Exactly HOW does Femara/Arimidex cause foot pain ?

I don't know all the exact SE of AI's but I started on Arimidex right after chemo. In about 6 months I was practiaclly cirppled from knee pain. I should say that I had some arthritis in my joints (knees, hips, back). I developed tendinitis in my right thumb. DR switched me to Femara. most pain subsided and tendinitis disappeared after using a thumb splint at night after about 2 months. I've been on Femera for almost 2 1/2 years and was doing well, but recently the joint pain, particulary the back pain (arthritis) is getting worse again. My PCP is trying to figure out which anti-inflammatories will help me the most. I've been on ibuprophen, Voltaren, naproxen, Diovan. Hope this helps.

I think it is some how related to the very low estrogen level although I have not yet figured out the specifics. I was suprised how much estrogen played a role in joint/muscle health.

Hi, I have been on Arimidex for two years. About a year ago the bottom of my feet started hurting, I could barely walk after a few hours.  Podiatrist took xrays and said I had calcium deposits on the bottom of my feet.  The doctor didn't know whether this could be caused by the medication, but I didn't have the problem before BC.  He suggested orthotics and physical therapy.  I am wearing shoes that take some of the pressure off my heels.  I haven't gotten around to physical therapy as yet.  Good luck.  KJohnson

Hello,

 I was on Arimidex for 3 months and was in terrible pain, hands, shoulders.  When I stood up or woke up...felt like I was 90!  My Onc switched me back to Tamoxifen and I feel great!

I was 45 when I started Femara. I will be 48 this week. I had so much pain in my left foot in the first few months that I saw a podiatrist. The x-rays showed nothing. He wanted me to pay $300 for something to put in my shoe but since I live in S. California I wear sandals all year. Anyway, 2 weeks later it completely went away. I still have pain when I first stand up but nothing like the constant pain I had then.

The carpal tunnel syndrome is a Femara SE. I read something once about the way estrogen helps to keep your joints lubricated. When you don't have the estrogen supply the nerves in your joints are some how effected. It feels like a pinched nerve if you ask me. I had CTS so bad in the beginning I couldn't even drive without my hands falling asleep. It still have problems with them when I sleep or talk on the phone or if I drive a long distance. Some of the women here have gone so far as to have surgery to relieve the pressure.

About 6 months after starting Femara my right knee started acting up. I would be walking along and suddenly it would feel like I was electrocuted in my knee. Stairs were unbearable. Now both knees just ache when I stand up.

Next it was my heal on my left foot. Last summer it just started hurting so bad I couldn't stand to walk. I was actually walking on my tip toes much of the day. 2 months later it was gone.

Now the right side of my neck bothers me almost daily. Sometimes it is just a nuisance and other times it is excruciating. I have chiropractic to help but it always comes back.

I once started a thread here. It may still be around about how the Femara SE's seem to cycle around my body. For 2 1/2 years it just seems like there is always something painful somewhere and I never had this problem before bc. The pain will last a few months and then move on to another body part.

If I didn't have young children I would stop this drug in a heartbeat.

Sounds like Neuropathy.  This is also a side effect of Taxotere.  I took Glutamine Powder and it definitely helped me when I was on Taxotere.

I also have this foot pain as a major side effect of Arimidex. It is pure agony when I first get up in the morning, or when I get out of the car  - or at any time really when I've been off of my feet for any length of time. Thing is that once I have walked a little the pain subsides completely and I am fine. I remind myself of my grandma who used to say that she was ok once she got going.

I have no idea what is causing it other than complete deprivation of oestrogen. As side effects go it is not enough to make me quit Arimidex.

I might be able to help a little bit:

 I've had a lot of bother in the past with plantar f.  can you buy greek-style (or Roman) sandals to slip the orthotics into?  I know it is a real drag always wearing trainers etc.  If you also get moretons syndrome (hurts on ball of foot) you can try spreading the matatarsals by using one of those little things that you stick between all your toes to varnish your nails.  Sounds daft butit works.  I do this before going to bed or in spare moments of the day.  You'll find it gently spreads the toes and muscles.   I have been doing this for a few weeks and it has fixed things.  There is a thing you can buy called Yoga Toes, but they are quite expensive and I found the above as good.

 I expect you all know about helping the pain with bags of frozen peas to take down inflammation.

use tennis ball to massage bottom of foot.

If not familiar with various exercises to do, google plantar fasccitis/moretons' syndrome; there are some good things on youtube showing you exactly what to do.  Don't wear flatties all the time.  Change shoes frequently - it keeps different muscles etc flexing.

I really sympathise - plantar troubles and carpal tunnel are very painful - someone who hasn't had either wouldn't be able to guess how bad.

Good luck ladies -

i second the frozen peas suggestion if you have plantar fascia.. (so painful).. i developed a case on my left foot after frequent springboard diving while coaching at age 51.  

frequent icing and plenty of anti-inflammatories if you can take them.   my case cleared up quickly but i iced my foot for up to 3 hours daily.

lynn,

thanks for this.  i took tamoxifen for 5 years, with only minor and livable pain.  i had a recurrence at 7 years, and after chemo, surgery rads, started on the AI train.  femara first.  i cried uncle after 3 months.  i took a break for a month, started on aromasin.  i'm now 2 months into it, and called my doc to cry uncle again.  i really really hope that arimidex doesn't cause this pain, because i really want to be able to take something, but i can't live in this pain, i just can't.

I take Femara.

 I've have developed trigger fingers on both hands. Lately my palms are aching.

 The bottoms of my feet hurt and burn. It is very painful to walk on them first thing in the morning.

 I have had problems with my shoulders and have bouts with tendonitis in both arms.

One of the worst problems is that it extremely painful to sit because the backs of my legs (behind my thighs) feel like the tendons in them are stretched tight as a guitar string, and the pressure of sitting on a chair feels like a knife is about to cut them.

 I am no wimp and have a high tolerance to pain (I have had 2 drive through mastectomies - in, in the morning and out by noon, with no need for take-home pain meds), but this pain I have from the Femara is getting be too much. 

 A pain doctor put me on Cymbalta which helped a little for a while, but now it seems to have lost its effectiveness on the pain.  Maybe I will ask the doctor to increase the dosage, though I really don't like the idea of being on the Cymbalta for pain.

I am celebrating my 1 year of taking femara (along with a monthly lupron shot b/c I was pre-menopausal).....I also had the foot and hand pain in the first few months--what has helped me is the glucosmine chondriton, vitamin d (2000iu) and exercise--- yoga, swimming,boot camp, elliptical training.  I have not yet started running again--- I have been holding off---but I find the more I move, the less I feel stiff-- I almost feel "normaL"... but I do remember the beginning as very rough.....

kami, I woinder if that's the same study I just started through Columbia-Presbyterian? I didn't think there was Omega 3 in with the glucosamine and chondroitin, as it isn't listed on my bottles, and the paperwork just lists the g-c combo.