Femara & Elbow/Arm Pain

lukejessesmom

Have any of you on Femara experienced arm pain?  Sometimes I feel like I can barely raise my arm and my elbow is sore.  My arm actually feels weak and it's hard to hold on to even a glass of water.  Also, my hands and fingers are stiff and swollen.  Don't know if it's arthritis or side effects of Femara. 

MJLToday

Femara, like all the aromoatase inhibitors, can cause bad arthritis like symptoms, and muscle pains.  You might mention it to your oncologist at your next visit.  When the original trials for the AIs were done, the estimated the incidence of joint & muscle pains at about 10%.  Now that they are in the open market, the incidence is reported more at 50%.  Yuck.

 You might consider switching to Arimidex, a similar AI.  Some people have less pain on one form than another.

clemson93

I definitely have elbow and wrist aches with Femara.  My tennis elbow is exacerbated by it and really hurts sometimes.  My fingers do swell sometimes as I have noticed my rings fitting more tightly.  I don't know if there is a correlation but I have noticed improvement in all of my Femara symptoms since I have been taking vitamin D.

Susan

rkt

I haven't been on femara; however, on arimidex, I had such severe pain in my elbow joint that I would wrap one of those air-activated heat pads around my elbow (I would be in excruitiating pain if i happened to lean on my elbow wrong).  I finally asked about taking glucosamine chondrotin - doctors/nurses were ok with this while I was on arimidex, pharmacist checked to make sure it didn't interfere with how arimdex worked.  After about two weeks using glucosamine chondrotin, I didn't have to use the heating pads anymore.  I would check with my doctor about using something like GC and make sure that it wouldn't interfere with my other medicines. 

I also take calcium/vitamin supplements and multi-vitamin.

Becky

dlb823

Hi ~  I'm pretty sure it's the lack of estogen.  I'm not on Femara, but I'm having the exact same problem.  I have been off HRT (Prempro, which I'd been on for several years) since I was diagnosed, and I'm also doing a natural estrogen modulator (I3C) in lieu of Femara.  And I've had the same severe joint pain and stiffness, plus am recently having pain around one elbow and even some difficulty lifting that arm when it's really bad..  In fact, the sore arm has been so bad at times, that mets has even crossed my mind, so reading your symptoms was somehow reassuring, although I'm so sorry to hear you're also dealing with this.

My DH heard an interview with a doctor today, talking about the benefit of using a Hyaluronic Acid supplement (HA) for joint pain caused by a lack of estrogen.  I immediately bought some and plan to give it a try.  According to my DH, the doctor noted that HA molecules are normally too big to be absorbed, so it's very important to choose a supplement that has been formulated to address this absorption issue, as many of them do not, so are useless.

I'd actually tried an HA supplement several months ago without any improvement, so I'm hoping the reason is the absorption issue.  Feel free to PM me if you want to know which one didn't work for me and which one I picked up this time that I'm hoping will work.    

In the mean time, I have had some relief by running hot water over my stiff hands when I first get up, and also using an MSM Cream.   Deanna  

LuAnnH

that sure does sound like an femara issue.  I had pain so bad in my right arm and shoulder I couldn't bearly lift my arm up.  I ended up having a cortisone shot in my shoulder and it made a world of difference.  My arm moves again!!!  Don't let those types of pains get too far out of control without aasking for help.  Sometimes there are ways to ease the pain.

Romansma

I have awful shoulder and arm pain.....I van hardly use my right arm.  I stopped Letrozole last week and went on Aromason.  I'm noticing that my arm isn't as painful the last couple days.  It's not gone, but seems to be getting a bit better.  Hmmmmmmm.

stagefree

Yep.. You are lucky if your knees aren't killing you!! I was suffering with stiffness & pain in all joints & bones while on my brief encounter with Femara.. Daily Tramadol was increased while on it. Now occasionally use it  

hugs

Ebru

KiwiCatMom

Hi all,

I have swollen sore fingers, especially my left ring finger (go figure!) so I can't get my wedding rings on some days.  Also have arthritis in my left knee (and mets in my left femur/hip) and it needs six-monthly cortisone shots to keep me moving.  Have had some shoulder pain too.  I'm pretty sure it's Femara; arthritis runs in the family, but it's gotten much worse since starting the Femera.  However, it's kept me stable, so I just keep on keeping on!

Terre

chanah

slightly swollen fingers left side.  Occasional arm aches and pains.  Real issue is feet and sometimes knees.  It some seem worse if I don't stay active and definitely is worst a few hours after I take it.  In the beginning it was about 12 hours after, now it is overall less and fkates most 4 hours after dose.

chanah

I have slightly swollen fingers only on my left side - not always - off and on.  Also, I have occasional arm aches and pains.  None are too troublesome at all.  More significant (but worth it to kerp the beast at bay) is my feet and sometimes knees.  It is worse if I don't stay active and definitely is associated with when I take the pill.  In the beginning, it ould flare about 12 hours after, now it is overall less bothersome and peaks 4 hours after the pill.

Lordmandy

yes! I have been on Femara for over 3 years. In the past 2 months I have begun to have significant pain in my right wrist, firearm, biceps and shoulder. I have a slight amount in my left arm, but my right arm is really severe.