Can joint pain be side effect of chemo

FormerMember
FormerMember
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Hi

Haven't  been on here for a while and finished 11 weekly cycles of epirubicin last October Never had the final one of 12 as ended up in hospital for 2 weeks with pneumonia and pulmonary embolisms with a few days spent in ICU. I'm now taking anti-coagulants long term because of previous stroke. I was recovering well but over the last couple of weeks have got sore heels knees and hips after walking or standing for too long. I've read that chemo can cause joint pain but as the chemo was stopped last October think it's a bit late in the day now and maybe it's the new medication. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced these symptoms months after chemo finished?

  • Hi . I am only “as good as” TNBC in the words of one consultant, not diagnosed. My chemo finished March 2019 followed by surgery and radiotherapy. I was feeling okay and had walked almost every day all through treatment. In February 2020 I started to get really painful ankles both when walking or resting. After a couple of months when it had not improved I consulted a physio, video call due to Covid. Her exercises did not help. I had telephone consultation with GP on 2 occasions, less than useless - told to take ibuprofen if I was happy to take the risk, having previously been told I could never take it again due to ulcer and given ibuprofen gel. Saw my oncologist in September 2020 prior to Zolendronic infusion. Mentioned the problem to him and he referred me to MUSCAT team who referred me to Macmillan physio. I am only able to have video consultations with her but she is very helpful and easy to talk to. She said I probably have inflamed tendons which is a known side effect from chemo. It can come on straight away or months, even years after. Personally I had never heard of that as a side effect and had been more inclined to blame the Zolendronic infusions. She has warned me that it can take a long time before it gets better. I am doing the exercises she has given me every day but progress is definitely very slow. 
    Perhaps you could see if you could contact your local Macmillan physio to get some help. I really do sympathise with you as I know how painful it can be. Take care. 

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to Sept78

    Thank you for your helpful reply. I was getting weekly chemo but didn't have my last cycle as I went down with pneumonia and spent two weeks in hospital with a few days in ICU with blood clots in my lungs - this has delayed my zolendronic acid treatment and my next oncologist apt is mid February but I'm thinking the current covid situation may delay treatment further as I need a bone density scan apt having had to cancel  previous one due to pneumonia etc. I've managed to get dentist review done. My form gives both tablet and intravenous options and guess I will need to ask for pros and cons. I will keep in mind the Macmillan physio - thank you. I had a stroke in 2014 and had pain on affected left side due to a condition I was left with called dystonia (my brain is sending wrong signals to the muscles so they spasm) and following pneumonia I'm now on anti-coagulants so not happy about taking yet more tablets!

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Sorry I keep repeating things!!