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Can these aches and pains really be Glivec...five years in?

After nearly five years on Glivec I've started to get tiresome and debilitating aches and pains in my legs/lower back, and I wonder if this can be a new side effect after all this time.

I've always had the usual stomach upsets, cramps, tiredness - which have tended to come in relays. But this is new. My blood doc tells me I can take any sort of painkiller whenever I need to, and I'm having to take a couple of Ibuprofen every night to get a bit of sleep.

I'm 61 and fit(ish) until now! For the last couple of months I've had to wait a few minutes after standing up from sitting before I shuffle around. Every muscle in my legs/lower body feels stiff and painful and I get piercing 'twinges' in my bones. I look about 90 and feel at least 150. Not good!

I have to take the dogs for two 40-minute walks a day. That's more than enough for me!

Is this going to last forever? Indeed, is it a recognised side effect of Glivec?

I'd be most grateful to hear of anyone having a similar experience.

Diana

in response to your side effects of glivec, i too was experiencing most that you described. i have been on glivec since may 2009.
whilst the effects were managable they are a bit of a inconveinence and have restricted many of my daily routines.
The good news is that recently i was talking to somebody who was on glivec for GIST and they recommended using pomergranit jucie as they though that it dramatically reduced some of the side effects considerably.
This i have since done and can say that whilst a lot of my side effects are still there the severity has greatly reduced, the cramps have stopped altogether and the ibs has eased so much that i feel relatively normal lol.
if nothing else the jucie taste great and is recognised as being a great antioxident.
It is worth a try.

i hope this information helps.

take care all
.
yours with CMl

Stuart

Thanks very much for the tip, Stuart. I shall certainly try the juice. If it helps with all the other side effects too, it will be money well spent! I will report back.

Regards,

Diana

It may be that this has nothing to do with Glivec. It is likely to be spinal - the nerves feeding your legs run through the lower spine and wear can cause inflamation of the nerves and result in back and leg pains.

I'm 65 and I've also been on Glivec for over four years. I started getting back and leg pains about three years ago. Nothing to do with Glivec, it was a prolapsed disc. I had a couple of caudal epidural cortico-steroid injections, which lasted about 18 months each. Then I started getting pains in the lower back/upper buttocks and legs. This was caused by worn lumbar facet joints. Facet joint wear can be treated by cortico steroid injections (successful but really only diagnostic) and then facet joint de-nervation (ablation) (normally successful but hasn't worked for me).

The back pains are worst after a period of inactivity, like sleeping. On getting up in the morning, it is crippling. With a 30/500 co-codamol, movement, going to the loo and a hot shower, it eases and most of the day is then OK.

Google facet joints and see if it fits your symptoms. It is a very common problem at our tender years. If it does, then make an appointment to see a spine and pain management specialist.

Good luck,
John