that in 2006. Do check with your nurse or doctor but it doesn't seem unusual to me, especially if you have been walking a lot and riding a bike.

    And true enough about radiation...they try and give you advance notice but every centre is different.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree with Sherry. I still battle with muscle pain, some days worse than others, and I had Taxotere and Herceptin in 2006-2007, which are the likely culprits. Give it time, and I have found that exercise is a great way to alleviate some of that muscle pain. Pamper yourself when you can. For me, the radiation was a piece of cake compared to chemo.

    Praying for you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Something else to consider, Beth, is that menopause brings with it assorted aches and pains and joint issues. I went into chemo induced menopause. I really am having a terrible time with joint aches and pains, esp. when I'm cold. It is really absolutely miserable at times, and I find myself worrying what I will do when winter gets here. When it is really cold.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Beth.
    I also get leg pains and the muscles cramp in my arm on my mastectomy side. I thought it was the Tamoxifen at first but they took me off of it for 2 weeks and they continued to ache.Then they said I was probably overdoing it, I have a tendency to do that but it isn't that either.Our bodies take a huge change with everything that has been put into it and I am thinking it just needs time....but how long!
    I am glad you are trying to stay active as I have heard that so many people just don't do anything but lay around.Not good..
    Take care Beth :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. It takes a while to recover from the treatment. Hope you had a nice weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Beth, does it feel more like bone pain than muscle pain? Is walking painful in the ankles? Do your shins ache? It almost feels like a bone-on-bone grinding pain with the ache transmitting up your legs.

    It's definitely left over from the Taxotere or taxol. Dr. K told me to exercise, specifically an impact exercise to stimulate bone marrow growth. Hot showers helped some. I didn't have any luck with the topical ointments. Advil did work well to help me sleep though.

    I still have bone pain though not as severe. Ankles, shins and knees are the worse for me. It comes and goes and definitely isn't steady.

    Keep us posted!

    Hugs,
    Sharon

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beth, I forgot to mention that dehydration can also cause the muscle cramps. I was told to keep up with the fluids just as I did through chemo.I had never been one for water before but even now I carry a bottle of water with me when I go out.:)

    ReplyDelete
  8. so sorry to hear about your aches and pains, hope you get relief soon xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beth I am also having the most unbearable muscle & bone pain. Deep in my shins and my ankles wobble....My Onc. told me it was definitelty the TAX....

    Hope you feel better soon AlliXX

    ReplyDelete
  10. Okay so Im not alone. I was worried. I finished chemo on 10/13/09. Which was Taxotere and Cytoxan. My body hurts!!!!!. My MD also told me that the muscle aches are a result of the Neulasta shot 24hrs after chemo. Gearing up for Radiation, did SIMS on 10/27/09.

    Thank you ladies, you have set my mind at rest

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Beth,

    I'm having the same pain as you do. I too, was diagnosed last April. I just finished my 6 treatments of Taxotere & carboplatin. I also had Naulasta. I don't have to go for rad. but I'm on Herciptin for 7 more months. My pain relieved is walking. As long as I'm standing and walking the pain stop.

    Be strong and stay active.

    XOXO
    Fame

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow! I finished chemo (taxol and Cytoxin) the end of August and started having muscle and joint pain about 6 weeks later. I had NO problems during chemo treatment and was very fortunate that I could exercise through the treatment although somewhat less intense exercise than normal. Now I am "done" with radiation and chemo and I am MISERABLE! I thought at first it was because I was exercising more but when I stopped for a few days the pains did not go away. I cannot really find any medical websites that discuss this delayed response but obviously I am NOT the only one! Did anyone have same experience as me? NO problems during but delayed problems later? Also interested in weight gain.. I put on 5 pounds and thought it may be less exercise but now I think it could be fluid retention associated with the taxol. Clothes fit fine. Have always been consistently same weight so strange that the weight is up. I did treat myself to a massage yesterday since I was in so much pain and therapist said fluid in my ankles and feet.

    ReplyDelete
  13. all of your comments have helped me tremendously, i am three months past my last and final chemo treatment. I did six months of chemo for Non Hodgkin's lymphoma stage 2. RCHOP was my cocktail of drugs, My body felt then like it was being beaten up and punched. I still feel like that, though i am very strong and run around and am very active, but all day even at night laying down i am in pain. it's as if every joint and muscle is being stomped on. But it seems the more I walk and stretch and exercise the better i feel. i hope all goes well for all of you who have dealt with cancer. and you reminded me to once again drink plenty of water..thanks...

