ARM PAIN AFTER CHEMO

I had a change in chemo drug to Vinblastine from Vincristine as I have peripheral neuropathy in my finger tips. However, after having the Vinblastine a week ago I'm now in terrible pain radiating up my whole left arm from the cannula injection site. I've been back to the hospital and they aren't sure what it is so suggested pain killers and a hot wrap with brufen topical gel but after 2 days of this I'm still in agony. 

Is there anyone who has experienced anything like this and/or anyone who can give advice on how to cope. ️

  • Hi BigMama

    I have just completed 8 cycles of chemo, I wasn't on the same drugs as you but also have the neuropathy.

    I did experience some pain up the arm that had the canula in the later cycles, this lasted a few days then cleared but doesn't seem as severe as you described.

    Hopefully it will clear for you.

    All the best for the future.

    Pete

  • Hi BigMama, I'm experiencing the same, had treatment last week and still in a lot of pain on my arm, hope is not a blood clot. Hope you're feeling better.

  • Hello Big Mama,

                              for me it was a case of considering the alternative ,gritting my teeth and subsequently living with the permanent neuropathy.Regretfully the drugs used are more brutal than caring,and affect some worse than others,but the main thing is that they do an even bigger number on your visitor than they do on you.Hang on in there, and hopefully it eases with time,

                                                                                                                                    David 

  • Hi big mama

    i have just searched about this and found you first. I also have severe pain in my left arm. I had cisplatin, and after complaining they stopped my chemo straight away. It's now months later and I still have pain. In the top of my arm elbow to shoulder. Sent for a wasted xray as I know nothings broken. I'm now waiting on gp to call me back. I feel it needs looking into more. 
    i cannot reach up for things scratch my back. It's like a dead arm. If I get answers I let you know. But from another friends info. It will and could be permanent. Take care sooz

  • Hi sooz 

    I'm having the exact problem as you, I had 2 EC through cannula in my hand then had another through my picc. The pain in my arm is sometimes unbearable yet nobody can tell me why. My oncologist and chemo nurse say its damage to the vein from the chemo, and 2 doctors and a nurse from the hospital say its pain from overstretched veins from my picc line. Either way they are sure it's not a blood clot nor an infection and apart from being told to take paracetamol and ibrufen (which doesn't touch it) I don't know what else to do about it. 

    At the moment I can't straighten my arm, and the pain from the inside of my elbow radiates down to the top of my wrist, neither can I lift my arm above my head as I then get pain in my armpit. 

    I'm interested to know if you get given any answers and/remedies.

    Hope you feel better soon 

    Gina 

  • Hi Gina 

    well NO I'm not getting any answers my Gp discussed it with my cancer doctor who agreed to giving me a steroid injection. And it's done nothing. I had that done on the 24th March. Only a week ago. And was told i would start to see the benefits in 3 weeks. Which I doubt very much. I never had a picc line just straight into my vein. I did speak myself to cancer dr. And all she said was I doubt the cancer has spread to your arm from where it was originally. (Vulva cancer 2018, operated on.  then groin lymph nodes 2020, with the chemo an radio) Not a helpful answer. I am seeing my oncologist soon so I'm going to demand an MRI. Or some sort of scan that can see veins or the actual nerves. As it may be broken nerves, nerve damage. Which I hear happens after chemo. It's just so painful just to do the most simplest of things. I can't even lift my arm up now to say stretch and change a light bulb. Reach into a kitchen cuboard.  I'm not happy as I'm very much independent. The pain is weird like you say it can hurt in my upper arm or radiate down from my elbow to my wrist. Depending on what I'm trying to do. But likewise if you get any more answers I'd be interested sooz 

  • Hi

    did you get anywhere with your arm pain? I've had 5x chemos all directly into the vein and im now in agony in my left arm. Started in the wrist and now radiates up and down the arm and into my index finger. 
    hope you're doing ok? X

  • Hi 

    it has eased up but still can't raise arm high and oncologist has said it's peripheral neuropathy. 

  • I too woke up to severe arm pain. I researched and it isn't peripheral neuropathy. I found it is from muscle damage and muscle wasting. The only thing that works is yoga arm stretches and gentle stretching and strengthening. It is working. I was able to sleep last night. Google muscle wasting and chemo. I just need to gently remind my muscles to find where they used to be. Hope this works. Doctors didn't know this so messaged my oncologist to let her know too. Good luck and hope we heal.

  • I'm 2 years post treatment.  I did a 6 month oral chemotherapy drug trial to prolong or prevent a return.  I've had terrible pains in my left arm & underarm this was the arm I had my chemotherapy in.  The pain is awful some days,  I also get terrible pain on the right side which was the one I had stage 3 TN & removal of some lymph nodes. My scar site is so sore,  lumpy & painful.  The after effects of the drug study has left me with lose of skin on my finger tips I struggle to take things out of my freezer winter  morning are the worse.  The heels of my feet are the same,  my toenail just fall off.   I still have no sensation in part of my arm.  My tastebuds have still not returned completely neither has my hair & my right breast due to radiotherapy is higher than my left, im quick big busted so the difference is noticeable especially in a bikini on holiday  I keep thinking will my life ever get back to normal. Im so grateful for all the help & treatment I've received & grateful to still be here I'd just live a day where im not in pain or dreading a reoccurrence.