Arm and leg pain after chemo is over

Cindy · Senior User Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 145

The pain is a normal part of chemo side effects, after the taxanes, taxol and taxotere. I thought my pain would never stop. It took a year to get better. I thought my life would never be the same, but I can say, now, after 2.5 years, that I am starting to feel near normal. I noticed a big change in the way I feel, just recently. My pain and aches are gone and I can even run a little. I could not do that, post chemo. Your pain will get better. It just takes a couple of years, or so, for the body to heal. I still have stiffness, though. Probably due to aging (54), which was accelerated by the chemo. Best to you.
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castorm · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 4:53 pm Post subject: pain after Taxol

Thanks Cindy. I've been dealing with the same pain that Mary and others are describing. 2.5 yrs. post chemo and I'm still left with really bad neuropathy in both feet and muscle and joint aches in legs and arms. I've just been to see my second Rheumatologist and I've been followed by a pain specialist since I've finished treatment. I just started on 30 mg. of Methadone/day and I have finally seen some good pain reduction in my feet. I still walk like I'm 90 and I want to scream when everyone, including my ONCOLOGIST! says that they've never heard of pain lasting this long after treatment...blah, blah, blah. I knew from the moment they began to transfuse that stuff that it was trouble. I had an incredible burning down my leg and it only progressed from there. I was somewhat heartened to hear that yours has quieted after this long. I'm on Tamoxifin because I couldn't even walk when I took the Arimidex. That casued horrific muscle and joint pain. Sometimes I laugh about this and sometimes I just cry with frustration. It takes about 120 mg. of Oxycontin to get the muscle and joint pain under control and nobody wants to do that. Im on so many other drugs it's frightening. Baclofan, Neurontin, Cymbalta, Lexapro...I'm off tomorrow for my second total body scan along with scads of blood tests to see if they can find anything. Nobody seems to want to believe me that it is from the Taxol. It feels exactly the same as it did after the first time they infused it and it just kept getting worse. I don't know why people have such a hard time accepting this. I am a nurse so I'm aware how dense the medical community can be, but this is too much. There's also the problem that nobody wants to be giving out narcotics too liberally because of the intense scrutiny they're put under. That makes sense unless there is a clear cause and effect such as this. I think there are many more of us out there who have just stopped talking about the pain because nobody really wants to get that involved with it. Sorry for such a downer email but this chronic pain is wearing down my spirit. I'm open to anyone else out there who's had some regression after a long period of time.
Thanks much,
Stormy

Cindy · Senior User Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 145

I hear ya on the "density" that's for sure. Okay...look into taking vitamin B6, B12 and glutamine (powder is best). It works to help with the neuropathy. Clear it with your onc.

Yeah, I had the bone scans because of such bone pain. If it weren't for this left over body stiffness, I would feel actually normal. I'm sure your scans will be fine. Try the above and let me know how you feel in 4 weeks. Best to you.

Cindy
_________________
Where is the cure???
www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org
www.diepbreastreconstruction.org
www.bcsisters.org/forum
www.mybreastcancerstore.com

PinkGirl · New User Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 5

[quote="ohMary"]Hello ! I finished chemo (dose dense AC then Taxol) about five weeks ago, and I am still have severe pain in my arms and legs. This pain started at the end of my treatment. Strangely, it is my upper arms and legs that hurt, not my hands and feet. The pain is in my bones and joints, but also in my muscles. It is a constant (not throbbing or shooting) kind of pain. My left arm hurts the most, though my breast cancer was on the right. I am taking Motrin and Vicodin and Neurontin. They help some, but not enough.

My question is: when will the pain stop? why does it seem to be getting worse now, even though I'm through with chemo? Also, I start radiation tomorrow morning. Will the radiation make this pain worse?[/quote]

I also had lots of pain after chemo. I can't remember when it went away,
but it definitely gets better. I had the usual pain in the feet and lower
legs, but I know the pain can be anywhere in the legs and arms. It will
lessen with time.

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