    ReplyDelete
  14. wow after reading the comment from Nov 8, 2011 I really felt better about my pain. I had the same treatment RCHOP. I have a desk job and find myself getting up and walking around the office just to relieve the pain in my legs, like you say as long as your moving, so sleeping is really a problem. But its a small price to pay to keep on living.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I had 25 radiations followed by 4 TC. I finished it on the on the 31st of November.I was perfectly normal during my Chemo. I am experiencing severe body pains now,one month after the completion of Chemo. Your experiences has given me peace of mind and solace as I am not the only one to experience it.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am 5 months post chemo for stage IV colon cancer and kidney cancer (unrelated). I had two major surgeries back to back and then 6 months of chemo, so I was not at all active for over 8 months. I have some severe neuropathy in my hands and feet, but despite that issue, I decided I needed to get back into shape so joined a gym with a personal trainer to help me. Since starting to exercise late in September, I started to note muscle and joint pains. At first, I thought it was from the exercising, but it has consistently gotten worse. So much so that I find it difficult to get around. If I sit too long, to get up is excruciating. Unfortunately, because of the neuropathy in my feet, I am unable to stay on my feet for any length of time. All of my exercises at the gym are non-weight bearing, even using the recumbant bike for my aerobic exercise. I go to the gym three times a week and then I am unable to do anything the next day, due to the pain. Exercising definitely makes me worse, but I have not gone in over a week and the pain is still the same. My oncologist shrugs her shoulders and has no answers, except to say I am a "very unusual case" as I have been right through my treatments. I have been on many blogs with others verbalizing the very same things, but the medical community seems real reluctant to recognize this issue and certainly has no answers to it. I, too, have been told, at times, when I had a side effect or issue, "It's not the chemo, you must have picked up a bug." I am a nurse with many years of experience and I have seen many things happen to people with the medical profession denying it is related to a treatment, or drug. More than once I have proven them wrong. How do I prove them wrong now? Any ideas out there?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you are right about the oncologist they don't have a clue in how to treat the pain that is caused by chemo. My sister have neuropathy in her arm and hands she has been prescribed morphine, which do not help with the pain only makes to doppey, it's amazing that the medical profession keeps this side of chemo a secret from the individuals that are receiving the treatment. You should document what you're taking that is working because my sister onc did not even suggest that she should take any kind of vitamins. I'm looking into the Gogi or Noni juice to build up her immune system

      Delete
    2. I found your post 4 years later not sure how you feel now. I am too developed muscular pain all over my body one month after completion of colon cancer chemo treatment. Now is 9 month post chemo, the pain is not getting better. Some days worse some days better largely depending on how I rest the night before. Exercise helped little on pain but me feel healthier. My oncologist said it is not common. It sounded like my own problem. Glad to see your and other people's posts, which tells me it is a common side effects. Which you doing well.

      Delete
    3. I found your post 4 years later not sure how you feel now. I am too developed muscular pain all over my body one month after completion of colon cancer chemo treatment. Now is 9 month post chemo, the pain is not getting better. Some days worse some days better largely depending on how I rest the night before. Exercise helped little on pain but me feel healthier. My oncologist said it is not common. It sounded like my own problem. Glad to see your and other people's posts, which tells me it is a common side effects. Which you doing well.

      Delete
    4. (My name is Melissa)
      Please let me know if you are still having problems. I finished my chemo just over 2 weeks ago. I swear my muscle pain has become worse! I can barely bend down and then get back up. I am worried that at some point I won't even be able to walk. Please share what you have experienced and if you found any relief!

