Arimidex & carpal tunnel?

lisettemac

Anyone?  I think I might be going crazy.  Been taking Arimidex since, say, end of July.  In the last 2 months or so, I've developed a bad case of carpal tunnel.  I adjusted my desk/keyboard etc at work, but it isn't getting better.  The thing that's making me think it might be related to the Arimidex is that even with a week off work at the holidays (and minimal computer work at home), it isn't any better.  Plus, it makes me crazy at night -- my hand hurting and going numb all the time.

Someone tell me I'm not crazy and this has happened to them??

tinkermax

A lot of ladies get hand problems with Arimidex, carpal tunnel seems to be the main problem.

If you read thru the Arimidex thread or starting Hormones, you will see a lot of ladies are suffering.

One lady also mentioned reading about this on "ask a patient". if you go to google and type that in, there are hundreds of women suffering, and hand problems is high on the list.

 You are not alone...and YES it is arimidex causing it

hugs

tink

TC-Chickadee

Lisette - Same thing happened to me with my Right hand especially  - I'm going to try a wrist brace ASAP - For details read the forum thread started on Oct. 1 called "Arimidex - negligible side effects ?"  If you live in a cold area, I know the cold weather also increases the joint problems, etc. 

Good Luck and Be Well

Chickadee

lisettemac

So who do I see to deal with this?  Neurologist?  or the Oncologist?  I'm willing to switch to a different AI as a first step and maybe that requires a conversation with the onc.  I'm already on my 2nd AI  -- started with Tamox.

TC-Chickadee

Lisette - I'll probably call my Onc. NP tomorrow just to let them know it's going on - but I may just buy a wrist brace at a drugstore or medical supply place on my own  - still deciding.  Do you live in a cold weather area ???

Chickadee

kerry_lamb

Hi girls. I'm only two months into the femara so my jury is out atm (apart from saying I absolutely hate the stuff thus far!). However, after suffering a ridiculous amount of wrist/hand pain/numbness at night, along with unbearable foot pain, I doubled my glucosamine tablets (to 3000mg) and have had a marked improvement in the symptoms. In fact, the hand biz is not waking me up any more and I believe, touch wood, it has resolved. The feet are still dodgy but much, much better. Now....what to do about those GET BACK!!! hot flushes............ 

TC-Chickadee

Kerry - Thank you for the tip on Glucosamine.  I've been taking Vit D 1000U D3 daily and Calcium 600 mg. twice a day  - do you take either of these as well ??  I've noticed that stress or anxiety can trigger a hot flash sometimes . . . Onc. nurse told me that some people try Accupuncture for the flashes, but I'm definitely not one for needles !!!

Be Well

Chickadee

lisettemac

I don't live in a cold weather area anymore, Chickadee ... now I'm in the SF Bay area.

That's good to know about glucosamine.  I'm taking about 1/2 the dosage today (those are horse pills!!) and I feel like my joint pain is better.  Maybe I'll try upping the dosage.

JoyRebecca

Yes, yes, yes!!! I wore a wrist splint that really helped alot!

XX

Joy

otter

I've been on Arimidex since late June '08, and I developed carpal tunnel syndrome in my right wrist (my dominant hand) about 4 months later.  My surgery (mast/SNB) was on the left side.

What I noticed first was some mild tingling in my thumb and fingers of my right hand.  Within just a few days, the mild tingling progressed to numbness, which was worst first thing in the morning, or even during the night.

Lisettemac, you said this:  "So who do I see to deal with this?  Neurologist?  or the Oncologist?"

If all you want to do is confirm the dx of CTS and find some relief from the numbness, any PCP or family doc can do that.  CTS is very, very common.  That's part of the problem with linking it to the AI's.  Lots of people--especially women--get it anyway.  My mom and my sister both have it, and neither of them has had BC or has been treated with any type of estrogen-blocking drug.  The biggest predisposing factor for developing CTS is genetics.

When I realized the tingling and numbness was in my thumb and first 2 fingers but not my ring or pinky fingers, I self-dx'd it as CTS.  But I mentioned the problem when I went to my PCP for a regular check-up in Ocotober.  He did some simple tests, confirmed my dx, and wrote me a prescription for a wrist brace.

I think all wrist braces are not alike.  The one I got at the med supply place was more elaborate and effective, and somewhat more expensive, than the drugstore ones, but my insurance paid for it as "durable medical equipment."  Later, I found that same wrist brace and a couple of other types on-line, so I ordered another one to use when the first one is being washed and dried.

I've found that the position in which I hold my hand/wrist is critical.   As long as I keep my hand moving, it's okay.  If I hold it in a flexed position or especially if I flex it and pull with my fingers (think pulling the tab on a can of soda), I can feel shock-like jolts in my hand.  I can easily make it worse if I fall asleep with my wrist flexed.  So, I wear my brace at night, or when my hand is still for a long time.

For me, treating the wrist problem--which I might have developed anyway--was the best approach, at least for now.  I'm not considering going off Arimidex because of mild CTS in one hand. 

otter 

lisettemac

Thanks for the info, Otter.  That's helpful.  I'm not considering going off Arimidex, but rather would consider switching to another aromatase inhibitor if that was an option.  A wrist guard (esp at night) may help.

laurie1429

  I've been on Letrozole for just about a year now.  I now have a lot of arthritis in my hands as well as my knees and hips.  I have a lot of tingling and numbness in my hands and feet. AIs cause lots of different muscle and joint pain.  I'm taking celebrex which helps a bit.  I haven't switched AIs because I hear the same report from women on different ones.  I take fish oil and D3 as well as trying to follow (more or less) an anti-inflammatory diet.  There are lots of journal articles out on AIs and arthralgias.  If you look them up you'll see your problem is unfortunately not uncommon.  It's true that you might have developed CTS anyway, but the AIs can definitely contribute to the problem.

