Tamoxifen and severe spine pain

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LisaG61
LisaG61 Member Posts: 17
edited October 2014 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Was wondering if anyone taking Tamoxifen after 4 months have had severe back pain ?  I am a hairdresser and back pain comes with the business, however in the last 2 weeks the pain is so severe that advil nor aleve have helped it at all !!  I wake up in pain and goto bed worse because of just being active during the day.  There is no way I can tolerate this any longer.  I am calling doc in the morning, but was just wondering if anyone else has had this issue and if so what was done for it ?

thanks so much, Lisa

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  • RedReading
    RedReading Member Posts: 2,143
    edited October 2014

    Hi Lisa. After 4 months of taking Tamoxifen, I was experiencing severe joint pain - no swelling, just pain. I spoke to my doc and she recommended a medication vacation. I was allowed to go off Tamoxifen for 2 weeks then to start again. The theory is that some ladies react badly to Tamoxifen, but if you go off for a bit then start again, it kind of kick starts the body into acceptance and the SE's are not as bad. You might want to suggest this to your doc if they don''t voice the idea first. And I hope the doc in question is your oncologist not your pcp.

    As a side note, do not let anyone tell you that Tamoxifen has no SE's. For some reason this seems to be a standard answer but memory and joint pain (including back) are two very common SE's.

    Good luck to you,

    {{{Lisa}}}

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  • Lenn13ka
    Lenn13ka Member Posts: 313
    edited October 2014

    Lisa, 

    I have annoying pain in my spine as well. My Onc has done a bone scan, my PCP an MRI, I have been to a physiatrist, PT, a Neurologist and am now paying out of pocket and working with a muscular therapist. I have a very physical job so it really affects me. It all started when I started taking Tamoxifen . ... Which hopefully I am only on until June 15... When I switch to an AI.  I really think the bone pain is from the Tam.

    Redreading is right, bone pain is a common side affect. I also have cognitive issues and fatigue.Good Luck. 

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  • wagirl
    wagirl Member Posts: 6
    edited October 2014

    I take tamox too, and have severe back issues as well as general all over fatigue and muscle/joint pain. I have had a mutitude of scans and tests and all are clear--thank God--been on tamox for about 1 1/2 years now. Have tried the aromtase but had bad SE on these too. Was wondering if the whats in these pills as fillers and such could be the culprit. I am 60 and feel like I'm 90. I have to take a pain reliever every day just to function. All started about a year ago and no one has been able to suggest anything. How do you find out what companies add what ingredients to tamox? Very frustrating to go thru surgery and chemo and rads and then it seems like I'm being punished even further by these things that are supposed to save my life?

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