Tamoxifen and sciatica

I posted this on the ‘after treatment’ board not realising this board had been added!

I’ve been on Tamoxifen since February of this year and, alongside joint and general all over body pain, I’ve developed sciatica in my left side. For the past couple of days I’ve been getting extremely painful shooting pains which are causing my hip to give way when I walk.

Just wondering if anyone else has had this and whether it was put down to the Tamoxifen. I had my last chemo in January, followed by surgery and rads which I finished in May.

Thanks

Lola

Hi

I hope someone answers your question, as I would be interested to know the answer as well! I have been advised to take Tamoxifen and already have a lower back problem. I am seeing my Oncologist tomorrow and will ask him about this.

Julie.

Hello Lola.

I am on Tamoxifen and get such bad Sciatica it stops me going out, the pain shoots right down my leg into my foot…I find the cold weather makes it worse, it is so miserable, the doctor will not let me have any anti-inflammatory tablets, not sure if they don’t go with Tamoxifen, so the pain killers I am on don’t help much.

I went to see my Oncologist for my check up, I wanted to ask her so many questions but she really rushed me so did not get the chance to ask her any questions which with something as serious as BC I would have thought we would have been given the chance to ask the questions that are important to us.

Hugs Val.

Hi ac and Val

All my doctor did was ask me to do a few stretches then talk about pain killers. He had no problems prescribing me anti-inflammatories (diclofenac) but also added a low dose of Amitryptiline on the recommendation of my breast care nurse. I have also developed rib pain which he suspects is inflammation of the intercostal muscles but I am not so sure as if I press on a few places it feels like bone. So I am, of course, convinced I have bone mets. Sometimes the constant fretting is just too much to bear.

I felt much the same way at my one year check, Val. Mentioned my symptoms and was just sort of rushed out the door. It can be difficult to get the balance between being cautious over one’s health and being a hypochondriac pain in the neck!
I see my consultant again in November but am not sure whether I can wait that long. Then again I don’t want a bone scan either. I hate this. I’m a positive person by nature but cancer has turned me into a gibbering wreck!

Hi Lolag.

I am exactly the same as you, the upsetting thing with any illness like Cancer it never really goes away it’s in the back of your mind all the time, and family and friends just see my happy unworried face, I try and not show worries to them as I feel they may not want to be in my company if I am always moaning. Than goodness for this site. XXXX.