Arthritis

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LRGinger
LRGinger Member Posts: 30
edited December 2016 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi,

I started taking Arimidex last year and have experienced a lot of joint pain as a side effect. Over the last 6 months I've developed arthritis in my hands, so my MO suggested I try Exemestane instead. The pain in my hands is getting worse with the cold weather (and I'm only 42, BTW!). Has anyone experienced arthritis like this. If so, did you eventually treat the arthritis or move on to another AI or Tamoxifen? I'm hesitant to go off an AI because of the recent data and I just had my ovaries out so that I can be post-menopausal and stop dealing with the shots

Thank you!

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited December 2016

    exemestane was worse for contributing to arthritis in my Neck and Back. I did have trigger finger with anastrozole and bone pain.

    I never had any health issues before the use of these drugs.

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  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 1,455
    edited December 2016

    LRGinger,

    I'm almost at the end of my 5 years (maybe, still not sure if I'll extend AI treatment). Most of it was on exemestane. At the worst in years 2-3, I had lots of arthritic pain in my feet and hands and had to have trigger thumb surgery on my right hand.

    All this pain has subsided significantly or disappeared. Hard to say why for certain. In the last year I started taking flax seed oil for my eyes and almost totally stopped eating gluten. Both have made a difference, but my overall health has improved by dropping gluten as I clearly have an intolerance for it and/or an allergy to wheat. Haven't quite teased that out.

    What I found out is that one 3 month period won't necessarily be like the next 3 month period. My body is constantly adjusting to these meds and what I ate, how I slept and what exercise I did.

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited December 2016

    doxie, I feel pretty good now. You give me hope it will get even better with time.

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  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 1,455
    edited December 2016

    Meow13,

    I hope you do get better. Keep moving and eat healthy. It's what helps all of us whether on meds or not.

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  • Kath1228
    Kath1228 Member Posts: 76
    edited December 2016

    I have joint pain from Femara. I take two Tylenol arthritis once per day. Sometimes with one or two Advil. But most days just the Tylenol. I also take 300mg of magnesium daily which has helped quite a bit with the joint pain.Also important to keep active - even if it's just walking. But do it everyday. Doing all this has made the pain much easier to deal with!!

    I have been on Femara for two years - so I also think my body has finally started to adjust to it. It does get better!

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited December 2016

    Doxie, I do need to get back to my exercise. I used to swim 1 mile every other day and do 1hr on treadmill in between until I sprained my back and had a cancer scare. It turned out to be arthritis from the MRI, doctor still only wants me in the pool 15 minutes very gentle swim. My back is still so sore too but it is getting there. I have always eaten well. After getting off exemestane I have lost 15 pounds. One thing I must say for the last 7 years my cholesterol and blood pressure are right where shoild be without medication. I credit that mostly on the everyday exercise but my diet helps too. It doesn't work for everyone but for me it did.

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  • LRGinger
    LRGinger Member Posts: 30
    edited December 2016

    Thank you for the replies. I have noticed things come and go, so I'll cross my (swollen) fingers that this goes soon. I had terrible trigger thumb all summer that just disappeared, so I can relate to those of you who have experienced it.

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited December 2016

    When I was on an AI it helped a lot to wear a wrist splint at night. I'm back on Tamoxifen now, but I still wear itbecause it feels so good.

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited December 2016

    Glucosamine chrondroitin helps me too, but it takes awhile to kick in.

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