Pain relief for sore joints when taking anastrozole

Going through breast cancer treatment Hormone therapy
101

Hi everyone, I had my bc treatment 3 years ago - mastectomy, chemo and rads and been on anastrazole since then.  I haven’t been online for two years as I was never really aware I had any problems connected with my treatment.  I have had really bad arthritic fingers and thumbs for years but much worse in the last couple of years.  I thought this was just the normal progression of arthritis, until I saw my surgeon for my regular annual checkup recently.  For the first time I was asked if I had any joint pain.  When I mentioned the pain in my hands, which is really severe now, he said it could be the anastrazole making it worse.  I had also had cortisone injections into my thumbs a few months ago which had no effect at all, and the surgeon said the anastrazole could prevent the cortisone from taking effect.  He suggested I talk to the oncologist about changing to something else.

 

Im now wondering whether or not to ask to change. It seems from this forum that all the hormone blocking drugs have some side effects.  I do also feel tired and have hot flushes, mainly in the form of awful night sweats.  But my hands are so bad, I’m taking paracetamol and Tramadol but there isn’t a lot of relief even from that.  I’m afraid if I talk to the oncologist he will say (as I’ve heard others were told) that anastrazole is the best insurance against recurring bc, and I will have to choose between recurrent breast cancer and arthritis.  A rock and a hard place!

1 Like
102

Dear all,

 

not quite the same, but I was switched to exemestane + zoladex after (really) not getting on with tamoxifen, and I started experiencing joint pain (quite bad in the mornings). I spent 2 weeks with vegan friends, and the pain went away completely. So no cause-effect is sure, this is anectdata, but I was quite surprised and am certainly keeping my change in diet. When I came back home, I ate some leftovers with cheese in them and next day the pain was back - when I was more careful the pain went away. It could be worth a try.

 

I take valerian every night to sleep through the hot flushes, btw, seems to work.

 

Good luck,

Julia

103

I too have pain pretty much constantly in my wrist and fingers and it’s quite depressing. I sometimes take paracetamol just before bed which gives me a better sleep. Maybe not as harsh as aspirin. I do a lot of exercise and after 9 months although I cannot lift heavy weights yet I’m building up gently. Also found Tai Chi really helps. Good luck.

104

I had severe thumb joint pain. I used religiously voltaren rubbed in the joint twice a day. It helped my joint pain. My doctor felt it was arthritis. I feel it was the anastrazole. All I know the voltaren stopped it. Walk half hour every day that also helps