Foot Pain from Anastrozole

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Memyself17
Memyself17 Member Posts: 11
edited February 2019 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi - I have been on generic anastrozole (Teva) for 22 months now. My side affects haven't been bad - definite stiffness when I sit for too long and then when I get up I feel like my legs are made of cement. But after moving for a few minutes it subsides. However, for the last six months the tops of my feet hurt so bad - like a constant ache, kind of bruised feeling that is always there. Even after being off my feet all night, when I get out of the bed in the morning they are already sore - having been sore all night. My oncologist downplays this symptom and says it is probably from the anastrozole and is most likely vascular and they don't know why. She said to wear cotton socks and Crocs - not very helpful. I can't picture myself at work in socks and Crocs..haha. Has anyone else experienced similar foot pain and does anyone have any tips? I am thinking I might try acupuncture. Anyone been that route? Did it help? Thanks much.

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited February 2019

    Meeeeeee!!!!! After sitting for a while, then putting weight on my right foot especially it felt like breaking glass. Shattered. I took a week off. Pain gone. Went back on the devil pill. Pain came back. Went to podiatrist. He was clueless. By then I was on a walker, considering a shower chair, couldn’t drive much. Told MO. Another week off, started tamoxifen. That lasted about 9 months. Then the pain came back. This was about 6 years in all

    I’d had enough, so stopped everything.

    So yes, it does happen. The MOs usually aren’t sympathetic or knowledgeable about this. I don’t know if acupuncture would help, my insurance wouldn’t cover.

    You could try Claritin non drowsy. The allergy med. Some say it helps, I didn’t.

    It’s miserable, hope you find relief.

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  • Sjacobs146
    Sjacobs146 Member Posts: 770
    edited February 2019

    I have has foot pain, but more all over pain than just the top. My MO said the same thing, they don't know why it causes joint pain. I tried turmeric, but it didn't help much. Over time, it has gotten better though. I've been doing yoga regularly, I walk more, and I've lost weight. Not sure if all that helped or it's just coincidence. I also had a trigger finger, and that seems to have resolved itself too. I've been on Arimidex for two years now

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  • Yuuki
    Yuuki Member Posts: 47
    edited February 2019

    Joint pain has been by far the hardest thing for me about taking anastrozole. I am on ovarian suppression as well, so I don't know how much to blame the one drug versus the other. Here's what I have tried in my 2 years on this treatment.

    I switched to the brand name Arimidex through the Arimidex Direct program, and I did notice improvement in some joints. The foot and hand pain was especially stubborn, though. I was still dropping things, and the sole/arch pain (for me always the bottom, not the top), though worse in the morning, was lasting all day.

    Acupuncture worked magic for the hand pain. After the first 8-10 weekly treatments it would return, but finally it disappeared altogether. Acupuncture helped with the foot pain too - especially when we added e-stim - but eventually it would return and finally it would return almost immediately, so I gave up. What did help me was orthotics designed for plantar fasciitis, but I learned too late that you need to work up to all-day wear and ended up with knee inflammation. They are wonderful little tools, but go slowly if you try them.

    Other than that, I found Aleve an hour before a workout helped me move.

    My MO and I discussed switching to another AI, but I have 8 months to go before I can stop the Lupron so at that point we will reassess.

    Good luck to you. I don't think most of the doctors are truly dismissive of the pain; I suspect they just don't have an easy solution.

    Yuuki


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  • MexicoHeather
    MexicoHeather Member Posts: 365
    edited February 2019

    Maybe soft yoga socks at night? It would create a slight vascular compression. .I do have crocs, too. But I live in Florida, so arch support sandals are everywhere.

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited February 2019

    I read this the other day, didn't think much about it, but remembered last night that I'm getting some pain in my heels--on the bottom of my feet, and not constant, just sometimes. Not terribly bothersome--it just seems weird.

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  • JoE777
    JoE777 Member Posts: 628
    edited February 2019

    I took Femara and exemistane for two years. I'm sure my MO would have tried anastrozole if I hadn't quit. Foot pain(aching, stabbing like glass) joint and bone pain with stiffness, insomnia, depression, dryness of every orifce, thinning hair. Too many SE for me so I quit. If a doctor says there are no side effects then they haven't read the drug sheet that comes with the prescription or the manufacturer website. I had a great MO that tried to treat the SE and begged me not to stop. You can see my signature. You do what you feel you can do. Best of luck and Peace.
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