I had my 3rd dose of Epi a week ago…never had any problems with the first 2…this one though has left me with a really sore hand and arm…is it normal to have pain in your chemo arm? It’s really sore to touch and to stretch my arm…
Linda x
Hi
Unfortunately I think this is caused my the chemo hardening your viens. I have had 6 FEC and one of my viens is still realy hard and sore, and in fact looks like a scar on my arm.
I don’t know if this will ease in time, I hope so as mine is still a bit sore to touch.
Hope yours heals quicker than mine!
CrystalT
Hi I have just had my 3rd Fec and my arm is feeling sore and stiff too. I found with FEC 2 that it slowly got better during the next two weeks. So hopefully it will happen again this dose. Hope yours clears up to, best wishes Shirley.
Hi there
Just to reiterate what the other ladies have said, i had my 4th epi on 24th Dec and my veins are still rather sore and painful to stretch arm out, i still can not straighten it. I was advised to use ibrofen gel or similar to try and ease pain though this didn’t help much in my case 
Hope it feels better soon and best wishes
Blondebird x
I’m due to have 3rd Epi next monday, my arm is also very painful.Lifting saucepans, ironing etc. Can’t do much with my other arm either after the node clearance, Was wandering whether to ask onc whether they would put a line in. Arm is ore at the elbow where they always take the blood and top of hand where they do the chemo. Guess it will be really bad by the time I’ve had 10 more doses Will let you know if they have any suggestions
Alison
My Onc told me the tightness in my chemo arm was due to vein damage.
She referred me to the physio that I had seen after the mastectomy.
Physion showed me how to massage the arm and it works.
Hi scotsmomma and everyone,
I finished my 4EPI then had 8CMF now onto 3 weeks rads, I too had a sore arm after 2nd EPI as the nurse had difficulty getting the EPI to go in, it does still bother me a little and the nurse said the pain would be better after the treatment was all finished ( it is) but the veins may never return to normal.
It’s not as bad now I must admit but can still feel a little tight and feels like pins and needles if I run my finger over it, (mine is worst at the wrist), persevere with the stretching and the massage as it does help.Run the warm water from the shower over your arm as this helped me too.
My nurse said to try Arnica cream, I used to take a little Ibuprofen when the pain was at it’s worst but check first with your nurse if this is ok for you as it’s not good for you to have too many or may interfere with any other meds you are on.
Hope you feel better soon and take care, keep smiling!.
Love to all on the thread.
Carol x
Thanks everyone…it’s reassuring to know it seems quite common…I shouldn’t complain really as I’ve been very lucky so far with my Epi…one more to go then onto CMF…Hoping it won’t cause me any problems…
Good luck all of you with your treatment
Linda xx