Pain from Chemo?

[jcondit]

Background
I am currently undergoing chemo for Stage IIIC colon cancer. I had 8 treatments spaced out once a day every two weeks. They then removed my colon completely and did 6 weeks of radiation with 5-FU pump. Now I'm starting the last stage of chemo which will be FOLFOX with 5-FU pump once a day every other week for 6 treatments. There is no evidence of cancer anywhere.

Problem:
Unlike the past 8 treatments, my first treatment in this last batch has caused several problems. Namely, incredible pain in the hips and occasionally in the shoulders. My doctor has started me off on 15 mg MS-cotin 2x daily with 5-500mg hydrocodone. This eases things. We have ruled out bone cancer by doing a bone scan and my CEA levels are a steady 13. My main question is has anyone had bone pain from chemo?

[Quinroxann]

I heard some people suffer the same way too. I didn't have any chemos before, is painkillers not allowed to ease the pain?

[jcondit]

Painkillers usually help but only when you add 15mg of Morphine and 5-500mg of Hydrocodone. Being young and almost out of chemo treatments I'm just wondering how long I can expect being on this medicine, since I know the addiction that can be caused with long term exposure to them.

[pbj11]

Hi,

I'm sorry you're having this issue with treatment. Are you receiving Neulasta shots too? I know these can cause that type of bone pain.

Otherwise, all I've been aware of is the old "flu-like" symptoms that chemo can give you -- aches and pains.

I sure hope you are getting some relief with the meds. I would think that if it is chemo related, this will go away when you are done with treatment. I wouldn't worry about addiction problems as you're probably not taking the pain meds every day throughout the cycle.

God bless,
PBJ

[Grateful]

I thought I was young for colon cancer when I was diagnosed at 40. To answer both questions - I had bone pain with my chemo. I hurt all over. I am currently getting chemo for a recurrent tumor which was located right next to a bundle of nerves and had Lots of Pain. I was basically on pain pills, morphine and percocet from February 13th 2009, until 6 weeks after my surgery in May 2009. When the doctor told me to just stop taking the pills as my pain from surgery subsided, I followed his instructions. I thought I was going to come out of my skin!!! I was sick, stomach cramps and an emotion basic case. The nurse that came to my house to help me care for my colonoscopy suspected that it was withdrawal from the pain meds and told me that after that long period of time, I needed to slowly come off them, not cold turkey. The pain managment nurse called and put me on a plan that basically decreased my pain meds over 6 weeks. That worked beautifully. She said that lots of doctors know how to give out the pain meds but very few know how to take you off them. That was true for me.

Anway, stay positive and soon you will be through to the other side. This disease is a horrible disease. I found that taking one day at a time and allowing myself to feel whatever I felt that day helped...if I wanted to pretend it wasn't happening, I pretended....if i wanted to feel sorry for myself, I felt sorry for myself.....if I wanted to be strong and talk trash about the disease, I did. That is my coping strategy. Allow yourself whatever you need to get through.

Good luck to both of you!!

[jcondit]

What's so incredibly frustrating for me is none of the chemo medicines I'm taking say anything about bone pain. They did a CT scan and it didn't show any turmors my CEA is also lowering. She also ordered another bone scan cause of my constant compliant of bone pain and it didn't show any problems with my bone. I have been taking the Neulasta shot but that's 2 days after chemo. But today for example, I got my biweekly dose of chemo and tonight I've got such severe bone pain it feels like someone hit me with a baseball bat. The Neulasta shot only alleviates it (which it will in 2 days). I know chemo can effect everyone differently but none of the medicines cause bone pain. I am trying my best to push through it afterall I've only got 3 more chemo treatments. I will try to take the 30mg of morphine she has prescribed but it's done little in the past.

[jcondit]

Just to follow up.... The doctor has now but me on 60mg of morphine to try and alleviate the pain. Since we are just 2 more chemo treatments away from finishing she's wanted to push through. She believes the chemo might be aggravating another bone problem. Though we don't know what that bone problem is. I'm just amazed that even with morphine combined with 2x 7.5/500 hydrocodone it's not effective against the pain. She said we can start prescribing more morphine but I want to know what's going on. I don't want to hide the pain I want to know what's happening to cause it.

[jcondit]

Follow up time.... I am still having incredible amounts of bone pain in my shoulders and hips. The doctor has now put me on 100 mg of morphine a day and 2x 7.5/600 hydrocodone. These medicines effectiveness is like putting out a house fire with a cup of water. I have just finished my chemo treatments three weeks ago. The doctor is at a loss of the exact cause. She has suggested seeing a rheumatoid arthritis Dr. I guess that's the next logical step. Her best guess is that I have an existing bone problem and the chemo is just acerbating it. I am tempted to go see a pain management dr. I'm about the crawl out of my skin because of the pain.

[milrey143]

yeah..
i do believe that having cancer is too much pain especially during chemo..
my aunt has a cancer.. she has tumor on her spinal chord which is not really common. she's in texas now and she had her chemo last week.

well my aunt is a strong person but when she has a cancer she really loses her strength...
















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