Finished avastin course on 1st of February and now on watch and wait which Is great, but wondered if any one after finishing has terrible joint pains in back, knees hips ,hands intact all over. At night it seems worse or if l have been sitting for a while ,when l get up for the first 5 minutes or so l am like a very old women ( no comments thankyou 🤗) toddling until I get my joints working. I also have had terrible neck ache which l haven’t had before, it’s really getting me down and disturbing my sleep. I was wondering if it could be withdrawal symptoms after being nearly two years on chemo, operation then more chemo and finally avastin, any one else had similar symptoms . If so what do you do to improve , really want to crack on with my new “normal” life. Many thanks . Linda xx
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I have not been on Avastin, but I did hear that it really strains your joints.
But, after finishing first line Carbo/Taxol, it took me about 5 months th feel 75% if nirmal.
In the beginning it was almost impossible to stand up after sitting for more than 15 minutes, or to get myself out of the car. It took about 3 months to stand up slightly better, and going up and down stairs was hard on my hips and knees for a long time.
Chemo really can devastate you, but with daily walks, short distances at first, we do get better.
Also, once I was off Chemo, I could take Ibuprofen again, which is really grest for its anti-inflammatory properties and I would take it at bedtime, too, which can help sleep and neck aches.
Hope you feel better soon, but it takes time and you have to be patient.
Best wishes,
Laura
I’m on Avastin as part of 2nd line chemo. I have stiffness in my neck. It gets worse with each dose. I had it last time I was on Avastin, too. I only get back pain of I do too much. I had it at Christmas because of a day of cooking and I get it now if I work too hard. I only work occasionally and for a three or four hours each day but if I push myself too hard, back pain is the result.
I had lots of joint issues after avastin. My neck still gives me problems. I think that a lot of us ladies suffer from arthralgia after avastin. I hope you start to feel better soon.
You’ll probably get lots of replies saying, “Yes, I feel EXACTLY the same!”
So yes, I feel just like you...7 months on from finishing Avastin, after FLT!
It gets very slowly better (I think!) but I still hobble around most days on rising! Paracetamol & Ibuprofen are what I take and they do seem to help.
It disturbs my sleep too, especially the backache. I’ve tried back massages, which are nice & make me feel more flexible (for a while). Warmth and moving are good.
I asked one of the Registrars about this and she said a year 😗
You’ll see lots of previous postings about this Linda, if you want to look them up (see RHS of screen).
Hi Linda. I've had 16 Avastin doses so far and no joint pain that I can tell. However, the 95-yr-old movement is something I experience as well, especially after getting up. Plus some left over nerve pain in my feet, from chemo.
What gets me is the extreme tiredness after receiving Avastin.
That all said, I think the side effects and the pain might lessen for you over time. Maybe you can ask your GP for pain relief in the meantime? Hope it gets better soon.
Thankyou all for your replies ,some how makes it better knowing other people have it as well I think it helps us to cope if we can ask questions and get support. I am so glad to still be here after the initial confirmation of the dreaded disease and it’s amazing what inner strength we all seem to find .Maybe it’s Women Power 💪 or stubbornness that we won’t give up ,what ever it is let’s keep on doing it. It seems l just need patience with the aches and pains , I do find a little walk every day helps and also blows the cobwebs away. I also think Laura you are right when you say Taxol/Carbo doesn’t help with the joints and the extreme tiredness but I try to say every day at least we are still here and bring it on .Thanks every one now l must hobble to have a sit down lol😂 💚🌈 Linda xxx
Thanks , l have just started on Tummeric so we shall see, might try ginger to, let me know if you find magnesium supplement helps. Thanks again.xx
Hi Linda,
YES, YES, YES... totally the same. I binned it in the end as I couldn’t cope. I finished mid Jan. Last week end I actually stayed up and out until 11.30, I couldn’t believe it!
I’m now sleeping better and don’t have such bad aches in shoulders, arms etc. My finger joints used to hurt!
I’m sure you will start to see a gradual difference. My family all commented last weekend on how alive I looked, that said it all to me. I know it might keep the beast at bay but it comes with its own problems.
Wishing you all the best, hope you feel better soon.
DearLmc52, so sorry to hear you’ve been having really horrible aches and pains particularly around the neck
Although my chemo situation a bit different (18 eeeks Taxol and FEC I do get neck aches and lately have been drinking regular Turneric tea to see if it relieves my neck aches .
Well it apparently does!!
I read about it’s known anti inflammatory properties and it does seem to be working !
Now sleeping better as a result !
I’m hoping it really is the turmeric so am passing this on for you to decide so. Sending you my best wishes in the meantime . It sure is a big thing to go through the months of being poisoned and our wonderful bodies must be shouting “ Stop! Stop!” I lose track sometimes of what’s the next side effect Taxol will hit me with. Almost to check I’m not getting too complacent !
