Quick Question about Aromatase Inhibitors

Fairchild

I'm about a month into taking Femera, and I'm having low back pain and painful knees. It feels like deep achiness or arthritis. But I've also gone back to work after being off several weeks during the diagnostic phase, so I don't know if this pain is just sitting in a chair all day.

Today it reached the level of frank PAIN, if you know what I mean. But I worked out yesterday (treadmill and weight machines) for the first time in a long time. I only walked half an hour and oriented myself to the machines.

Is this the pain they talk about with aromatase inhibitors? Or am I likely to just be suffering the effects of getting more active?

Thanks!

123JustMe

Fairchild,

I am not on Femara but I am on Arimidex for the last 3 months and haven’t experienced any joint pain like you describe. I do go to the gym and work out 3 days a week. Sounds like you should put a call into your oncologist and see if maybe it’s time to switch to another aromatase inhibitor

DancingElizabeth

I'm also - on Arimidex. I work-out a lot and only issues are sore tendons from too much jumping. But, always have had trouble with that...(maybe more-so - since the Arimidex or because I'm now 50.)

It REALLY sounds to me - like your MO needs to prescribe another inhibitor. I've heard that Arimidex is usually more tame - in terms of side-effects.

Hope that helps!!

MexicoHeather

Call the MO and let her know what is going on.

Lula73

the problem is you've been more active lately plus started the AI. It really could be either. Perhaps lay off the activity s little for a week or two and see what happens. If pain is still there or is worse, then Call MO and see about switching AIs. I wouldn't rush to switch now til you know for sure the pain is caused by the AI.

Meow13

When I experienced pain with anastrozole it wasn't associated with my treadmill sessions. It seemed to be bad at night and waking up in the morning. It got pretty bad after almost 2 years on it. I called oncologist he said stop immediately and put me on exemestane it was better on the joint pain but weight gain and extreme dry eye forced me to stop that too.

Fiddler22

I am 2 1/2 months in on letrozole/femara and started going to the gym at the same time, both because weight bearing exercise is recommended to stave off bone loss and because I wanted to have another reason for aches and pains so as not to blame it on the letrozole. I go every day and therefore I translate the bone aches into "I'm doing something good for myself."