Pain with Arimadex

[car30]

Taking Arimadex and hurting joints are becoming just ridiculous. Anyone else experiencing this pain? The first two years were ok but the pain and stiffness are becoming crazy. If anyone is having this and has it under control let me know how.

[Nycfriend113]

I am so sorry to hear about this. I know it's a common complaint. I've only been on Arimidex for 6 mos. and not too bothered by the joint pain. I hope your MD and//or support group can recommend remedies (eg. Ibuprofen, acupuncture, changing to a different aromatase inhibitor)..

Good luck and please keep us posted.

[car30 in reply to Nycfriend113]

I have tried femara, aromacin and one other to no avail...with the tamoxifen I was told there was a chance of blood clots...I am 72 years old and sure don't need that. I am also over weight and thought that was adding to the problem and my oncologist said that was not the problem. It was definitely the medicine.

[BklynCatwoman]

I had a similar experience. I was on Arimidex for about 2 1/2 years. The first few months were achy but it dissipated. Like you, after 2 years, suddenly it got really bad. I tried a bunch of things: acupuncture, exercise (yoga, walking), which didn't really help. It got so that by the end of the day, I realized that I was practically crawling up the stairs. Painkillers like ibuprofen helped but you can't live on them. I tried several others but still experienced joint pain. My advice to speak to your doctor if the discomfort gets unbearable. Try as many as you can (femara, aromacin, tamoxifen, evista) if one doesn't agree with you. Only you can figure out when enough discomfort is too much and if your quality of life is impacted. Good luck!

[Scrapbooker]

Ridiculous is to say it mildly about joint pain from Arimidex. I tried all of them. Got carpo tunnel with first Arimidex. & year later after trying all of the Arimidex got horrific joint pain. I was told by patients in oncologist office Claritin helped. Ready to try anything I laughed & tried. It did help. This last week my doctor gave me Cymbalta. It works & I pray it keeps working. I couldn’t walk for 2 weeks for the pain before Claritin or Cymbalta generic. I pray you find help quickly. What a choice to have such pain for our preventive medicine. So sorry for your pain. 😢

[car30 in reply to Scrapbooker]

I have tried the Cymbalta and found no relief. As I said previously I am in the process of trying CBD oil. I will let you all know how I do with it. I am not sure I can afford $100.00 about every 3 or 4 weeks. I have the same problem with the carpal tunnel. I am also starting to have a trigger finger sticking on both hands.

[car30 in reply to Scrapbooker]

Has anyone ever decided to quit taking the arimadex? I would love to be able to have a little quality of life. I am seriously contemplating quitting. I wonder how long or if you can ever be back to pain free.

[Annie88808 in reply to car30]

Hi we are wondering the same. How long adter stopping can my mum be pain free again?

[car30 in reply to Annie88808]

I did quit taking the medicine on thanksgiving day. It has been over a month now and I am over the majority of pain. Still have some but nothing like it was. I just pray daily that the cancer doesn't return but if it does then I will just deal with it then. After three years of severe pain I feel like I can live again. Hope your mum can make her decision without any problems.

[Rhwright12]

Good luck with the CBD...I have a coworker that is 73. She had bad hip and leg pain. Tried cortisone shots and then nerve block...nothing helped. Then tried CBD cream. She said it works within minutes...now no pain...😀 cream is $35 a jar...

[car30 in reply to Rhwright12]

I tried the cream about 6 months ago it did not work well I would just about have to take a bath in it ...

[Toothlady in reply to Rhwright12]

Can I ask where you get the cream that is only $35.00 ?

[Tinydancer1]

I’ve been on anastrozole for almost a year now, and although I don’t have generalized joint pain, my hands are definitely a lot weaker. More importantly, my every now and then troublesome knee suddenly became severely arthritic with a torn medial meniscus, and I’m now a candidate for a total knee replacement. I’m using cortisone and hyaluronic acid shots to put off the surgery as long as I can or avoid it altogether. I don’t know if that’s due to the anastrozole, but I find that I blame anastrozole for all my woes nowadays! (Except I still claim chemo brain as the cause of my forgetfulness!)

[car30 in reply to Tinydancer1]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it gets worse. Like you the first year was a breeze compared with the years that follow. Good luck to you. I wish you well. I have stopped taking Arimadex now and hope I can get a little relief one day soon.

[Tinydancer1 in reply to car30]

I’m hoping that with my daily aqua aerobics and twice weekly yoga, that through safe movement and stretching I can contain these side effects to be able to continue taking anastrozole. I do know women who’ve been on AIs for years with minimum issues.

[Ytabnm]

I’m taking Tamixifen and Lupron injections and my joints in knees and ankles hurt a lot. Does seem that it’s getting worse and been on them for about a year and half.