Severe Joint Pain Post Chemo

StartNew12212
StartNew12212 Member Posts: 87
edited March 2021 in Pain

Hello

I finished AC-T on Jan 11. Beginning Jan 22 I began having bad pain in my hips which eventually went to my knees and now my wrists and joints in my fingers are incredibly painful. It seems the pain is getting worse by the day. At times I have a hard time walking after sitting for a bit and my hands are stiff and often hard to use. Has anyone experienced anything like this?

My oncologist has ordered tests to check for chemo induced rheumatoid arthritis-so far they are all negative.

I am getting really concerned about this.

ETA: I have not started hormone therapy yet. I have not had a period for 4 months-chemo induced menopause. (Lots of hot flashes!)

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  • Susiemommy
    Susiemommy Member Posts: 62
    edited March 2021

    Well, I found your post wondering about the same thing. I have not started Tamoxifen yet, so I know that's not the reason for my joint pain. And the wonderful world of the internet only seems to be concerned with AI induced joint pain. Mine is primarily in my fingers - and it is worst in the middle of the night. So strange. My knuckles hurt and feel swollen, and my fingers hard to bend sometimes. It's much better during the day, but then, other joints seem very stiff after I've been in the same position for a while. Is this similar to what you're experiencing? I'd love to know what you've found out so far. I'm just at the point now of contacting my doctor about it.

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  • jhl
    jhl Member Posts: 333
    edited March 2021

    Hello Start,

    Joint pain is a common side effect with AC-T & is primarily attributed to the Taxol component. In addition, weight gain associated with AC-T aggravates the situation as well. As far as I am aware, in those people who do not have rheumatoid factors, the only treatment is weight loss, anti inflammatory medications and exercise.

    Good luck,

    Jane

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  • StartNew12212
    StartNew12212 Member Posts: 87
    edited March 2021

    Thanks jhl---I am slim and excercise daily. This is absolutely horrendous. I hope it goes away.

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  • hnsquared
    hnsquared Member Posts: 72
    edited March 2021

    startnew122.... I finished AC-T 8/5/20 and then had my bilateral mastectomy and rads. I was healthy other than the cancer diagnosis and exercised regularly before cancer and through treatment as much as I could. After finishing chemo and surgery I remember thinking “what the hell” because I felt like a 90 year old. Getting up from sitting on the floor was hard and if I woke up in the night to go to the bathroom I felt so stiff. I wasn’t so much in pain, but everything was stiff and moving was so much harder and everything creaked. My MO wasn’t concerned and told me chemo is hard on the body and then I had surgery which was 5 weeks with no elbows above my shoulders. She told me getting to my new normal is a marathon not a sprint. I finished rads 12/17 and started tamoxifen 1/1/21. I am moving around fine now. I do yoga, walk and strength train regularly and have gained back the muscle I lost. I’m not 100% but I don’t feel stiff and sore anymore. It just took some time.

    I don’t know if you are still doing rads but that can cause fatigue and is more treatment. I really started feeling better a couple weeks after finishing rads and getting back into an exercise routine. I hope you start feeling better soon.


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  • StartNew12212
    StartNew12212 Member Posts: 87
    edited March 2021

    Thank you for sharing, hnsquared! This really helps. I was beginning to worry. I finished week 2 of 5 of radiation. Hopefully I’ll start feeling better after, like you did.

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  • hnsquared
    hnsquared Member Posts: 72
    edited March 2021

    start new....all the stuff we have been through is so hard on the body. I found rads to be really annoying....probably because I was ready to be done and the daily rads went quick but became an annoyance. I had some skin breakdown the last couple of days and for about a week after. Hydrate, eat well and move as much as you feel like you can. I hope once rads are done you start to feel better. I don’t feel 100% but I’m not sure I will....my body has been through a lot. But I’m not stiff and sore and I feel more like myself everyday.

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  • StartNew12212
    StartNew12212 Member Posts: 87
    edited March 2021

    Thank you, hnsquared!!

    Yes, rads is totally annoying. Fingers crossed I will feel better when it's over.

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