Does anyone have any recommendations on what to take to relieve the joint pain after having the Paclitaxel (Taxol) chemo drug. Had mine on Tuesday number 2 of 3 after 3 of FEC. No probs with FEC apart from hard veins. But the joint pain with the Paclitaxel is horrendous. Ankles, both knees, hips, writsts you name it. Have taken ibuprofen but to no avail. Anadin, still not working, wine again no result. I am not going to be able to sleep at this rate as the pain is horrid and 1 more to go. Joints ached after first one but not this much. Lasted about 4 or 5 days. Even had to phone in sick at work on Friday as I couldn’t even drive cos of the pain. Any recommendations please.
Hi Mandy
Please feel free to call our specialist nurses on the helpline for advice on managing the pain you are experiencing, I am sure your breast care nurse or chemo team will be happy to help too if you give them a call. Our helpline is on 0808 800 6000 weekdays 9-5 and today 9-2.
Best wishes
Lucy
Hi Mandy,
I found that none of the standard pain relief methods worked, and the only reprieve I had was taking diazepam which helped relax things. It lasted 4-5 days each cycle then vanished, but was hell for the duration, and felt like labour contractions trhoughout all the joints of my body!
Hope things soon get easier for you.
best wishes,
Annie
hi mandy i had the taxol and joint pains are terrible diclofenic helped and tramadol it does`nt take all the pain away but made it bearable caroleann
I found no painkillers helped. My only relief was lots of hot baths and taking lorazapam to get sleep at night. I did use a heated pad bought from Argos but as my pain was like sharp pin pricks all over my body, I was never sure where to put it.
Hi Mandy,
I have been on the taxotere had 3 doses and i have found the joint and muscle pain horrific, I’m on day 18 of my final 3rd tax and my knees and legs still hurt ALOT. I have been given Diclofenac tablets which i understand are anti-inflamatories and they really have helped. Maybe you can question these tablets with the onc to see if they will help - they certainly have helped me.
Sukes
I had taxotere last year; the joint pains on the first cycle were horrific. After some trial & error I found taking the maximum dose of both cocodamol & diclofenac worked for me. Start taking them before the pains begin.
Really sympathise - mine was so bad I couldn’t straighten my knees or elbows and could only crawl upstairs as so horrendous I swore I would never have chemo again. I took co-codymol, voltarol and used heated wheat bags. It would last 3 -5 days and started about day 5. I also tried garbopentin but that didn’t help but at least it helped me to sleep.
Tell your onc and see what pain killers he recommends. Be careful with paracetamol containing analgesia though as some contain it but you only see it in the small print so very easy to accidently overdose.
Hope it improves for you all
Kate
I took cocodamol 2 days before chemo and 2 days after- onc knew and was happy with that.
Mary
xx