Pain in arm - started 5 days after ABVD

Hi...

After my first ABVD i didnt have this, but i had my second one on a friday, and by the following wednesday (so yep, 5 days later) my arm that i had the chemo in started to ache alot, it got worse over the next 48 hours and by friday night i didnt get a wink of sleep, but then it started to go away, i have chemo again in 2 days and its only just gone away completely.

I spoke to someone about it in my clinic appointment yesterday, and confirmed its extremely common and its the dacarbazine. They said the only way to avoid it is to have a line fitted, but for now they are going to send me home with ibuprofen.

I have one of those microwaveable teddys which works like a heat pack, and even at its most painfull - this did wonders! It helped so much, it helped me sleep on a few nights when before i got the heat on it, i couldnt sleep. So i'd suggest trying it :)

Hope that helps

Hi Neil

I've had this too, but don't get it anymore ( I'm having 6a tomorrow ). I never had a line fitted as I due aided I wanted to try and avoid it and I found the pain pretty bad during cycle 1 and 2 but it did gradually lessen. 

As the others have said heat pads helped the most. Boots have one that you can heat or freeze depending on your requirements

 Helen 

Just finished my first cycle and I've had arm pain ~ days 3-9 after chemo. First time wasn't so bad, next time has been quite painful. I'll try some of the suggestions and see how it goes.

Jimmy

Hi Jimmy.

I had a similar problem but after my first chemo session. My veins weren't strong enough to take the chemo, so I had a PICC line installed and I never had a problem after this.

The pain in my arm was unbearable. A heat pack and painkillers helped me get some sleep, so maybe try that?

I would speak to your haematologist asap, so if they do feel you need a PICC line then they can install it before your next treatment.

Hope this helps 

Adam

Hi everyone

I had this problem too after my first ABVD. When D went in the pain was unbearable for a while then subsided. No more pain until about day 4/5 all the way through to day with dull aches and pains in forearm, wrist and just below bicep.

I had a port fitted last week in chest and used for second treatment so no longer any arm pain - Yipee!

Just thought I would share as I have gotten so much great advice and information from the Macmillan community

Hope its useful 

Cam

Hi, 

Thanks everyone for the help and advice, I would also add this; if you get pain from one drug going in, (it can be either or both of D or V) ask that they slow it and increase the flow of the normal saline you have going in at the same time, and use a heat pack over the hand and arm, too, as that will increase blood supply and flow so will take the drugs rather more rapidly through your system. 

Take care not to injure that vein, it will actually be bruised as a result of the chemo anyway, and report any problems that you can't sort through warmth and paracetamol to your nurse. Ensure the next chemo session is in the other arm if possible. 

And here's hoping all goes well from now on.....

Hugs to you all xxx

Not sure if my chances on a reply but which painkillers did you find best for the pain?

Hi , painkillers are a tool and like any tool you use the best one for the job.

I had a different Lymphoma and treatment journey (hit my name for my story) but I went through a full spectrum of pain meds from Paracetamol all the way to full on Tranadol opioids as it all depended on the type of pain and where it was.

Thankyou, I got Tramadol the other night but I didn’t like the feeling. Hot packs and I’ve just had a hot bath seems to have subsided the arm ache a little but it’s slowly returning. Am thinking it is from the Red Chemo drug and it being a delayed pain response as chemo was 7 days ago now and the arm pain only started 3 days ago.