Remedies for trigger thumb (or finger) & elbow bursitis? HELP :)

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ByFaith
ByFaith Member Posts: 270
edited November 2015 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I developed a trigger thumb on my dominant hand a few weeks ago and then minimal elbow bursitis with a small fluid-filled sac on the other arm after that. I know it's the Arimidex. I haven't been to my family doctor because I was waiting for my annual physical this coming week. I never felt the need to take Advil, but started taking it two days ago thinking it may reduce any inflammation.



My physician is the best, but I'm concerned the treatments might not be conservative. I'm extremely afraid of anesthesia and fear surgery. I also think it would be extremely premature.



The discomfort is fairly minimal in my thumb, but I know the "locking" means I need treatment. The elbow bursitis barely hurts, but I know it's not normal. Elbow inflammation very minimal. I've hit the elbow a few times since the bursitis was noticed (stupid) and using my trigger thumb seems unavoidable.



Does anyone know the typical first course of treatment for these conditions? I don't want to worry before my appointment.

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited June 2013

    Have had trigger fingers (middle of both hands) for many months, which I atribute to the anastrazole.  Some days are worse (or better ) than others.  I use my fingers normally and they have never locked up (fortunately).  I don't anticipate having any formal treatments for them unless they do lock up.  I anticipate that when I complete 5 or 10 years of anastrazole the symptoms will get better.  I can live with them at this point. 

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  • ByFaith
    ByFaith Member Posts: 270
    edited June 2013

    Pessa, thanks for your reply.



    It should be obvious to me, but what is "locking up"? When a trigger finger locks up, is one unable to move it back?



    Many times my affected thumb joint will get caught in place then un-catch as I attempt to manually bend it. It's not painful, but feels odd. Is this true locking of the joint?

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited June 2013

    The ultimate situation of locking up is when the joing cannot be straightened up, except with some intervention (such as an injection of a steroid, or a surgery).

    I cannot predict when I will have worse symptoms or better.  It is not related to any specific activity or the weather or anything.  It just get worse or better on its own.  Some days I have complete movement of the involved joints, others I can feel the tendon getting caught.  since I can't predict changes in symptoms I can't do anything to lessen the symptoms.  Frustrating!

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  • KittyDog
    KittyDog Member Posts: 1,079
    edited June 2013

    I had surgery on my right hand on the thumb and middle finger.  They both hurt worse than the left side ones did.  Since getting my right hand fixed the left don't hurt anymore.  For me the locking up was the worst part.  I would have to pull my finger open. 

    The first course of treatment if they are not locking up is cortisone ingection.  Mine had progressed to far for that.  Surgery was not bad..just couldn't use the right hand for six weeks.

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

    I developed a trigger thumb on my dominant hand also and started wrapping it with flexible stick-to-itself tape to immobilize the thumb.  It was pretty severe and painful, I couldn't hold a pen and write, cut with scissors or chop with a kitchen knife, but it did resolve with the tape. I used a piece long enough to wrap around itself on the thumb a couple of times and not so tight that it cut off circulation.  It took a couple of months, but it worked.  Here is a link to the type I used:

    http://www.cvs.com/shop/product-detail/CVS-Self-Adherent-Gentle-Wrap-3-Inches?skuId=265989

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  • ByFaith
    ByFaith Member Posts: 270
    edited June 2013

    Hi Pessa, KittyDog and SpecialK ... thanks for the replies.



    Saw my GP who prescribed icing my trigger thumb and elbow about 3-4 times a day and rest. Hard to rest a thumb and elbow, although (as I'm sure some of you have), I've become pretty creative in getting things done without aggravating the trigger thumb (too much!)



    My GP thought elbow was mild and resolving. Trigger thumb also mild and not locking. I had started to use 800 mg of Advil (twice daily) 5 days prior to seeing my GP for reduction of inflammation only (no real pain). My GP said there was no need or Advil, so I stopped. When I asked if the trigger thumb would go away, GP was uncertain, saying a shot would be next if it worsened or became problematic.



    I'd like to know:



    1. Has anyone used physical therapy or natural methods (other than just ice & rest) to help with tigger thumb or fingers? Any meds or supplements?



    2. Would love to know how to wrap it ... Special K mentioned this. Should I wrap it bent? My GP did not prescribe a splint, but I'm trying to do my best to get rid of this naturally.



    Thanks for any tips!

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  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 3,945
    edited October 2013

    Yeah! stop taking arimidex! ooooops sorry i hate that $#(* !!!  No kidding. Talked with my onc, and he said to stop. so he would talk to my gyno about tamoxifen. 6 years past meno, and still almost 100 % estro pos, apparently, just yesterday, tamox is at the pharm. i should go get it at least......

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  • ByFaith
    ByFaith Member Posts: 270
    edited June 2013

    Kathec, I can relate, for sure. I started my AI therapy with Femara, which caused sudden and severe joint aches and pains, shoulder tendinitis (no injury) and a sudden and extremely severe depression. My onc had me go on a Femara holiday for a short while to see if symptoms would resolve (or maybe just to allow me to enjoy Chistmas! haha). I was given a specific blood test to see if I would metabolize tamoxifen and I could. However, after all was discussed, we elected for Arimidex because I'm on an antidepressant, and was told the newer antidepressants interfere with tamoxifen, causing it not to work. They also preferred Arimidex instead of tamoxifen for me, but .... ergh, the side effects. If I could go off the antidepressant, I might try tamoxifen, but I have a long history of depression.



