Ladies can i ask what you are doing to keep your bones healthy??
Mine ache and i want to make sure i am getting and doing the right things.
Has anybody been advised on any specific food or exercise?
Thank you
Jaynexxxx
At a recent bc open day at the local hospital they advised to ensure adequate calcium intake, supplements if necessary, sufficient vit D and 20 mins brisk walk a day for bone strength. X
Thanks for that Tina xx
Tina, that’s very interesting. Did they give an idea of what adequate calcium should be and if you decide to supplement how much? I am taking vit D as many women with breast cancer have been found to be very low in this - again did they suggest a daily amount to take?
Elinda
nobody has mentioned any supplements to me, will have to start investigating.
Jayne, do all your bones hurt or just a selected few, and what kind of pain is it?
Hi Jayne,
I am suffering terribly with pains in my knees, hips and feet. They are so severe, that i can hardly walk first thing in a morning, then once up and about, i am hobbling like an old woman. I also find that my whole legs ache like mad in bed, waking me up lots during the night.
I havent even been able to go out for a walk just lately, because i’m scared i wont be able to make it back home.
I bought myself an electric treadmill last week, i am trying to do a few gentle walks throughout the day. The first one is very painful, but as the day goes on i am managing abit better.
I thought the pain was from lack of exercise, but i have been walking about 2 miles each day for a week now, but the pains are still as bad.
I am taking, cod liver oil, evening primrose oil, and echinacea.
Then from the drs i take diclofenic 3 times aday, and dihydracodene 3 times aday, and amitryptalene at bedtime.
This is really getting me down now.
Sharon
Hi ladies
Oh Sharon that sounds like it would get you down. Have they gave you any idea why it is that bad? I am not as bad. I go for a walk in the morning and when i get back my knees, hips and feet hurt, mainly in the joints, just an ackey feeling. It feels like i am stiff in my legs but i have been walking almost all through treatment.
I am going to try acupuncture again so i will let you know if it works. I don’t get sore in bed, just wake up with hot flushes. I would love a full nights sleep. Sorry don’t mean to sound so moany. I really want to make sure i keep myself as well as i can but i’m not so sure how to so that with Tamox.
xxxx
Hi, I am copying this from the consultants speech: re the vit D he advises it in the form of Cholecalciferol and 1000 to 2000 units per day. And I also quote that “there is emerging evidence that breast cancer sufferers have lower vit D levels than the background population”. Also, “try and keep your calcium levels up by consuming the at least equivalent of a pint of milk per day” if you can’t do this again, consider a supplement". Tina
Hi Sharon
Did you have Tax and if so how long ago did you finish? Your symptoms sound just like mine were for the 3 or 4 months after chemo. My knees were awful - I developed shoulder problems(calcific tendonitus) during this time which meant I couldn’t use my arms at all - that’s when I discovered my knees were so weak I couldn’t use them to stand up from a chair. I was marooned like a beached whale until someone could pull me up! The good news is if it is the same thing, it has gradually got much better - I finished chemo in April, and am now as near to normal as I think I am going to get (bearing in mind I have bone mets). I’m still a little stiff and have to be careful not to overdo it, but I have found exercise has helped enormously. I don’t do anything too energetic - just lots and lots of walking.
I hope it starts to ease for you soon.
finty x
I also still have residual muscle ache in my legs from the tax, finished in July, I do walk everyday, school run, dogs etc, but it’s worst at night. I have read some comments on forums re plantar faciitis and tamoxifen, maybe that is something your GP could check out. X
Hi, Yeah i did have tax, finished it 8 weeks ago.
Sharon x
Hi Jayne, here we go again…lol…
I’m the same with the aches but the worst being in my elbow, possibly to do with the lymphdemia as well…
My legs also ache, and not only waking with the sweats but now bloody cramp, its awful.
I haven’t been told to take any suppliments but i will ask on these…
Love teresa xxx
P.s do any of you claim any DLA or sickness benefits, just wondering as i live out here I dont, but also know i’m not able to work through the aches etc…
i was on tamoxifen for 3 years before chemo with no bone or joint pain.
i was on epi-cmf chemo and developed aching hip, ribs and spine when i was on the cmf past which lasted long after chemo was finished in nov 09… while i was having radiotherapy my onc was worried enough to send me for scans but there was no evidence of mets or anything and put it down to menopausal bone pain from the chemo.
had a dexa bone density scan a few years ago which said i dont eat enough calcium and to drink milk and eat yoghurt.
anyway i restarted tamox and the pains didnt get any worse.
still have them but have gotten more used to it.
have painkillers for if it gets too bad.
Lxx
It’s good to know i’m not thee only one. I hope you get better soon Sharon and Teresa. Yes we think we’re nearly finished and theres more.
xxxx
I wasn’t sure if my symptoms were the result of taxotere or were being plunged into menopause. I had terrible back pain during my taxotere treatment. Since then I’ve had a very painful shoulder (which may just be due to surgery) but lately problems with my ankle, foot and leg.
I get terrible leg cramps which I think is the tamoxifen. I went to yoga to try to get more flexible and unbelievably sustained an injury to my achilles and foot. I hobble around now like an old woman - so much for getting fit. I’ve never had any problems like this before and used to do a lot of walking.
I’m seeing the physio on Monday so I’m going to discuss all this with her.
Hi There, havent been here for ages. I have had terrible foot pain for 2 1/2 years since starting tamoxifen. My Onc said it was nothing to do with my BC treatment and suggested I see my GP. Had blood tests and xrays which were all normal and was told to take Cod liver oil as probably arthritis ( I am 42 and otherwise fit and fairly slim).
On a recent check up I saw a registra who seemed especially thorough and so I mentioned my foot pains again to him. He said that it was a rare side effect of tamox but he had heard of it.
My usual Onc is very well respected and is regarded as one of the top ones in the North East so it just shows that they dont know everything. I could have saved the NHS a few quid on tests if i had seen the registra first.
Best wished everyone xxxxxxx
i have been on tamoxifen for twelve months and also suffer pain in feet like a bruised feeling bottom of heel pads when i have been sitting or lying down for a while it takes a while to get going, then it goes fine.i didnt have it before i started medication. missmessyx
Hi missmessy
More likely to be plantar fasciitis, i.e. tendonitis under the ball of your heel, which is nothing to do with the medication. It’s often suffered by fat women in their forties or fifties, and that’s not a dig at you, it’s what I found out when I researched it and it certainly applies to me! It’s caused by pronation, which means your feet tend to roll inwards, and is made worse by poor footwear lacking in cushioning and arch support. The pain is at its worst first thing when you get up in the morning and eases off as you get moving.
If only the search facility on the forums actually worked you would see there are a number of other threads on the same subject.
Sarah x
hi cheshirecheese thanks for the info that sounds like that could be me because i have put weight on ,since starting the medication another reason to stick to my diet.
Hi missmessy - another one with heel pain (also over weight and over 50). Try the thread Tamoxifen - Heel pain link? under the Hormone therapy section. Lots of useful info and advice. Maril