Leg and feet pain

Yes, I feel a lot older than 45 at the moment! I just had 3 tests in the week before Christmas - mammogram, echocardiogram, ultrasound and FNA on my foot and had to turn down an appointment with my gyn. Still have all of those follow up appointments early in Jan.  Happy new year @Afraser. Love your comments. 

I had been scared I wouldn’t get rid of the neuropathy. It is less and as I’m only 7 mths post chemo I can only hope it continues to improve.  I did kick my big to today and instead of not realising how hard I kicked it, it actually hurt a bit like a bee sting. Took a chunk off the toe nail. But I do think that’s a good thing I felt it. As for the aches and pains, it take less to ease them now than when I started my hormone blockers and like everyone has said. I’m alive and cancer free and now I get to be here for yet another grandchild on 23 June 2018

I'm fine, many thanks, I just have the added indignity that some things (such as the arrhythmia) are also possibly outcomes of just getting older. Survival is great but it doesn't stop ageing! I've had to move from total denial of ageing to grudging acceptance but only when I have to!

Good points @Afraser, it’s just annoying that my health is worse because of cancer treatment. The side effects keep mounting the further I get from active treatment, but yes survival is an important reason for having chemo. I had this conversation with my mum just today as I hobbled about in her kitchen. Hope you are well. 

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. 

I still have peripheral neuropathy almost 2 1/2 years after finishing ACT chemo. I have some shooting pain, but mostly my toes and heels feel numb. It is a bit better though. I just had a scan of my foot and fine needle aspiration to check for lumps caused by dead nerves (?!). Each operation I have seems to make the peripheral neuropathy worse. I’m not sure why. 
Adriamycin has also caused ongoing heart issues - possible heart muscle damage. There should be a national register of these issues for people who have had chemo. 

Yoga is a sensible idea. I still can't tuck my toes and possibly never will (I got the feeling back in the tips about 12 months ago, but the middles stubbornly refuse to cooperate) but overall it does my feet and the rest of me, including the overworking brain, a lot of good! 

 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

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

I had a lot of leg heaviness which improved around week 7 after chemo. Turns out also I had reduced cardiac output so once on medication for that it improved dramatically so please get checked out. My cardiac function has returned to normal but I still have some ankle puffiness which might be more related to my weight gain now. 

Ankle and foot pain can be a symptom of an aramatose inhibitor. Have you started one of those?  I had very bad issues in the morning initially but it has improved a lot 12 months on. 

I took panadol osteo for 4 to 6 montbs post chemo due to pain but suddenly didn't need it anymore. 
Kath x