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

Hendrix
Member
8 years ago
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
Afraser
Member
8 years ago
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.

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Leg and feet pain

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