bone pain (ribs) after chemo - help

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Lorili
Lorili Member Posts: 14
edited June 2014 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After


Good Morning, I finished chemo 3 weeks ago (DD AC T). One week ago I felt like I was hit with a sling shot in my ribs, went to hospital for xrays, they thought there was a small hairline fracture. since then, the pain has increased and now involves about 8 or 9 ribs (originally 3 or 4 lower ribs). I can't bend over, I can't sleep, I can't touch my side. I'm wondering if this is an after effect from the chemo. This is far worse than any bone pain I had during chemo. Has anyone else experienced this? Amy advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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  • wintersocks
    wintersocks Member Posts: 922
    edited October 2013


    Lorili,


    I have/had experienced ribs pain on my left side (but some time after chemo) in the lower left area. at times it has been quite severe. I had it for 3 months non-stop. It went and has returned but not at the same intensity (yet?). I have it now. My GP examined me and thought it was mononeuropathy from chemo. She has told me it is not uncommon. I am having other investigations too and when I mentioned it to my gastro doc he rather rudely said 'it is not an organ as there is no organ there'. I have had an MRI and that is clear. I am at a loss to know what to think.


    May I ask what makes you think it is chemo, that has caused this?

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  • shoppygirl
    shoppygirl Member Posts: 694
    edited October 2013


    hi


    I have had rib and hip pain off and on during and after chemo. I have just recently had a scan and it was fine. I think the chemo really causes a lot of havoc in our bodies. I noticed that I get stiffer a lot more quickly now and I do exercise now so I should be in better shape that before but I am not. I feel like an older person at 42!!

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  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 3,945
    edited October 2013


    i had rib pains after surgury, same side as affected side, got worse during chemo, the worst on arimidex, now tamox i guess. hasnt completely resolved at all.

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited October 2013
    I too had bone pain mine was indeed side effect from chemo it lessened and after all these yrs (19)Praise God I still get a little from time to time, but I,m here so I just deal with it and glad to be alive. msphil(idc,stage 2, 0/3 nodes, L mast, chemo before and after surgery, rads and tamoxifen for 5 yrs)
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  • Lorili
    Lorili Member Posts: 14
    edited October 2013


    hi wintersocks, thanks for responding. I've googled this over and over and couldn't get any answers. what you describe seems to be exactly what i'm experiencing. it's a horrible intense pain and it is constant. i'm thinking chemo related as I know this chemo can cause bone pain. while on the chemo, pain was in legs, spine and lower back - the ribs were fine. I didn't do anything to cause this, didn't fall, nothing. I'm seeing my oncologist on wed so will see what she has to say. I just hope they can give me something to make this pain go away as I feel like i'm 90. I even have difficulty driving with it, let alone getting in and out of a car, and sleeping is impossible!

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  • wintersocks
    wintersocks Member Posts: 922
    edited October 2013


    Hi Lorelli,


    Me too, I have googled it endlessly, and drawn a blank, that is why I asked the gastro doc and he in fact is sending me for an endoscopy (as I am a Coeliac too). He has told me rather curtly that he does not expect to find anything. However, I cannot believe there is no explanation for this. Mine is currently less intense than it was (but still naggingly present). Like you I have not fallen and there is nothing to account for this pain. As I said the GP said mononeuropathy (as a side effect of chemo). I am not sure if this is an adequate explanation or indeed what I am supposed to do about it. Mine is on the opposite side to my mx.


    I understand completely that it is awful and making you feel older! - It's too horrible isn't it? I would be interested to see what your onco says. I really hope that it improves for you.

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  • Lorili
    Lorili Member Posts: 14
    edited October 2013


    Saw the onco yesterday, she sent me for xrays again which showed nothing new. She then sent me for a cat scan, the only thing it showed was a new fracture, where rib 12 meets the spine. Not anywhere near where the pain is coming from. She is sending me for further tests (bone scan, bone density) in three weeks. She has now ruled out any liver or lung problems. She thinks the steroids have caused osteoporosis which is the cause of the pain (and the new fracture). I've been given more pain killers and i'm hoping they work. The pain isn't focused only on the lower right front, but now is the entire right front side.

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  • wintersocks
    wintersocks Member Posts: 922
    edited October 2013


    Lorili,


    I'm really pleased that the scans did not show progress, although it is very frustrating not to get to the bottom of this, and to have an increase in pain too. I too still have this pain and it has increased slightly again.


    I am waiting for the gastro doc to review my MRI. It is interesting what you say about osteoporosis - I already have osteopenia (pre bc). Of course the steroids are not good for that are they?


    I had a bone scan in summer and that was ok and I have had a bone density too.


    I really hope that the both of us can find out what is causing this.



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  • fabulousflora
    fabulousflora Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2013

    Hi. I had this during and shortly after 9/52 paclitaxel.  I thought the rib and thigh bone pain were because bone marrow production of new red blood cells can occur at these sites.  As I am now 9/52 post chemo and no longer getting this type of pain perhaps it is self limiting when RBCs return to normal. 

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