joint and muscle pain

Hi Ronda

I'm taking a multi-vitamin, about 800 Vitamin D, Calcium along with Chromium and CO enzyme Q10.   They have checked my B12 and it is normal, so that rules that out.

I already take 3 different antidepressents. Two to help me sleep (I have some kind of sleeping disorder) and one for severe depression and anxiety. The 3rd one they put me on 6 months ago, it was supposed to increase my energy level and make me happy. NOT.

The doc just put me on some anti-inflamatory pain killer for my back, hip and my shoulders, but I find it does squat, plus its hard on the stomach. Something I don't need with the inflamation in my stomach lining.
I just find I have never recovered from the 2 cycles of chemo (CEF) that I received. The backpain started the 2nd week of the 1st cycle, they couldn't find out what was causing it then or now, that's why their sending me to a neurosurgeon, maybe he can figure out.

I am still severely fatigued all the time and they can't figure out why. My blood work has come back normal for everything. I get up in the morning and usually have to take a 2 to 4 hour nap in the afternoon. By evening I'm exhausted again. This is what scares me the most. It's been 3 years since I finished radiation, you would think my body would be back to normal by now. They keep telling me that it will take time to recover from everything I went through during treatment.

I am just tired of feeling this way. I think my onc thinks I'm nuts, but she has been great in sending me for tests to rule out cancer in my bones, abdomen/pelvis and breasts. Somhow I feel deep down in my gut that they are still missing something. That something is there but it just doesn't show up. Maybe I'm being perinoid.

I just want to feel GOOD AGAIN. I guess no one would understand that better than another cancer paitent/survivor.

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. You explain how you feel to these doctors and they think its all in your mind, or your depressed, or insecure. My male oncologist told me I was fine that I should go out, have fun and live my life. That's before he transferred my file to his female consulting doctor that works with him. You know he only checked my breasts once or twice in the whole 2 years that I saw him. I guess he can't be too bad though he was the one to approve all my tests.

I'm just very frustrated and all I want is to feel better. Is that too much to ask.

I hope you are feeling better and I pray that you have a speedy recovery. I'm having a bi-lat with recon in the near future. Is it quite painful?? I really don't know what to expect.

Ladies,

Very well said Ronda

Hi everyone. I was just looking through this to see what experiences everyone has had w/ all your different treatments. I was diagnosed in March of this year (@ 33 years old, grade 3, 1cm, trip neg) and just finished my rads a month ago. It's freaking me out that I only got 4 cycles of TC and all of you appear to have had atleast 6 cycles of something.

I'm having the exact same pains in my joints for over a month now(some in my bones of my legs and arms) and also have had a low-grade fever for weeks- ugh.

I'm convinced it was the taxotere and now I'm scared the pains won't ever go away. My Drs. think I'm nuts- one of the oncologists said it may be the flu- ha!- not for this long! I still don't take any pain meds other than Advil- don't like meds. But I'm exercising every other day- it hasn't helped though.

My love to you all.....

DEAR ELSA : CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING FINISHED , I JUST FINISHED CHEMO AND START RADS AFTER THANKSGIVING. PAM IS RIGHT EVERYONES TREATMENT IS DIFFERENT BUT I WOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THAT LOW GRADE TEMP.THE APINS REALLY SUCK BUT GO AND ENJOY EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE . WOOLIE

Welcome Elsa!

I went to see a orthopedic surgeon last Thursday.  Fortunately, he said from what he could tell after examining me and also after X-rays that my knees don't appear to require replacement.  I was very glad to hear that.  He said there is fluid on one of my knees and I am going to have to go for an MRI.  Also I may get some shots to help relieve the pain.  He and my onc are friends so he already knew about me having radiation and chemo; he said he doesn't think either has caused this problem.  It's funny that it all started right after I started treatment, but he's the expert, not me.  I just wanted to let you all know because of so many people having pain with treatment.  I wish I had something more solid to tell you, but I don't. 

I have 7 more tx of radiation and have had increasing bone and joint pain.  The radiologist said that she is seeing more of this with radiation and said it is a form of arthritis.  My fingers and limbs are so stiff if I am still for a long period of time - worse in the morning.  She said it should go away.  Advil has been helping a little.

Edited by Karen - Nov 04 2007 at 1:46pm

Hi Elsa,     There is data on anti-inflammatories reducing breast cancer.  Asprin is aborbed in the gut, ibuprogphen through the kidneys, acetaminophen through the liver,  you can rotate them around so you're not too hard on any one organ.  I've just added baby asprin to my daily supplements. 

DEAR DARLA : TALK TO YOUR ANTICOAGULANT NURSE ABOUT WHAT FOODS CCAN ALTER YOUR INR ALSO JUST IN CASE THEY DID NOT GIVE YOU A LIST. PLUS TRY HEATING PADS OR ICE PAKS WHATEVER GIVES YOU RELIEF .JULES