managing joint pain on anastrazole? Is it possible?

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Khagen
Khagen Member Posts: 7
edited January 2018 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Hi,

I have been on anastrazole for just about a year. I have terrible joint pain and stiffness, especially in my hands. We have ruled out arthritis so this is definitely the anastrazole. I have been prescribed Melaxacam which did nothing. Now I am taking Celebrex which is helping a little. I also do acupuncture this helps for 2-3 days afterwards but then pain returns. Has anyone done anything differently? I could try a different inhibitor but feel like the same class of medications is going to have same kind of side effects... It's hard to think about another 4 years of this kind of pain and stiffness. I can't even open a jar of pickles without it hurting for Pete's sake. This is awful.

Thoughts??


Kathy

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited January 2018

    When I started letrozole I noticed first that my hands were achy when I flexed and extended my fingers. When I've been immobile for a while, like sitting in the car for a long drive, I'm stiff and slow like an old lady. Exercise helps. When I'm diligent about riding my bike or walking almost every day, I feel much better.

    Everyone has to make their own decisions, but with my own diagnosis, I'm OK with the aches and stiffness, since I know it helps keep the beast in the dungeon.

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  • Rubytoos
    Rubytoos Member Posts: 85
    edited January 2018

    You could be right that a different AI might not make a difference, but it is worth a conversation with your doctor. Medicines within a class do indeed affect people differently, work better or worse for some, and have different side effects. As far as the NSAID's you are taking, this is especially so in my experience--their efficacy is highly variable by individual. I have used NSAID's for fairly severe osteoarthritis much of my life. The ones you have taken do absolutely nothing for me. My NSAID of choice is Relafen (nabumetone). Also, there are some other options for treating joint pain aside from NSAIDs, but the ones I have tried made me so lethargic and tired it wasn't worth it. But again, does not mean that they might not work for you. Hope you find some relief. Arthritis and joint pain can be so debilitating.

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