      Delete
  17. I too am experiencing this terrible pain 3 months after finishing taxotere for breast cancer. This has brought on early menopause. I am 45. Yesterday my oncologist prescribed an anti depressant Efuxor which she said will help with the pain, hot flushes and night sweats!!! Has anyone else tried this? She said the pain is due to the menopause caused by the taxotere.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, I guess im not alone, I too just finished chemo about 4 weeks ago for breast cancer. I went back to work as a dental assistant and into my third week I started getting joint pains in my hands, at first I thought it was cause I really hadnt used my hands in the past 6 months well my onc dr said it was due to returning to work n using muscles I hadnt used but would go away! I left work crying one day, I was in so much pain I didnt finish the work day, my dr gave me an rx of celebrex though my ins wont cover it because I dnt fall into their criteria :( r u kidding me!! I asked my dr to please prescribe me something that will help me until my ins approves the celebrex, im taking folbic tablets and naproxen, sad to say its not working.. Im take 2-3 hot baths in epson salt, it helps for an hr or two. My hands feels like they have been crushed with a sledge hammer...

      Delete
  18. I am sorry to hear about this about what you are going through, I am proud of what you are doing, instead of sulking in one corner after being diagnosed with breast cancer, you are too strong of facing your fear and conquer it. Truly inspiring blog you have here.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I feel sorry to hear about you that having pain. Arniflora is the best one.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer last Jun 2011. Had double masectomy Aug 11, 2011. Started chemo Aug 31, 2011 (4 rounds of Adriamycin and Cytoxan every other week). Then had 4 rounds of Taxol and Herceptin every other week. Finished chemo Dec 7, 2011 but continued with Herceptin every 3 weeks until October 2012. Started radiation Feb 8, 2012. Had 25 treatments. Finished March 14, 2012. Throughout this whole ordeal had the chemo side effects. Got over them. Including the horrible tingling on hands and feet. Still continue to feel a little numbness on left toes but exercise by rolling a massager under toes every day. Getting better. Felt pretty good through radiation. Thought I was over all the side effects, but here within the last month started to feel muscular aches on legs, arms and really entire body. I do exercise and walk but seems to really hurt more with more strenuous exercise. I have also been diagnosed with fibromyalsia so I think that does not help. I wonder if it could be some other form of cancer (bone) that has invaded my body within such a short time. My PET scan in Jan ruled out any cancer. My blood work in April ruled out any tumors. Negative thoughts trigger stress and an emotional rollercoaster which seems to make those muscular aches worse. Depression sets in. My only hope is faith in God and trusting in him. Will check with onc doctor/nurse next week when I go for my next Herceptin treatment. Tyenol seems to relieve the aches and also started taking a Hi-Potency Stress vitamin from Sun Harvest.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi everyone, Thanks for sharing. I too started to get very achy muscles and bones after completing my chemo adriamycin and cytoxin for two months then 3 months of Taxol for breast cancer. After I excercise, I feel like a truck has run me over the next day. Tylenol helps take the edge off and I hope that the painful hips, joints and muscles goes away with time. I am 2 months out from my last chemo. Now going thru radiation. The worst has been these darn joint and muscle aches, Even keeps me up at night if I dont take the tylenol.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Taxol/Carbo/Avastin 2010 and 2011 but then Avastin maintenance until Jan 2013 and I'm Really Miserable with muscle aches. Unlike most of you it is when I move and All in my legs. When I sit or lay I don't have pain. It got continually worse so that my last Avastin treatment in Jan 2013 I thought I'd need a wheelchair and this muscle pain is the reason I went off of Avastin which my onc believed was keeping me NED from Ovarian Cancer. Sigh. Advil helps some but sometimes doesn't take care of it. So now I don't know if it started with the Taxol and continued with Avastin use or what. You're right, the oncs seem ignorant of it. Will consider a Neuropathy clinic- what do I have to lose? As with most of you it sometimes gets better with walking. I'm not a sedentary person so I like to go, go, go and I push through the pain. Not fun. And getting very weary of it. Feel like I will be like this for years and if I should recur and have to have more chemo- well, I'll worry about that when it happens.
    Have any of you considered a neuropathy clinic? It IS muscles and not joints and mainly in my thighs. Ouch.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am really enjoying reading your well written articles. It looks like you spend a lot of effort and time on your blog.Thanks for sharing this one.

    Muscle & Joint Pain Relief

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi all,ive just finished taxotere for breast cancer 3weeks ago,During chemo I experienced extreme bone pain ,im still going through the same at the moment,
    I do have two prolapsed discs in the base of my spine,which causes constant pain even on morphine slow release tablets.
    However this does not explain pain in my long bones (legs and arms) also hands ankles and muscles.start radiotherapy tomorrow ,any help out there to explain pains,will talk to nurses tomorrow see if they can help.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Abour 1 month ago I finished a 4month cycle of ABVD chemo for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I was given Nuelasta occasionally too. Though they're not as frequent or as severe as they were when I was in treatment (especially after a Nuelasta shot, those were always rough) I am still waking up with bone and joint pain that starts around the hip and is at its worst in my knees and shins.

