Arm pain, pain that travels around?? Muscle Pain? Anyone else??

kksmom3

I've been on letrozole for 2.5 years, all was well until lately. For most of the summer, I've had mild muscle pain in just my right foot. It never bothered me enough that it sidelined me or anything. Just made me hobble after non-use for a few minutes, like I am 94, I just turned 64. I don't think age is it, I am fine everywhere else!

That has let up. Now however, my right arm has elbow/muscle pain. It's worse in the morning, Advil only helps just slightly and just a slight bit. It hurts to pick up a coffee cup. It feels like it's just the muscles, not the bone. It's just really strange. I didn't do anything to it, that I know for sure.

Is this a side effect from letrozole? It's mainly just my right elbow? This is crazy.

How does yours present? Any ways to help?

I am due to see my MO next week, I'll mention it, it's far from my worst problem, but it's strange, annoying and it hurts. I'm starting to worry, I have a very physical job starting back up (kindergarten para) and I need my arm, ha!

gb2115

This happened to me on tamoxifen. Now that I'm off of it it's much better, though other things are worse because of chemo. Sigh.

Yeah, the pain would move around. I always felt like something was injured, but it wasn't actually injured.

kksmom3

gb2115 -That's exactly how it feels!!! I mean, what is the deal????

This all just started 2.5 years in, until now, I have tolerated it great, but I would guess there's comes a time when we have been depleted of estrogen for so long, that it's effects start showing up. I was 61 when I started it, 64 now, I do exercise, it's not like I had much estrogen to begin with, probably, but man, I don't think I can finish another 2.5 years on this drug. I don't see how switching to another would help either. since they all do the same thing.

I see my MO in a couple of weeks for my 6 month checkup. I am no longer interested in taking this drug and plan to tell her that. I'm open to suggestions. Did you just finish your 5 years on tam? I can deal with the muscle pain, what I can't deal with is a fried vagina. but that's a separate issue.

Peregrinelady

Kksmom3, I had different aches and pains with Anastrozole so I decided to switch to Letrozole. After a few months I developed fairly painful muscle pain in my upper back. When I switched back to Anastrozole, it went away, so another AI may be helpful for you.

jgodwin

I've been having pain in both deltoid muscles and fatigue for months. I'm in my third year taking anastrozole.

gb2115

I made it 4 years on tamoxifen then had an estrogen positive recurrence. All that tamoxifen misery for literally nothing. It fried my vagina too, which incidentally is feeling better. Of course chemo is causing hair loss and folliculitis so that's an entirely different problem.

I'm told once chemo is done it will be Aromasin and Zoladex so I can look forward to everything being fried again.

GlobalGal

Dear Kksmom3,

On Anastrazole, I developed painful plantar fasciitis in both feet plus an aching left upper arm and left scapula.

My oncologist gave me a referral for physical therapy, which I did for a few weeks, but without much improvement.

Surprise! A few months later, my painful feet and left arm/scapula no longer hurt. The pain completely vanished and luckily did not migrate elsewhere (so far).

I'm in my third year of taking Anastrozole.

KIDI919

kksmom3, I have been on Letrozole for 1 1/2 yrs. My pain is in my feet. When I get up I hobble around for a few minutes and it's better. Til I sit down and get back up. I too am 64 (or close enough). The other SE I have is fatigue and maybe brain fog. I am thinking of changing to a different Al but onco says they all do the same thing. Will see breast CA PA next week and will ask her advise. I know I've gone round and round on this topic before so I apologize.

GB2115, Very sorry you are going thru this. Onco suggested switching to Tamoxifin but I'm more worried about those SE. UGH!