- Re: Questions?????

[Guest guest]

Hi - I posted my response to the " Neupogen Side Effects " post

before I read your question.

Your husband's response to Neupogen sounds like the same thing that

happened to me - I detailed it in my message. I had no mets, just

plain old muscle spasms, which caused mid-lower back pain that was

beyond excrutiating. The worst pain I have every experienced by far.

Far worse than surgery. But if your husband is experiencing the same

thing that I did, it's not from the cancer it's muscle pain.

Here are some things that helped me (drugs didn't help much):

1. Hot baths

2. Acupuncture (helped a lot)

3. Stretching

4. Ativan (this was my doctors idea - it made me relax a little bit

which did help the pain some)

5. lidocaine patches - don't help that much, but take the edge off a bit.

6. Putting bags of frozen peas on my back (the freezer burn caused me

so much discomfort that it made me forget about the muscle pain.

7. Oxycodone (helped a little but not much)

Also, check with your doctor to see if your husband can get the number

of shots decreased (for instance 3 instead of 5).

Do know that if the pain is muscle-related it will go away once the

shots are stopped (within a month).

Please give your husband my best. I can certainly empathize with his

situation.

Regards,

Jodi

> I need some info and figure this is the best place to get some.Hubby

> has been having GMCSF(generic for neupogen, etc...)shots to raise his

> white blood count so he can continue the chemo with avastin.Had his

> 5th(and last in series)shot this am.Anyway,about the same time he

> started the shots he developed severe pains in his lower back.He says

> it comes and goes like a spasm but is excruciating even with pain

> meds that have been working very well until this.Because of his

> spinal cord deficits he normally cannot feel muscle or surface pain

> so I'm thinking this has to be tumor or organ related.We've not been

> aware of any bone mets but his hematology has been so irratic the

> past few weeks,I've been wondering....He thinks it's caused by the

> shots because that's when it started but I can't find anything in the

> side effects about causing pain and it doesn't make sense to me. I

> know some of you on the board have personal experience with this drug

> to increase the WBC and I would really appreciate any info you can

> share.Also,info on bone mets would be appreciated,just in case.

> His next appointment with the onc is 4/22 so I'm trying to gather

> info prior.

> Thanks!!!!

>

> (caregiver to Hubby,dx inoperable stage IV cc 7/03,currently on third

> chemo regime)