Laurie

Stefanie

I am so happy for all this info. I have been on Femara for 2 month now and the last 10 days I wake up in the middle of the night with my right hand being asleep, painful, numbness. I talked to my onc and he ordered a brain mri to rule out brain mets! I sure like all your imput better by saying it it caused by the AI. I should try the wrist guard at night!

Thanks

Steff

laurie1429

Oh, by the way Lisette, I'm in the Bay Area too and it has been really cold!!! 

Laurie

karen1956

CTS is a side effect of Arimidex - after 5 months on it, I developed bilat CTS - severe in right hand and moderate in left hand with the beginning of nerve degeneration.  Had surgery on right hand (it was only a month later that it was confirmed that CTS was infact a side effect - I had called the manuf).  Then switched to Femara - no change.  The CTS went away when on tamox and a break from it all.  On Aromasin no CTS, but instead deQuervanes tendonitis (again bilaterally) - it showed up about 8 months after being on the Aromasin - have since had surgery on both wrists after 2 shots/wrist of cortisone provided no relief.

With the CTS, I first went to my pcp who referred me to hand specialist - she took xrays and then referred to neurologist for nerve study to be sure it was CTS and not another nerve - then back to ortho.  Onc was not involved as it was confirmed to be CTS, same with the tendonitis.

lisettemac

Laurie -- I know, that's what they keep saying.  But I just moved here this year from CT, so this doesn't seem really cold to me yet, yanno?

hbee

I am absolutely amazed to run across this topic. I have been on Arimidex for 6 months.  In the last few weeks, my hands and fingers are tingly and numb, especially right hand, 3rd and 4th fingers. But the awful thing is being awakened at night with extreme pain in my hand and fingers, to the point where I verbalize the pain. Someone else mentioned the pain in the thumb and first two fingers, so I don't know if this is the same.  It doesn't bother me so much during the day except when driving or writing.  I have not had the joint pain so common.  But this is really painful. I do have a lot of fatigue which the onc says is not due to the drug.  Thanks to all for their experiences.  

I'm in the bay area too.

arterrone

I was on Arimidex for 3 1/2 months when I woke up one morning and had numbness and tingling in my fingers on both hands. I thought it was only temporary, but it continued for a couple of weeks. My doctor took me off of it for 3 weeks, thinking it might get better. It did not. In fact, I developed severe carpal tunnel in both hands. I experienced pain in both hands, and I couldn't close my right hand upon waking up in the morning. I also developed trigger finger on my right hand on my middle and ring finger. Ten days ago I had surgery on my right hand for carpal tunnel and to correct trigger fingers. I'm experiencing pain in my wrist and in the palm of my hand if I use it in the slighest way. I'm hoping that this surgery will help, but I'm pretty discouraged right now. I also experience pain in my joints and find it hard to "get going" in the morning. I have been off the Arimidex for 5 months now, and things have not really been any better. I was wondering if there were any lawsuits against the company for pain and suffering. I feel like I've aged 20 years in the last 9 months.

---Annette

otter

I'm "bumping" this thread to help with some recent questions about AI SE's.

Anonymous

I have also suddenly developed CTS after 4 weeks on Arimidex.  Has anyone had improvement with a change of AI?

flannelette

  I developed all that tingling, numbness, pain after maybe 6 months or so on arimidex and someone here suggested wrist splints at night, which I bought and used right away and they were very effective but you must use them every night. Aftee some time i got an appt with a physical rehabilitation dr. who does a test with a machine for carp tun and sure enough I had it. BUT no surgery needed, she said I probably forestalled that by the splints & just keep wearing them. I'm r 3 yrs into arimidex and the carpal tunnel just faded away. I haven't worn the splints for ages. I don't think you need to change AIs. Many SEs come & go. I no longer feel 90! But my hair has thinned. 6 of one 1/2 dozen of the other.

JannoD

I have been taking Arimidex for 11 months. I continue to have mild issues with CTS and had to have cortizone shot for DeQuevain's syndrom...but I honestly can't attribute these to Arimidex because I had a history of BOTH of them prior to starting the Arimidex. I had surgery on right hand for CTS many years ago and the CTS in the left hand has been tolerable so didn't get the surgery. I had DeQuevain's previously but that came up after repetitive motion (scrubbing floors, painting etc). This time was different however...just happened. No reason. But a quick trip to my hand specialist...one cortizone shot later....and all is well. Hot flashes occasionally with Arimidex but have gotten much better over time. Bone Density started off extremely good so so far no joint pain. Don't know if that will continue as I continue to take the Arimidex for the next 4 years tho. Just have to wait and see. Can't really complain about the few SE's I have...could be a whole lot worse.

rgray1967

I started taking this pill a month ago and my right hand started hurting so bad at night I wanted to cry.. what can I do to help it at night?

mainegirl

I wish I had found this thread a year ago. I was on Aromasin (another AI) for three years when I developed CTS, but I was misdiagnosed and tried to tolerate with a TENS unit and Lyrica. First it was in my right hand. It was especially bad at night and I'd literally have to get up and would cry from the pain. After several months it went to my left hand. I found a new Neurologist who did the nerve tests and told me I had acute CTS in both hands. Two cortisone shots later I was out of pain. As a precaution I had the surgery on both hands to prevent a recurrence. I never want to go through that again. I never knew it could have been brought on by the Aromasin