Neupogen pain

[juneangel87]

I am not on chemotherapy but I have to take Neupogen 2x/week at 480mcg a shot.  The bone pain I have is horrible, the weirdest pain I have ever had before.  My bone marrow gets so swollen that I can actually feel my heart beat in my femur, pelvis and ribs.  That happens if I get up too fast, or bend over.  On top of that I have the "bone aches and sharp zings" of pain for a day and a half after a shot.  The first night I woke up shaking, because of the pain my body was experiencing.  My muscles ache too, I can not even put a purse on my shoulder without pain.  My problem is I asked my doctor if I could have pain meds for the pain.  (I go to an accelerated nursing school and I can not be in bed 3 days a week from pain, plus chronic pain makes you nuts and depressed)  He gave me some vicodin and it helps.  I take 1-2 the day of the shot and maybe one the day after.  It took me over a month to use 30 vicodin and now he is saying he wants to stop the vicodin.  He does not believe that neupogen could cause this debilitating pain.  He says I need to be careful with the vicodin.  He has me totally embarrassed to ask for pain meds.  He is acting like I am an addict or something.  My mother even told him the kind of pain I am in and he said that I needs to just get through the pain.  My question is, what do I do?  Who do I talk?  He diagnosed me with cyclic neutropenia and now I have to take the shots.  And he wont even help with the pain.  Also, this is the first time with vicodin or pain meds.  I have not history of addiction of any kind.  I have tried 5 Advil at a time, clariton, and benadril for the inflammation, not help.  I just do not want to be in pain anymore, help!?

[juneangel87]

Thank you so much for responding to my post.  I am just at a complete loss at this point.  I will discuss the Neulasta with my oncologist and see what he thinks.  I also heard that anti anxiety medication can help with the pain and help you rest.  I had a shot yesterday and I am still somewhat sore but the day after is much better.  

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

I believe that your pain complaints are valid and this may be a side effect of neupogen shots (this bone pain can be part of the usual 'flu like' side effects associated with the drug).  If you are experiencing pain from this treatment, then I believe it is inhuman to withhold pain medications for you, though I agree there can also be side effects from the chronic intake of pain medications (such as dependence or kidney problems).

You can ask your doctor about the long acting drug for neutropenia: Neulasta which is presently used for chemotherapy induced neutropenia.  I know that this may be an off-label indication for the drug but it is worth discussing with your doctor.  Imagine, if you can somehow lessen the shots, then this may help minimize the side effects.

Regards.