Aromatase Inhibitors causing pain

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Hopeful56
Hopeful56 Member Posts: 15
edited December 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Not sure if this is the correct forum but since I'm stage III thought I'd start here.  I was on Anastrozole from Feb. 2012 til August 2014.  Took a 2 week break and started Exemestane.  While on the Anastrozole I had very bad back, hip and leg pain.  This didn't start until about 1 1/2 years after being on it.  My onc really didn't think this was causing my pain but after ordering a bone scan and CT and both were clear he took me off of the Anastrozole for the 2 weeks.  About day 12 of being off of it the pain lessened.  Then started the Exemestane.  For about 6 weeks all was well but now the pain is back.  I can't sleep at night and I'm just miserable.  I have to take an AI as I'm 100% estrogen positive plus stage IIIC.  My onc prescribed Celebrex but at a very low dose.  I "think" it may help in the day time but by evening the pain sets in with more intensity.    I am going to see if I can take Celebrex twice a day instead of one to see if that would help.  Does anyone have any suggestions as to what may help alleviate the pain?


  

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  • weesa
    weesa Member Posts: 707
    edited December 2014

    Unfortunately the AI's are notorious for causing serious joint pain for many women, at the same time they are well documented as being effective in keeping our cancer at bay. I had tremendous pain and eventually my shoulders and knees ripped apart due to inflammation. But, before that happened I found that moving, exercising really did help, which sometimes seemed counter-intuitive. Also acupuncture, Aleve, sitting for hours in my hot tub at about 101 degrees. Every few months my onc allowed me to take a vacation from the AI's. Sometimes I took them every other day or half a pill each day. I kept monitoring my estradiol level with a sensitive assay test, and tried to keep in under ten. If I got it under a ten, I would stop taking the AI until my estradiol level crept up again.

    Make sure you read up on some of the side effects of Celebrex--sounds like you are taking a lot of it. I have read that estrogen depletion creates a particular form of arthritis, but fortunately when I stopped them for good I became pain free rather quickly.

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited December 2014

    Hopeful56 - I took Arimidex for a year, and experienced severe enough side effects that my MO took me off it completely for two months. ALL the SEs went away (and they were serious ones.) I was thrilled!

    But at the end of my drug holiday, I was shocked to hear her tell me to go pick up my Rx for Femara as I left her office. Even though I am Stage 1A, the MO still wanted me on an AI, as I am 100% ER+.

    Since one of the SEs of the Arimidex had been severe joint pain, the MO referred me to an Acupuncturist for treatments after I started taking the Femara. I have to admit they helped!!! I went once a week, and Kaiser paid for it. (There have been clinical studies that have shown Acupuncture alleviates joint pain caused by AIs.)

    I also second what weesa said about warm baths (I'm fortunate to have a jacuzzi bath at home) and Aleve. And, hard as it is to think of exercising, I do take a water aerobics class at the local Rehabilitation hospital, where the pool is heated to 94 degrees..... soooo soothing on painful joints!

    Hope you find relief soon.....

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