    Most days I can get by with Naproxen. When it's very bad I have to take Percocet or Flexeril. I don't like having to take narcotic pain meds like Percocet, as the effects wear off really quickly for me, leaving me in pain and wanting to take more. This is why I only use them when the pain is excrutiating.

    The Flexeril works very well for muscle pain, and while it can make you drowsy, it's not an addictive opiate pain med. If your muscles are the source of your pain, ask your doc about it or about other muscle relaxers. They may give you relief and let you avoid relying on addictive narcotics.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Where else could anyone get that type of information in such an ideal way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am at the look for such information.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I have APL and just finished 2 five week rounds of arsenic trioxide. My last week of treatment I noticed my shoulders, arms, neck area feeling achy. I at first thought I overdid it, too, but now I know it's got to be something else. Hoping it all goes away with time. I am also experiencing chemo induced menopause, wonder if that has something to do with it, too.
    Can't wait for the pain to go away, mostly sore when I am doing nothing or doing too much.
    Good luck to everyone, we are survivors!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I want to thank everyone for your comments. They really help when you feel terrible. I took 6 month of Carboplatin and Paclitaxel. I never got sick and felt pretty good until the last 2 months. I now have terrible pain in my legs and numbness in my feet and right fingers. From all I have read, the Carbo is the guilty party for the problems. It can cause your bones to hurt, etc. My doctor said to try B6 and B12 along with my vitamins. I take 2 per day of the B6 and 1 B12. It seems to work pretty good for me. I take a lot of hot baths, still have problems with pain but I keep trying different stuff all the time. Keep writing, we will come up with something that might make all the difference in the world. We have already been through the worse. Only UP is the answer now.

    ReplyDelete
  29. wow thats give you lot of information about muscle pain

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thanks for the post please update further regarding best doctor for pain treatment in Indianapolis, Codeine Abuse
    Codeine Addiction

    ReplyDelete
  31. Great information on your site here. I love this post because we can get some useful information from your blog. I expect more post from you guys.
    Slip and Fall Injury Frankfort
    Cancer Pain Management Frankfort
    Arm Pain Treatment
    Back Pain Treatment
    Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
    Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

    ReplyDelete
  32. Great post. I am looking for this kind of post for a long time. Thanks.
    upper back brace

    ReplyDelete
  33. Buy carisoprodol online which is most prescribed muscle relaxer for all discomfort pains.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Whether or not a dog park is a positive or a negative place for dog owners to bring their dogs to exercise requires dog owners to ask themselves some serious questions about their dog's personality and about their own personality. Dog parks have rules and their own inherent environmental dangers that make it important for a dog owner to understand what type of environment he and his dog will be participating in when they make the decision to visit. This article explores some of the good and bad aspects of dog parks that dog owners can consider when deciding whether to bring their CBD oil for dogs to a dog park to exercise.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Colorado has an amazing array of office space and commercial real estate available to companies in need of commercial space. Despite the current recession, the Colorado office market is still running strong with many options for perspective tenants CBD for sale choose from. Given these circumstances, the time has never been better for tenants to get the best possible leasing deals on their next Colorado Office Space.

    ReplyDelete
  36. This article is directed at veterans who suffer from PTSD and Depression. It provides summary information on the holistic techniques that can be used to reverse PTSD and Depression in Veterans. These techniques include meditation, emotional release, diet, exercise, yoga, mindfulness, herbal remedies, Reiki and other forms of energy healing and acupuncture. cbd oil