If you have any relief from the turmeric tea ( or tablets ) do let me know
Dear Linda Sorry you are going through a lot of muscle pain , I am too although my treatment is different about to have 4th cycle of taxol/carbo and day 3-5 is the worst. Horrible isn't it. I started on paracetamol and co-codomol at night but the co-codomol made me constipated. Doc suggested ibuprofen with omperzale to line the stomach but that didn't really help, so wondering if 2 paracetamol + ibuprofen. Denise interesting about the tumeric tea will try that or in tablet form. Before my OC my GP thinks everyone should take magnesium tablets ? seasun36-uk did you take them while on chemo? Hope everyone has a good weekend Best Wishes Lesley XX
No I didn’t take anything while on chemo. Our Oncologists in the U.K. seem very strict about this. I think it’s because no info is available on possible interactions? I am thinking you are in Canada or USA? While you are on chemo, maybe google anti-inflammatory foods - which from memory are mainly fruits, especially berries. Yes our bodies really have had an ‘onslaught’ of difficult chemicals/surgery,
Two Paracetamol are always better, plus Ibuprofen (with Omeprazole or similar). Just off to take them now 😂
I’ve bought some liquid magnesium (Floradix) & a turmeric & ginger drink (doesn’t taste very nice, so I’m going to add a bit of honey).
I get very down about these aches & pains as I’d like to do a lot more!
However I’m grateful for all my treatment & am still here.
Thank you very much Linda x No I am in the UK . Yes I thought that was the case. I don't like taking tablets at the best of times I am trying to eat lots of veg and fruit but yes will google best ones for inflamation. I am glad I have my dogs as makes me go out for a walk, real effort at first but does help. Hope you have a lovely weekend ! Best Wishes Lesley xx
I had 45 cycles of Avastin and although I'm desperately greatful for the extra time it gave me, in the end was truly glad to see the back of it. The aches and pains subsided after about 12 weeks and the excess mucous subsided after about 6 months.
Great advice above. Hope your symptoms subside soon and you enjoy your time off. Life is for living to the full. 💐😘
I am about to have last infusion of Avastin on 18th March(no18).I must admit this has become a real problem for me during the last two infusions. Neck ache, feeling really stiff and in pain.I visited the GP and he said it was sciatica.Not sure if anyone else has been told this. I looked on google and exact symptoms seem to point to sciatica.He prescribed codeine and side affects are awful with constipation but it did cure the pain.
I also visited a private physiotherapist who gave me a thorough check over and confirmed sciatica.He suggested exercises, go for walks and not to sit for longer than 20 mins at a time.Move around and use microwave bean bags, hot water bottles or any kind of warmth.Hot baths have helped a great deal.I must admit I feel so much better now.Still getting a slight nagging pain towards left ankle but paracetamol helps He examined all of the joints causing pain and said they were very stiff.
This has certainly been a painful episode and I really thought I had escaped this situation.
I too finished Avastin at the start of the year. Didn’t suffer too much with joint pain during, but the last couple of months have been pretty difficult. I too hobble like an old lady... I know I am but....
Nights are worse my hips and sacroiliac joints in my back wake me constantly and it’s difficult to change position . Dr has given me Naproxen but I can’t say it really helps. Hopefully it will ease off and go away soon.
Hi, Linda! So sorry you are feeling this way. All the advice these lovely ladies have given you are all great. Little by little you will be feeling much better. Our new normal. We all have one thing in common is that we just keep going and going. I think the pharmaceutical companies who make our drugs should send us on a cruise. We can give them all the feedback they need while they wine and dine us.
That sounds a wonderful idea , I have had some lovely replies from everyone and several things l will definitely try but the cruise sounds the best oh for some warm sun on our bones. 🌞🍹🍰 Thank you for your kind thoughts ,hopefully soon the aches and pains will lessen and as you say we just keep moving forward to the best of our abilities. Take care xxxx
I haven’t posted before but have such sore ankles and decreased stamina from the avastin. Do feel like I’m decades older than I am. Moist heat works best for me. Just running my ankles under the warm bath faucet for a few minutes does wonders. I’ve just completed 21 cycles of Avastin. Can’t take nsaids due t sensative stomach. Hope you find a solution
It seems it’s mostly time so must learn to be patient.lol mind you if l ache it’s a small price for still being here. If nothing else this has taught me how precious life is and how silly things l used to worry about are not important Not worth worrying about things that (a) haven’t happened or are unlikely to. (B) Or things you can’t have or someone else has. It’s quite liberating in a way and when you hear what other women are suffering I feel guilty at moaning. However that is human nature 😂 anyway onwards and upwards into disgraceful old age . Bring it on. Take care and hope it becomes easier for us all.
Like Linda, I was on Carbo/Taxol and had bad joint pain. I'm also stiff and can have a hard time moving quickly. But everything has gotten better with time. I'm celebrating my one year being off all Chemo this month. In fact, my last treatment was on March 21, 2017. I still battle exhaustion for no reason other than the result of Chemo, and I still battle random pain in my joints. One ankle will hurt and then stop and the next one begin hurting. It's crazy! But everything has gotten progressively better. Also the more I push myself to be active (hike, walk, and paddle my kayak in flat water), the better I feel. You had much more Chemo than I did so it will take time, but I believe you will notice a difference as time moves forward. Wishing you the very best.
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I am trying to eat lots of veg and fruit but yes will google best ones for inflamation. I am glad I have my dogs as makes me go out for a walk, real effort at first but does help. Hope you have a lovely weekend ! Best Wishes Lesley xx
Just on Avastin now
Aches and pains 
Avastin and itching
Avastin and less-common side effects, esp. joint pain.
