Arthritis after chemo?

tangandchris

I went to a back doctor yesterday for ongoing back pain that I've had since chemo ended. I was told yesterday by this doctor that I had arthritis in my back and it is likely what is causing my knee pain. I was thinking about this as the day went on and realized that I probably have arthritis all over, I have pain in my feet, ankles, back, hips...etc. Every.single.day!

So, I never had these issues before cancer treatment...but I'm wondering does chemo cause this? In so many ways chemo has changed my body and I feel like I've been aged. I'm just looking for your thoughts on this. I've googled this some and I don't see anything really showing cause and effect, but I still think there is something to it.

thoughts?

slv58

tangandchris, I'm sorry your dealing with this- I can sympathize, it's no fun. After chemo was finished the first time, I was left with just about every joint mostly from waist down constantly aching. When I sat for awhile, standing up was awful, I looked like an 80 year old and I actually had to breathe deep and give myself a pep talk before attempting because of the pain. I went to my MO who denied it was from chemo (naturally) and told me to see my PCP. She referred me to a rheumatologist who ran every blood test he could think of but everything came back normal- even inflammation markers. He has been giving me predisone shots in my most affected joint- hip which really helped. After my second round of chemo I experienced joint pain again, but now after about 6 months my pain has finally lessened. I'm still a bit stiff after immobility but nowhere near what it was like before. I have lost 30 pounds and try to walk at least 30 minutes a day.

I have recently found my right shoulder to be problematic but a bone scan done a year ago showed I have oestioarthritis in that shoulder. Again a predisone shot has greatly helped. My rheumatologist said that he feels I have chemo induced oestioarthritis and because he considers me young to have it- he will monitor me closely. I never had arthritis prior to chemo and feel it was the culprit, but if it has gotten rid of my cancer- I am grateful.

I hope you can find some answers and relief. I'm happy I have a doctor willing to admit it's probably chemo

tangandchris

thanks for your response!

I did complain to my PCP about joint pain months back, he did blood work and also found no inflammation. I was told then to take Tylenol Arthritis. Now this doctor says OA and try PT and go from there.

I was also told to lose weight, which I know I need to. *sigh* I need to start walking again at the very least.

I wonder if seeing a rhemotoligist would be beneficial at all? I got the impression that there wasn't much to be done for OA.

Thx!

vettegirl

I was having a lot of joint pain and thought it was from my aremidex.  I went to my primary dr who sent me to rheumatoid dr.  I was just diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis-just started meds today.  Have bilateral erosions in my hands, arthritis in my shoulders and neck, and osteorthritis in my right knee.  I am 51.   

tangandchris

I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I've never heard of that type of arthritis, is it related to the skin condition of psoriasis?

I'm only 41

slv58

initially my rheumatology gave me a systemic shot of predisone in the arm which he said should relieve multiple areas which it did for about 3-4 weeks. I had a few months of that which did help greatly with the pain and stiffness and then seemed to get more intense pain in right hip. I was given a shot in the hip joint but it didn't help too much. That's when I went back to MO and had a bone scan and I also got her to check a thickening in breast under scar from LX. My recurrence was found on ultrasound but thankfully nothing other than a few areas of oestioarthritis showed on bone scan.