    ReplyDelete
  37. My name is donald boykins , am here to appreciate Dr Akhigbe for using his herbal medicine to cure my Herpes virus. Is about 3 years and  6 months now I have been living with this virus and it has been a serious problem to me, I was so confused cause i have been taking several drugs to be cured but all of my effort was in vain,one morning I was browsing through the internet then I saw several testimonies about Dr. Akhigbe curing people from Herpes virus and immediately i contacted Dr. Akhigbe on his email: drrealakhigbe@gmail.com, i told him about my troubles and he told me that i must be cured, he gave me some instructions and which i rightly followed. so he prepared a herbal medicine  and sent it to me which i used for 2 weeks and i was cured everything was like a dream to me and my Herpes virus was totally gone, dr .Akhigbe, God bless you and give you more power and ability for more cure.I don't know if there is any one out there suffering for herpes virus or any of these diseases..DIABETES, CANCER, HIV/AIDS, HERPES  HEPATITiS A AND B , HEART DISEASE, CHRONIC DISEASE,EPILEPSY, LUPUS, STROKE,PARKINSON'S DISEASE, SPINAL CORD INJURY, ECZEMA, KIDNEY DISEASE, ACME, BACK PAIN,EXTERNAL INFECTION, CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, COMMON COLD, JOINT PAIN, POLIO etc.   why don't you contact dr.Akhigbe today and be free from your diseases because he is very good and honest Doctor and he is also called the godfather of herbal root contact him via email; drrealakhigbe@gmail.com or whatsApp him on +2348142454860  website  https:drrealakhigbe.weebly.com

    ReplyDelete
  38. My name is donald boykins , am here to appreciate Dr Akhigbe for using his herbal medicine to cure my Herpes virus. Is about 3 years and  6 months now I have been living with this virus and it has been a serious problem to me, I was so confused cause i have been taking several drugs to be cured but all of my effort was in vain,one morning I was browsing through the internet then I saw several testimonies about Dr. Akhigbe curing people from Herpes virus and immediately i contacted Dr. Akhigbe on his email: drrealakhigbe@gmail.com, i told him about my troubles and he told me that i must be cured, he gave me some instructions and which i rightly followed. so he prepared a herbal medicine  and sent it to me which i used for 2 weeks and i was cured everything was like a dream to me and my Herpes virus was totally gone, dr .Akhigbe, God bless you and give you more power and ability for more cure.I don't know if there is any one out there suffering for herpes virus or any of these diseases..DIABETES, CANCER, HIV/AIDS, HERPES  HEPATITiS A AND B , HEART DISEASE, CHRONIC DISEASE,EPILEPSY, LUPUS, STROKE,PARKINSON'S DISEASE, SPINAL CORD INJURY, ECZEMA, KIDNEY DISEASE, ACME, BACK PAIN,EXTERNAL INFECTION, CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, COMMON COLD, JOINT PAIN, POLIO etc.   why don't you contact dr.Akhigbe today and be free from your diseases because he is very good and honest Doctor and he is also called the godfather of herbal root contact him via email; drrealakhigbe@gmail.com or whatsApp him on +2348142454860  website  https:drrealakhigbe.weebly.com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Thank you for providing such valuable information and thanks for sharing this Business Promotion technique.

    ReplyDelete
  40. What is Health? How do you define health? Is it a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being? Tinctures Capsules Cannabis CBD

    ReplyDelete
  41. Research on marijuana and its possible contribution to people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes has been contradictory and difficult to interpret. Researchers at Michigan State University in Lansing, United States, put together eight studies and analyzed them as one large study to learn the overall result. Their analysis, reported on in the medical journal Epidemiology in May 2015, used information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. It was found marijuana smokers had a 30 percent lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than did non-smokers. live resin

    ReplyDelete
  42. CBD is growing in popularity to help treat a number of ailments, one of those is chronic pain. But is CBD isolate right for you? Find out. CBD Oil For Sleep

    ReplyDelete
  43. If you are new to CTFO CBD oil, this guide can help you know more about this product. CBD is short for Cannabidiol, which is an ideal product if you want something to fight inflammation and many other untreatable conditions. For instance, CBD can help you fight stress, anxiety, mental imbalances, and digestive issues, just to name a few. Given below are a few prominent health benefits of Cannabidiol. CBD

    ReplyDelete
  44. CBD is the short form for cannabidiol. It is an important phytocannabinoid that is found in the hemp and is known to support the mind and the body in lots of different ways. CBD products in the shape of Cachets also contain cannabinoids, which have CBD extracts. medical

    ReplyDelete
  45. What should health be about? In this article, you will learn about two different approaches to health (negative and positive) and what you need to do in order to create positive health. fuel factor x

    ReplyDelete