Sudden left knee pain -- HELP!! Arimidex or bone mets?

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ByFaith
ByFaith Member Posts: 270
edited November 2018 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I'm in a near panic tonight and hope someone can help me.



I've been on AIs for 3 years, last 2 years on Arimidex. I've had the typical side effects. Getting out of bed in the morning I have joint pains; they "iron out" fairly quickly, but still there on and off. Feel like I'm 90 years old, especially on waking. If I stoop down, my knees often stiffen up. On my last bone density scan I was osteopenic in my right hip and near osteoporotic in my left hip.



Injuries I've had in 3 years I know Femara or Arimidex caused: shoulder tendinitis, elbow bursitis, trigger thumb. They each have appeared suddenly with no known injury. All resolved, but trigger thumb.



After an hour's nap today, still laying in bed, I noticed left knee discomfort, mild to moderate. It feels more like it does when I JUST wake and get out of bed, but less "crippled" and more like discomfort -- but it's just my left knee.



When I bend the knee up and down, that knee cap has discomfort. Ultram didn't reduce the discomfort this afternoon, so I just now iced the knee and took ibuprofen. There may be some mild swelling.



I've never had this in just one knee that I recall; usually bothered by floating aches and pains. I vaguely recall hitting my left leg the other day and thinking I'd get a bruise, but don't believe it was near my left knee and there's no bruising. Also, just got our daughter a tiny rescue Chihuahua, and I've been stooping more to interact with him. I'm very inactive and don't exercise much due to chronic daily migraines for 20 years. I'm 56 years old.



Now I'm terrified it's bone mets because it's only one side. Has anyone else had one-sided knee or other joint pain enough to take a pain reliever? Again, like other "injuries" above, it came on suddenly, no known cause. I'm so worried, although it seems somewhat better now after ice and ibuprofen. Can anyone please help?



P.S. Just remembered something. I use that left leg nearly every night to push my husband's recliner leg rest back into the chair. It does take some force, but I've never hurt myself before. Could that cause this?

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited September 2013

    Yes, exact same thing, one sided knee pain and swelling severe enough to require a cortisone injection in May after being on Arimidex for the last 18 months.  Also have experienced recent elbow pain severe enough that lifting a coffee cup hurts, and multiple triggers in thumb, finger, toe and ankle.  I had pain directly behind both kneecaps when rising from sitting to standing, x-rays taken for the knee pain showed mild arthritis, but this pain came on fairly suddenly. I recently switched back to Femara in July and have markedly less pain.

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  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 1,455
    edited September 2013

    All my severe ankle, knee and hip pain has been on my left side.  Almost no pain on the other every.  Freaked my MO out enough to send me for x-rays, but it was not mets, only very mild arthritis and in only the hip.

    I resolved most of it by changing the direction I run/walk around a park loop that slopes off a hill into a lake.

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  • ByFaith
    ByFaith Member Posts: 270
    edited September 2013

    Thanks SpecialK and doxie :)



    Oh my gosh, I think the knee pain was the "floating" type from Arimidex ... probably together with arthritis aggravated by Arimidex. Iced it last night (because i thought there was very mild swelling) and took ibuprofen. Woke this morning *without* the left knee discomfort. Just the usual aches and pains that are worse in the morning.



    One thing I know ... I'm NOT going to slam my husband's recliner foot rest down each night with my left foot ... or any foot ... he can close it. haha I'm also going to try to exercise as regularly as I can. It's just so difficult with nearly back-to-back migraines. I go into my migraine specialist's office in 3 weeks for another try with Botox for migraine prevention. I need to exercise!

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited September 2013

    dawnsm - hope the Botox works for you - I know it is a good drug for treating migraines.  My ortho that gave me the cortisone injection (it was a little ouchie!) said that strengthening the large muscles in the thigh would help support the knee joint and help relieve the pain too, so exercise - while potentially uncomfortable in the short term - is beneficial in the long term.

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  • Baldwin
    Baldwin Member Posts: 11
    edited October 2013


    I have been on Arimidex for 2 1/2 years. I never had knee pain before. When I first started the Arimidex, no pain at all. About 6 months later, I started with hip and finger pain. Now, I am scared because I have knee pain and feel like my knees are going to give out. I find it very hard to do steps or get in and out of the tub.


    I am afraid that maybe this is not the Arimidex, but I am going to give myself a rest from it to see if the pain eases up. I am so afraid of needing knee replacement surgery.

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited October 2013


    I sleep with Aspercreme on my nightstand, and knees are one of the places I use it. Arnica gel is even better. I have done this for years.


    Agree with your ortho Special K that exercise is the way to go. We need muscles to support our knees and back. Remember that we tend to lose muscle tone as we get older, and most of us are inactive during active treatment. So more atrophy. I still think that a lot of "Arimidex pain" I see on these boards is actually from muscle atrophy.


    I do have a few Arimidex symptoms that come and go, so a bit of hand/foot cramping and knee weakness/soreness. Nothing to really slow me down. I did two long group rides this past weekend, so a bit stiff from those. I will probably do a 5k run later.


    That said, if I were really suffering, I would start by walking and also sign up for an exercise program. Plus Arnica gel for sore areas.


    One thing I have learned is that major muscle atrophy isn't inevitable as we get older, but that we have to work to maintain our muscle mass. This does all sorts of good things: less pain, better balance, able to do almost everything we always did, and be able to EAT, as muscles require more energy. The only down side is that clothes look better on us, so much more tempting.


    Feel better everyone. BTW - the Arnica gel tip is from a dancer friend of mine. They are always hurting somewhere. - Claire

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  • jmtrueman
    jmtrueman Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2014

    wow! I am glad I found this forum. I have been suffering with severe knee pain on both knees, enough that sometimes I can't get up and walk. Also, I have pain in all my other joints. I did suspect Arimidex and it sounds like it is by what everyone is saying.

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  • Omnikai1
    Omnikai1 Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2018

    woke up 3 months into taking arimidex with severe knee pain. After seeing rheumatologist, pcp, neurosurgeon, acupuncturist, and orthopedist I went for PT MY thigh had lost so much muscle and now atrophied

    Doing so much research I now am sure it’s arimidex. 3 months in accute pain and no answers.

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  • bennybear
    bennybear Member Posts: 326
    edited November 2018

    wow this is interesting as it has happene to me as well. I am off drugs for a couple of weeks so will see if there is any change.

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