The Colon Club

I just had a MRI done on my hip ,it says I have tear and degeneration in hip . I already go to pain management for severe back pain. I saw a rheumy dr and says I have osteoarthritis . I was just wondering if any one else has experienced this kind of thing since being on chemo? Never had any of these problems before chemo. Was also wondering can be done to slow it down . Can't have any dairy since surgery...bad things happen !

I have arthritis in my right hip since completing 12 treatments of FOLFOX ( only the first 4 with oxaliplatin). I am 56, almost 57, so it's tempting to attribute it to age, but I was extremely active prior to my diagnosis, running half marathons, and taking long day hikes in the 10-16 mile range. I have really struggled with trying to remain active, and pain free and not damage my joints since completing chemo. I feel like I just now- nearly two years after having completed treatment- have a sense of the new me and how to work with my body. I have had to give up running- at least for now, but am doing yoga, hip strengthening PT and deep water running, in an effort to stay on the trails as a hiker. I have a great physical therapist, a helpful orthopedic surgeon and some dedicated yoga instructors who have worked with me, and helped me come up with a temporary plan to stay active outdoors. It takes a lot of commitment and flexibility- and a big change in attitude for me. I wish you all the best in finding a way to keep moving while managing your pain.

Thank you for responding ! I was always very active walking , hiking ,
gardening, the more I did the worse I seemed to get, the back injections
helped a lot, felt like brand new. Now I'm only pain free when swimming or biking, I do a lot
of pt for back at home, I was wondering if something like Pilates might help
or hurt? Just stinks right now they told me I need to see a surgeon about the hip !
This all started after chemo was finished. I was 45 when it started.

I have pain in my feet, back and hip. Severe degeneration of my spine was noted on CT scans. I'm positive that all my troubles started as a result of chemo.

I got it in the shoulders really bad stiffness and pain. It seems starting back on xeloda it's creeping back in. So I'm now sure it's chemo that does this to us. Even if the doc says it doesn't.

Totally agree I feel like a twenty year old in the body of a eighty year old! My onc finally admitted three yrs after chemo that the neuropathy in my feet is permanent ! Three yrs later really! My pcp thinks every is chemo related she said I was fine before chemo. This cold weather is not helping!

Michelle C , so glad I heard from you always followed your journey on this board ,we kind of had similar journey. Quite an inspiration for me. Thank you for your posts

This past summer, when I was on FOLFIRI, I developed a lot of joint pain. In my fingers and wrists, and hips and ankles. I am a jogger, and depending on how my joints were, it just wasn't possible. I would walk instead, and even though it was frustrating, I just did what I was capable of on any one day. Some days were better than others. I did a lot of stretching exercises, I don't know if it helped a whole lot, but at least I felt like I was doing something. I had a 4 month chemo break, and the pain lessened quite a bit. One of my oncologists flat out told me the pain was caused by the chemo, but she told me to keep doing what I was capable of, she is a strong proponent of exercise and fitness.

I do a lot of yoga. I am lucky to live somewhere with a high number of alignment based Iyengar styled instructors who can help with modifications. I also worked with a physical therapist for several months last year when first diagnosed with left hip OA, and turned my PT exercises into a 30 minute yoga routine that I do at home. I purchased a foam belt and joined a gym and try to do deep water running 3X a week, and have started back with brisk walking, hoping to build up to decent hiking again. I did get trekking poles.

I miss running terribly- and moving with strength and intensity. It was a big part of who I am and how I think of myself. I was training for a rugged trail half marathon prior to diagnosis, so I too feel my hip arthritis is likely cancer treatment related. I am not a gym person, but someone who needs to be outdoors. I love wild and remote places. I have decided that if I can get back to hiking, I will make the shift to "not a runner." However, if hiking is not possible without a lot of pain, even after these modifications, I plan to have my hip replaced. I dread the idea of surgery. I have a little cancer treatment PTSD, but this is such an important quality of life issue for me. I want to be healthy and alive outdoors, actively engaged in the world.

Typing these words makes me feel both sad and hopeful.

Ccpt1958
I get what your saying! It's like you have to try to find a new normal! I keep fighting it every step of the way! I would love to be able to do all the things I used to do pain free, I'm also sad and hopeful too . Thank you

Chemo trashes the body. I have a spinal deformity in my lower back that has always given me problems. I emerged from chemo with so much more pain and pain in new places. I would second yoga. Yoga has been very healing for me. You need to see someone who can work with your issues and preferably someone trained in restorative yoga to start out and then move on to iyenger style with modifications. Yoga can do a lot of harm when not done properly. I'm nursing a hip injury from being too aggressive in a pose. My own fault. I feel so good with the yoga that sometimes I think I can do more than I can.

Thanks for all the advise . I've never heard of lyengar yoga I will definely look into it! I tried the live strong program at the y but I couldn't finish ,I was not moving properly on the equipment . Plus I was having some severe bowel issues at the time turned out to be c-diff. Oh well. I do a lot of stretching and very light weights right now. But this stupid hip thing is making me nervous.

Sorry that was a double post

I saw hip surgeon today . What an ass ! I told him I was at my quota for injections for the year! What does he do gives me a bursa injection! Twisted my leg around in million different directions. Now I can't walk on the friggin leg and I'm in so much pain I can't sleep! I have had all this left side pain since my chemo! I just want to able to walk again and take a nice hike like I used too. Ugh now he wants me try pt . I made appt for pt soon as I left office but from what understand pt does not fix a labrum tear in hip. He really did not want to listen to me I hate drs Like this...didn't even want to hear how I slipped and fell in parking lot in the rain and couldn't get up! Any advise?

I've found my doctors unsympathetic about my increased muscle and joint pain post chemo and radiation. Boo to them and to me. I was a yoga enthusiast prior to diagnosis, and have had to double down since. I find it very helpful Maybe you could look in to something like that MamaN.
cheers, peanut