Neupogen (g-shots) and Lower Back Pain

Options
Sarabeara
Sarabeara Member Posts: 8
edited September 2020 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

Happy fall to all of you!!

I had my first round of TC a week and a half ago. I started my g-shots (Neupogen) on day 4. The evening of my 4th g-shot in ended up in the ER as I was neurogenic with a fever and was having excruciating lower back pain. I ended up getting admitting for the night until my fever was gone and WBC looked better.

The back pain was what I was hoping to get feedback on. IT WAS TRULY AWFUL. It absolutely reminded me of the back labor contractions I experienced with my first child. I delivered my children naturally and I can tell you that this pain was reaching the level of childbirth contractions. I took Claritin, as suggested by so many. I started the day before shots and continued through the duration of the series.

I am not sure I even know what I am looking for from you ladies, maybe just the comfort of knowing it happens, possible suggestions for prevention, or others experiences with pain and g-shots.


· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited September 2020

    Bone pain is one of the major side effects. I had Neulasta shots 24 hours after every chemo infusion. I learned on this site to take Claritin starting 2 days before chemo and continuing 7 days after my Neulasta shots. Not the "D" decongestant, just the regular Claritin. I was never sure how or why it worked, but it was a life saver.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pabl48
    pabl48 Member Posts: 25
    edited September 2020

    I had tremendous bone pain after my last TC infusion and then the Neulasta onPro. I did the Claritin with no success. This time around I am going to try Claritin, Pepcid and Advil prior to and for 5 days post infusion and see what happens.

    Good luck to tou


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sarabeara
    Sarabeara Member Posts: 8
    edited September 2020

    pabl48,

    Sounds like we had similar experiences. I haven’t heard about using Pepcid, I will definitely look into that. Good luck to you on your next infusion, let me know how it goes. Sending good ju-ju your way!


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited September 2020

    I'm on daily desloratadine for a totally different reason & this time around the bone pain from the G-CSF shots is nothing like I remember from 2018; I really have hardly any bone pain at all this time. So if things don't improve, maybe try this antihistamine instead.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited September 2020

    Interesting Moth. I had to look it up. Thanks for posting.

    Question: Is there a major difference between Claritin and Clarinex? Answer: Claritin is loratadine, which is metabolized in the liver to produce desloratadine, which is Clarinex.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited September 2020

    I had the worst pain I had ever had with neupogen. What I found was that if the dosage was lowered a bit, I got the same response but with a LOT less pain. Since I was giving myself the shots, I could control how many cc I gave myself. Why not ask the doctor about it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sarabeara
    Sarabeara Member Posts: 8
    edited September 2020

    SoCalLisa,

    I will definitely ask my MO about this at our next appointment. I ended up being nuepogenic as well, so I am not sure if she is willing to reduce the dosage of the boosters, but it is absolutely worth asking, as the pain was unbearable.Thank you!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited September 2020

    my absolute neutrophil count was raised the same with the lesser dose..

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories