Is Avastin causing pain in arms?

Posted by charlotte12 @charlotte12, Dec 15, 2024

I had my 2nd infusion of Bevacizumab or Avastin. I noticed changes in my left arm. The arm started hurting when trying to lift above 90 degrees. The right upper arm is also sending out pain in intervals. I did not cause any injury to both arms. I'm not lifting or moving any items over 2 or 3 pounds. Did anyone on Avastin experience similiar issues. I had both
infusions on my left arm. Maybe I should use the right arm for the next infusion?

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other side effects I suffered: high blood pressure, runny nose, I take meds for the blood pressure-

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I spoke to the oncology nurse, she reported that another oc patient had similar symptoms with her arms and shoulders, the patient is also on avastin-

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@charlotte12

I spoke to the oncology nurse, she reported that another oc patient had similar symptoms with her arms and shoulders, the patient is also on avastin-

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I think I answered my question-

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@charlotte12, I'm just catching up with this "conversation" now. It made me chuckle. I hope you find it a bit funny too that you asked AND answered your question. It will remain a useful discussion for the next member who experiences something similar.

Have you had another infusion since posting this? If yes, how did it go? Did your oncology nurse suggest anything to avoid the side effects in your arm? Did you use the same arm?

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@colleenyoung

@charlotte12, I'm just catching up with this "conversation" now. It made me chuckle. I hope you find it a bit funny too that you asked AND answered your question. It will remain a useful discussion for the next member who experiences something similar.

Have you had another infusion since posting this? If yes, how did it go? Did your oncology nurse suggest anything to avoid the side effects in your arm? Did you use the same arm?

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my next infusion is coming up in January, I spoke to the nurse after I had posted my comment on MCC and coincidentally she just had a patient visit who reported the same symptom, she suggested physical therapy, the IVs were given in the same arm, left, I'm right handed and wanted to keep use of the right arm in case there is a mishap with the left arm, both shoulders and upper arms are effected by now, the left one with stronger symptoms, discomfort and can't fully lift it without pain- also strange that after the 2nd infusion I started feeling pain on and off where I was given the last 2 covid vaccines, 6 months apart, here in each arm, I will report back after the infusion-

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I should have phrased the title differently: is Avastin causing shoulder pain, the arm pain is radiating from the shoulders, confirmed now
by MRI diagnosing a frozen shoulder, inflammation, thickening of tissues, .... the cause may be chemo or
a random inflammation because of old age or other, orthopedic surgeon could not say why it happened, I received a steroid shot in the shoulder and will do more physical therapy to counter the stiffness, recovery may be slow or never- the steroid shot gave me a red nose and splotches on the face as of now, may vanish soon?

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I have been receiving Aviston through my port and I am on my second infusion and I have the same situation neck pain and I cannot lift both my arms. I don’t know if the pain is because you’re getting the infusion through arm. I think Avistan might just cause this type of soreness? I’m worried again because this is only my second infusion. Am I going to have to feel like this for the next two years on this stuff? Scared…

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I can't answer how you will feel for the next 2 years- I don't have a port, arms veins are being used, by now I have had 10 infusions of Avastin, with chemo 16, every 3 weeks, I have 7 more to go and maybe another year, my side effects from Avastin have not resolved but have decreased over the last 5 months, my arm rotations are almost back to normal, no neck or shoulder pain at that moment, I may get a random short lasting pain in one upper arm, I don't need to medicate, the best remedy was a one time injection of some kind of cortison in my most effected shoulder, which worked wonders -I saw a shoulder surgeon for that, I also did physical therapy for awhile, I read that Avastin may cause joint inflammation, your oncology team, nurse, doctor can advise more-
I took pain meds when needed, make an appointment with a shoulder surgeon or orthopedic doc - don't be scared- get the help-

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@charlotte12

I can't answer how you will feel for the next 2 years- I don't have a port, arms veins are being used, by now I have had 10 infusions of Avastin, with chemo 16, every 3 weeks, I have 7 more to go and maybe another year, my side effects from Avastin have not resolved but have decreased over the last 5 months, my arm rotations are almost back to normal, no neck or shoulder pain at that moment, I may get a random short lasting pain in one upper arm, I don't need to medicate, the best remedy was a one time injection of some kind of cortison in my most effected shoulder, which worked wonders -I saw a shoulder surgeon for that, I also did physical therapy for awhile, I read that Avastin may cause joint inflammation, your oncology team, nurse, doctor can advise more-
I took pain meds when needed, make an appointment with a shoulder surgeon or orthopedic doc - don't be scared- get the help-

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to clarify: not being able to lift your arms is connected with an shoulder issue, I had an MRI
of my shoulder before treatment

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Avastin caused a massive bloody nose resulting in two blood transfusions. Lesser bloody noses followed. Also had extreme high blood pressure. 200/68. Quit Avastin after the first infusion. Both were listed as potential side effects. It was scary.

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