I have been on Arimidex since Feb and have developed bad joint pain, especially in hands. Have had to have carpal tunnel surgery on both wrists but fingers and thumbs still very stiff. My oncologist has swapped me to Tamoxifen nearly three weeks ago, but nothing has changed much. Am I being too impatient? Once off Arimidex, does joint pain improve or is there permanent damage?
Hi Jane
I had 5 years on tamoxifen, after a couple of months got stiff ankles and feet worse mostly first thing in the morning. This lasted about 18 months then gradually wore off. I went on to Femara after the 5 years, at my own request, but had to come off after 7 months because of unbearable joint and bone pain. Had also developed trigger finger which was treated with steroid injection. I was told it would take 5-6 weeks for Femara to leave my system. After 6 weeks I began to feel so much better, lovely not to be hurting all the time. I don’t think taking for a short period has caused any long term damage, but you could always ask the Breast cancer care nurse. Maybe best to give it a while longer to see how you feel. Really hope you see some more improvement.
Hi Jane,
I have gone back to Tamoxifen. I had it first, then Arimidex for about a year, and I had trigger thumbs and fingers and also the beginning of carpal tunnel and a feeling of weakness in the ankles. I had an injection in the thumb but it only helped temporarily - the pain had gone, but the clicking remained, the pain came back and the other hand got it too. Since changing back to Tamoxifen, it has all gone.
Funnily enough, a few weeks ago I met a woman who had had Arimidex for 4 years now and she also had trigger fingers, but they eventually went away, although she didn’t stop taking Arimidex.
Margaret
Thanks for your comments. I think for the first time today I can actually rub hand cream in without wincing, so I think the thumb is improving.