hi there, i am 5 weeks post chemo (4 x AC, 8 x Taxol) and 2 weeks into 28 radiotherapy sessions and I feel like a 90 year old women hobbling around... anyone else experienced this? My my legs ache and my feet are swollen and just generally painful, especially when I get up in the morning or when I have been sitting for a while. Love to hear from anyone who has felt this and find out what helped and how long it went on for.

If it's any comfort it can keep improving, nerve survival seems remarkable, just often hellish slow. I got an arrhythmia after A/C. Maybe caused by the chemo, maybe not. Isn't really possible to tell. Would I have refused the chemo suggested if I had known beforehand? Possibly, all those side effects would have really alarmed me. And with hindsight (with which we can all be wise) that would have been a mistake. An entirely manageable irregularity with my heart electronics and never winning a sprint race again don't seem too much of a cost for a cancer free five years. I may have more cancer free years, I may not, but I am sure that my understanding of what's acceptable and what's not is a great deal sharper and clearer than it was five years ago. I don't scare as easily! I worry less and I think my priorities are a bit better. Stupid way to learn all that but better late than never.

Dear @JanineG and @VicRed , Thanks for your posts. I am in the same boat as you JanineG - stiff feet and ankles due to arimidex . Your physio's explanation has helped me to understand what is going on. I am trying foot and ankle exercises. And I have just started going to yoga. I wwobbled all over the place and couldn't do half the poses, but I still enjoyed it and will go back.Best wishes to all from jennyss

Sounds awful. Part of it may be peripheral neuropathy, which usually starts with a tingling feeling in the fingers or toes. Sometimes that's as far as it goes, but it can get worse and can be painful. Mine was pretty well confined to my feet though, no swelling or pain in the legs but my toes hurt a lot and walking got quite difficult for a while. Peripheral neuropathy is a known side effect of Taxol. But the problem may also be muscular or lymphatic. In the morning, legs and feet seem to "seize up" a bit if there are any problems, because you are less mobile overnight. Then eases up again once you get going. You would expect chemo side effects to occur while you are still having treatment, but I was told that peripheral neuropathy can possibly continue to develop after chemo treatment is over. Perhaps best to have it checked, especially the swelling and see if anything can relieve the discomfort. Best wishes.

I had that for at least 2 months after finishing chemo...my feet are still not 100% it’s been about 3 and half months now...especially in the morning...I call it the Charlie Chaplin shuffle lol

It's awful isn't it. Mine is all due to arimidex. I was becoming more rigid every morning and when I finally got to sit down at night very stiff and uncomfortable to then stand and move again. I started seeing a great physio who has given me stretching exercises to do twice a day for 10 minutes. After 3 days things had dramatically improved. I've been lazy over Xmas and I'm back to square one! But today I started again. It's been my answer. He explained that the sheaths around the tendons had become ridged causing inflammation and this upsets the nerves. ( think I got that right), also my archilles was very inflamed. He did some pretty mean massage, used special tape for a few days and with the stretches almost normal. hope this helps. Oh and if you hate exercise like me.... These stretches are mainly done lying down :)Janine xo

Leg and feet pain | BCNA Online Network

22 Replies

JanineG
Member
8 years ago
Gosh @"Beryl C." That sounds cruel. Your method of coping is inspirational. Yes we do have to push ourselves some days but also be kind and hear our own voices when needed too. I'm so guilty of doing too much and then suffering later. This year I have decided to be somewhat wiser! Lol
Beryl_C_
Member
8 years ago
Been on Herceptin and Anastrozole for 61/2 years. Very painful feet began four years ago. - tried many treatments including acupuncture and a TENS machine, hot/cold foot baths etc etc. The only thing that makes any difference is Voltaren or Celebrex. These last 12mths I have been using a walker and it does ease the discomfort. There are good days and at times there is no pain. Also have debilitating stiffness in lower back and rib area most mornings, if I need to be somewhere, eg, hospital, I take two Voltaren about 10pm night before. This is the only way to avoid having a painful morning. I've recently worked with a physio, stretching, special exercises, hydro therapy etc. The irony is that I am very flexible and my body balance is very good. I did Yoga and Tai Chi for years. We decided there are good days and bad days, I have information that helps and I know that how I handle this is between my ears. I give myself permission to feel however I need to feel, eg., 'I am so over this!!!!!' but watch myself to guard against self pity lasting too long. xBeryl
Zoffiel
Member
8 years ago
Some days my feet feel like blocks of wood that have been nailed to the end of my legs.

I can't even tell you precisely what is wrong with them. It's like having an intermittent fault in your car: it just won't run properly and limps along then, as soon as you book it in for a service, everything is fine. Really annoying--I can't figure out what, if anything, I did to 'fix' myself.

Im nine months post chemo and would have expected to be over all this. Ten years ago I had no problems with AC, it seems TC is a very different beast. On we trudge, dragging one leg behind like a bad actor playing Quasimodo.
onemargie
Member
8 years ago
H there i finished chemo oct last year and still feel like a little old lady in the mornings but it has improved thankfullly. Good old chemo puts you into menopause and depletes your body of oestrogen and that’s the lubricant for our joints. I take calcium/vitamin d tablet every day snd exercise every morning walking our dogs which helps heaps. I didn’t have neuropathy in my feet but had it in my hands and it’s virtually all gone now. My hot flushes disappeared too back in July and that’s when my neuropathy stsrted to settle too. If I sit too long it plays up but once I’m up and moving I’m heaps better. Margie xxx
JasiB1
Member
8 years ago
Hi ladies. I just wanted to say how much I appreciate being able to read your posts and gain more insight into this journey we are on.
i had my first Chemo 4 days ago and doing ok so far. My poor old bones are sore and I've lost some sense of taste but having read the recommendations above, I'm trying to walk every day and and keep doing the Pilates.
Strewth!! What a journey!!
Anonymous
8 years ago
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8 years ago
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melclarity
Member
8 years ago
@VicRed I'm currently 2 years post chemo and unfortunately I still suffer from leg aches and feet particularly. I've worked with an exercise physiologist for a year and has helped, though its all compounded by Aromasin I am on which adds to it. So it sounds like Neuropathy, if I stand for too long my feet ache or first thing in the morning its awful. I think Ive just learnt to live with it, I am like an old lady when I walk and it hasnt improved. I had 4 FEC and 8 Taxol. Stretching exercises do help too. x Melinda
Fionap2017
Member
8 years ago
Sitting here with my aching feet up looking for advice on this very topic! I’ve had 4 AC and 2 Taxol- I still have 10 taxol to go
VicRed
Member
8 years ago
Great comments, thank you and love the analogy of the Charlie Chaplin shuffle...bang on @Hendrix

@JanineG your physio's explanation is so helpful...i am doing light exercise and had a foot and calf massage today which seems to help.

I guess, once you stop chemo you just want to start feeling better but it seems to be taking a long time, that and the concern of the pain of my RT catching up with me...just over it all today!!

Bring on a better 2018 for us all!!

Thank everyone :-)

V x