    I had a normal baseline bone density before AI treatment and am now osteopenic 3 years later. I do take their recommended calcium and vitamin D supplementation, but should exercise more to fend off osteoporosis.



    I wish you the best with your adjuvant therapy!

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  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Member Posts: 1,707
    edited June 2013

    Hi all.  Just found this topic by scanning through the active topics list.  I started Arimidex 12-8-12 and noticed mild trigger thumb in my dominant right hand a month or so later.  It got worse and painful enough that I tried not to bend it and adjusted how I held a pen/pencil to write. 

    The right thumb resolved within weeks but the left thumb became affected shortly after and has been bad for months now. I cannot voluntarily bend it most of the time and if it bends by accident it hurts like a mo-fo to straighten it back again (as a matter of fact I know I typically verbalize the whole 'mother-f**ker' comment while forcing it straight Yell).  It seems to be slightly better occasionally and I wonder if the hot/humid weather may help some.  I do notice if I have my hands in warm/hot water for a while like doing dishes that it seems to loosen up a touch.

    I attribute the trigger thumb to arimidex, but it could also be prolia.  I was mildly osteopenic when diagnosed and my MO recommended prolia injections every 6 months to prevent additional bone loss from arimidex and hopefully reverse the mild density loss i had at the time.  So.....while the trigger thumb is annoying and can be painful at times I try to keep the big picture in mind that this inconvenience is tolerable as long as the cause(s) are doing their job.

    (((((hugs))))) to all!

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  • ByFaith
    ByFaith Member Posts: 270
    edited June 2013

    My baseline bone density was normal before taking Femara and Arimidex. One year later I was shocked to be osteopenic in a couple areas and exactly borderline for osteoporosis on one femoral neck. My onc suggested exercise and treatment IF I develop osteoporosis; however, my borderline reading can't get any closer! I try to exercise, but have intractable migraines and regular exercise is rare. Swimming in the pool for a while might be a tad easier, but still hard in the heat with a migraine.



    Do most of us diagnosed with osteopenia or near-osteoporosis take Prolia? My onc seems reluctant to start now, but I've never pressed as to the reasons why. I'll have to ask.



    In the meantime, would like to know the side effects, if any, you've experienced on Prolia.

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  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Member Posts: 1,707
    edited June 2013

    I'm not sure that I've had any SEs directly related to Prolia except maybe one brief issue with vertigo several months ago.  After reading your post I googled prolia SEs.  Of those listed that I've experienced only vertigo could not also be blamed on Arimidex.  Fatigue is a possible SE of both Arimidex as well as musculoskeletal (trigger thumb?).  The vertigo occurred in the wee morning hours when I got up to use the bathroom.  I felt like I had just spun around like a small child and couldn't quite get my feet under me.  Managed to get to the bathroom and back to bed, had an hour or so of occasional bout of dizziness, then fell asleep and was fine when normal wakeup time came.  Haven't had any problems since.

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  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Member Posts: 1,707
    edited August 2013

    Hello all - I'm pleased to report that my trigger thumb issues have pretty much cleared up now, all it really took for me was time.  I might have a little bit of a catch first thing in the morning but that first joint on both thumbs is now behaving pretty much like it should.  Now if I could only get rid of the arthritis I've had for years in the basal thumb joints I would do a happy dance!

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  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 3,257
    edited August 2013

    Apparently trigger thumb is common with all of the AI's as I am experiencing some of this and I take Aromasin. I am having a lot of joint issues with this drug and I am thinking that I should try a different one but I hear that Femara and Arimidex are even harder on joints than aromasin is . Damned if we do and damned if we don't. Tired of walking around saying "Ouch" all of the time..LOL

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  • ThinkingPositive
    ThinkingPositive Member Posts: 834
    edited November 2015

    I am having the issue with my left thumb. I started to get really nervous thinking it was something else but after reading all your posts, makes me feel a little better and that this is a result of the Fermara. I have been on it since Feb. and pain in the thumb started a month ago. Also was osteopenia prior to being diagnosed and went for bone density in August and I have the start of osteoporosis in the lower spine..all other areas are still osteopenia. The specialist has me taking Actonel. Diarrhea was a side effect first month. Second month a little less. I did experience a noticeable feeling in the lower spine that has osteoporosis... no pain..can't describe it... like I feel a pressure when I bend over. No other time though. Worried about that being something else...but have read that its PAIN that we need to worry about. Anyone else on the meds for osteopenia/osteoporosis that can share their side effects??? Thanks.

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited November 2015

    Also recently developed trigger thumg on my right hand, after 5 years on anastrazole. Very annoying but not a reason to stop. don't know what to do to help the symptom, however

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  • ThinkingPositive
    ThinkingPositive Member Posts: 834
    edited November 2015

    What are your symptoms? Would like to know if that's what I really have. I think it is but not sure if the symptoms.

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited November 2015

    Clicking and pain when I bend the joint. Pain/aching when I press on the joint or even when I do nothing to it. Some days are worse than others. No improvement for several weeks. I tried a splint but didn't help. Ice sometimes does, but that's hard to apply to a hand

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  • ThinkingPositive
    ThinkingPositive Member Posts: 834
    edited November 2015

    thanks Pessa. Sounds like exactly the same symptoms. Makes me feel a little better

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