Aromatase Inhibitors and Trigger Finger/Thumh

Anonymous

Hi Lisa, my sister had heel spurs and got shoe inserts that worked for her.  Me, not so lucky.  I also had heel spurs, like you, both feet.  Got so bad I could literally only walk on tippy toes.  Had cortisone shots which did not work.  Finally had surgery, one foot and three weeks later the other; out of work for 8 total weeks (I could have gone back after 6 but why?).  That was 7 years ago and not a problem since.  Sorry about the lumbar back.  You have a lot on your plate.

HUGS.

otter

Bumping to help with new questions about trigger finger & trigger thumb....

Sugarcube

Read all your posts and was wondering if anyone with trigger fingers/thumbs have completed their 5 years on Arimidex have had the thumbs go back to normal or close to it?  After about 9 months on Arimidex my left thumb started clicking and now it is really stuck.  I can bend it with much concentration and discomfort and passively as well.  It feels a bit better before my next daily dose is due so I know it's related to the drug use. 2 weeks ago my left thumb started clicking. I also have transient carpal tunnel and Q ? (forgot the name) syndome (thumb and index numbness). I have been taking NSAIDS.  My medical oncologists said I am his first patient with it and he's been around for awhile. Obviously from a literature search and reading all your comments it is indeed a common problem. Any advice?

ktn

I had problems the first year on Arimidex but they did resolve. I had trigger thumb on my right hand. There were some older posts about exercises to work on like "walking your thumb across your other fingers" and that helped. I didn't need cortisone. Hope your issues improve too!

RubyCA

Sugarcube,

I'm sorry to hear about your thumb and other hand problems. I'm usually very skeptical of cortisone shots, but in my case one shot at the base of my thumb took care of the problem. Over many weeks after the shot, the triggering gradually went away, and so far has not returned (shot was in November 2010).

 Carpal tunnel, however, can have many causes-a lot of computer users develop it. It's important to sit at the right height for your keyboard, and not twist your wrists when using a mouse.If you're having a lot of hand problems in general from your activities, you might check out the Alexander Technique to learn how to address some of these issues.

 I hope this is helpful!

LindaKR

FernDiva - great henna tattoo!!  Thanks for the link to the Science Digest article on Aromatase inhibitors, I found it, and others on that site, very interesting.  I'm having hand and knee pain, as well as have developed trigger thumb and finger, I'm actually taking oxycodone for the pain, they at least made me realize that I'm not crazy, but that some people have a lot of pain with them, guess I'm just one of the lucky ones.  I'm working on managing the pain so that I can stay on them. 

 Thanks again for the great info

Linda

LindaKR

My trigger thumb is worse in the morning, I was seeing PT for shoulder issues from MX and Rads and he said that the more you move your joints the more synovial fluid they produce, when they are at rest they kind of dry out, so he said it's important to keep things moving.  I notice that all of the joints that hurt since starting AI's are worse after sitting, or in the morning. 

melodylala

I was just diagnosed with De Quervain Syndrome yesterday.  It started once I was switched to Exemestane (Aromasin).  I was given a Spica splint to use.  Painful this morning.  I am starting to hate these aromatase inhibitors.  Have joint and bone aches, constant UTIs, memory fog, weight gain, cough, bloody nose and many more.  Have been using D-Mannose for UTIs which has helped.  

Cif

When I started tamoxifen I constantly got trigger thumb that cortisone shots would resolve for 3-4 months. Doc had me take a couple weeks off everything Dec 2015 before switching to anastrozole and complete use of thumbs, toes, body and zero pain every where was the result, ahhhhh, relief. However, within 6 days on anastrozole I was nearly in a wheel chair, lost use of thumbs (trigger and pain thumbs) then bruises above toe joints that hurt. It was nearly impossible to continue any BeFit sessions on youtube, in fact I became a couch potato and napper by week 6 ( I could not do yoga balance moves that were easypezy before). I had other issues with AI like poison ivy rash on feet and vision outside this topic. So I stopped AI for a week until pain went away and got use of all toes and hands back and felt wonderful in all aspects. Was able to resume BeFit sessions, burpees, empty dishwasher without dropping half the dishes ... in summary trigger everything, pain, and dizziness all went away, dropped 5 pounds and inches in butt and stomach ... I FELT WELL and HEALTHY.

But playing Russian roulette with recurrence, so started at 1/4 dose up to 3/4 dose and all was well, hit the full does of 1mg and within 3-4 days lost thumbs. Like others on my site, the onocologist really believe there are no side affects to chemo and AI's, I think schooling brain washed them. They really believe anything that happens beyond losing hair during chemo is unrelated to treatment. The doctors all swear the AI's do not affect hair, even though I get hair growths during the months I'm told to stop/take break from AI off AI's, but shed to male bald pattern while on AI. It is funny, they say it is from menopause forced by chemo two years ago. I have to ask, if due to menopause, then how come hair grows in and no trigger thumb or pain when off AI's for a period of time, but issues come back when resume AI? I wonder if weighing less than 115 and only 4'8" is a factor (yep, I lost 3" in just 9 months after my 5 of 6 chemo. I figure I'll be 4' by summer (no joke, that is the rate my doctor is seeing). If anyone knows that .5mg was as effective as 1mg for breast cancer they should post, I know true for men bodybuilding, but do not know if true for breast cancer. In fact male body builders complain of the SAME side effects - does that mean they have menopause? Their same side effects also go away when they stop the AI.