Post Chemotherapy & Neulasta Bone & Joint Pain

I was searching the web for some explanations for my chronic pain and came across you posting. I finished chemo (4 rounds of adrimyacin & 4 rounds of taxol every other week) and my neulatsa shots in February. Here it is May and I am still in a great deal of pain. The pain seems to be in my entire leg from the hip down and in my shoulders. I also have neuropathy in my hands and feet.

My oncologist keeps telling me the systems will go away. How long will this last and what can I do about the symptoms?

[lizziecee]

Hi - don't let it continue - I have suffered for 4 yrs now with after chemo/rads and Arimidex,and stopped the Arimidex 4 weeks ago. Joint pains have miraculously gone. Seeing an Oncologist soon for alternarive meds, Aromasin or Femara. I could only sleep 2 hours before being woken up by the pain in my left hip - bone scan and DEXa scan showed osteo arthritis and bone density loss, but don't believe they could cause such debilitating pain...and I have been proved right. What took me so long? absolute naivety and ignorance of the side effects...why don't our doctors tell us about these? Are you on any kind of hormonal therapy? These could be the culprit.

Take care
Liz/

[vicki868]

No I am not on any hormones, my ER/PR was negative. I was on Herceptin, until 6 weeks ago, my recent muga scan came back reflecting a decrease in my numbers. So my oncologist put the treatments on hold until we get the results back from another scan scheduled for 06/29.

I cannot believe how may people seam to have post chemotherapy bone, muscle & joint pain. And it seems like the oncologists don't have any answers and refuse to ackbowledge it as a real problem. I was told once again on Monday, that usually the pain goes away with 3 months after chemo. And here I am 3 months later and I feel like it is getting worse and spreading.

[Joi400]

Hi, the pain will eventually go away but it won't be in a short time period.  I took neulasta and that gave me total pain all over my joints from head to toes.  I took that during my chemo with Adriamycin and Cytoxin.  I feel the pain after the 3rd to 4th day.  I've noticed when I worked like walking and do activities I forget the pain but one's I sit and lay down I will totally feel the pain and it is so difficult to get up out of bed.  I worked as a Nursing Assistant and I work during my treatments and I took the subway to NYC.  I couldn't walk fast so I always take my time.  The pain is like muscle and joint aches and numbness too.  It will go away but not right away.  Sometimes you have to psych yourself up like - this is nothing, I can survive this pain and doctors won't tell you everything because everybody is different and  has unique chemistry in our body.  Don't worry yourself.  Keep your hope high up.

[IstaRista]

Hello and I am so sorry to hear about what you have been through. I went through treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma and ABVD for 6 months every other week. I also had Neulasta (the stupid shot) every other week for 6 months. It has been a year now and I am STILL in pain. I have numbness in the fingers and a little in the toes, but it seems to be only when it gets really cold. 2 weeks ago the temp dripped and I tripped over my own feet and almost broke my toe.

When I talk to my doctors they all seem to think that it is all in my head. I guess I am just really sensitive to all the medications, but the pain is still hurts in the same areas and the same throbbing way. I guess I am just lucky.

[BettyBoo0]

I read your comment and it sounds just like me, except I took Cytoxan, Taxotere and Neulasta (every three weeks for a total of six treatmnets). The pain would  start the day after the treatment and last about 1 1/2 to 2 weeks; the more treatments I got the longer the pain lasted, then I got swelling in the lower legs and feet. My last treatment was 4 weeks ago and the pain has not gotten any better and edema is still there. Every joint in my body hurts, it wakes me up at night and seems worse on arising. It gets better then after sitting for 5-10 minutes it is back with a vengence. The Nurse Practitioner at the Cancer Clinic tells me it can't be the chemo because it has been 4 weeks since the infusion. The Nurse in radiation says the side effects last much longer than 4 weeks. Who am I to believe? Is there anyone out there with answers that are really true?

[chuchi1]

A related discussion, pain during & after chemo for limphoma was started.