Saw my oncologist today for my 3 month follow up. I'm having severe pain on my thumb n pinky is becoming disfigured? I'm suspecting it's the aromasin. He told me yo stop for about 2 weeks..if it improves it's the aromasin. He might switch me to tamoxifen. I'm 4 years out..
Has anyone else had problems w yr hands? Joints n fingers?
Please share your experience. Thank you ladies!
FYI..NED Her2 positive, estrogen positive , stage 2, no lumps, radiation n TCHP clinical trial.
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iamTeal
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I’ve been on anastrozole for about two years. After about a year, I noticed that at first I had an intermittent pain in the top joint near my nail of my right pointer finger. Then I developed a pretty severe trigger finger in the ring finger of that same hand, and now a trigger finger has started in the ring finger of my left hand. I’m almost ready to go to treatment for that right hand. I also had to have a total knee replacement almost a year ago because the stable arthritis there had gotten worse and a meniscus tear turned it from worse to unbearable. Good luck on finding a tolerable replacement. I’ll stick with anastrozole for now because it’s the evil I know, and who knows what the others will do to me!
I had a masectomy 4 yrs ago. N been on tamoxifen. N then anastrozole. N yes. I have. Same symptoms my thumb at first trigger finger n now. Omg hurts soo bad. I stopped taken these drugs n havent told my onolcologist. Since o. These Drugs. It has. Almost paraluzed me. At first I thought I had bone cancer. Extreme pain my shoulders n Arms legs n feet. Its horriable. Drs are saying from my spine however. I went down hill fast Im unable to work I don't know. Ok. Is it better to luve cancer free N deal with Drs alll the time. Or be crippled. N in so much pain N I've been trying to get disabikuty. Well. ? Just to ur question Yes. Trigger finger. N my girl. Get ready. 4 yrs on this and I use be so strong n it destroyed me my bones. Now. Well pray
Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm sleeping at night with a brace to support my wrist and thumb. Otherwise I wake up in the middle of the night with horrible pain in my thumb and wrist area. Trying to find a brace for my pinky now. My doctor are talking abut 10 years on these meds!
This is bad ladies. I too have had trigger finger. N lost use of my arms. Its from these drugs tamoxifen n anastrozole my hand doesn't work n in soo much pain they are killing us w their bad. Experiaments
I am early in the anastrazole journey too - and have pains in both index fingers that mimics arthritis as well as general heavy feeling/tingles. I play piano and it does worry me but as yet am willing to stick it out with this form of drug. I do know another lady who developed trigger finger - she plays a lot of racquetball - recently she says it has improved and she has avoided an injection into the joint.
I find the fatigue that comes on after ‘normal’ activities more upsetting- but hopefully that will improve as radiotherapy is only 10 weeks past. I did not have chemo
Thank you for sharing your story! I play guitar and there are moments when my hands tell me no more meds...bu then my other mind says try n deal with the side effects. The price we have to pay to help prevent a recurrence.
Was on 4 yrs. N Its onky go na get worse. I wish drs told me. Theres nothing g tgey can do for the trigger finger psin n now well these meds destroyed me. I can't wirk. Ive been thru so many spunal treatments. And. Tbey try n brush our symptoms off as if. Ok. We. Bam got arthritis. No. No. I am almost. For real paraluzed. My thumb Hurst so bad. N goes on I thought I had bone cancer. If I knew yrs ago. I would have never taken this drug. I went homeless cuz no work. N goes on.
Yes the docs try n brush it off. I hope your pain improves. It's hard for all of us m I too am struggling but grateful to be alive. Hang in there! Wishing you the best.
Yes I have pain in both hands but I’m on herceptin and tamoxifen. I soak in dr. Teals bath salts and that helps. I’m Ned her2 triple positive 7 years out but a lot of body aches. Hands are the worst
I too, have had problems with pains in my hands and wrists. Also have had trigger finger...but knock on wood...that symptom has not appeared in awhile. A new symptom that I have however is sharp pains in my front teeth...shooting pains that come on for no reason ...last for a few minutes and then leave. I have mentioned it to dentist and have had x-rays but there is nothing wrong that shows up...so I am thinking it is another side effect from exemestane. I am 3 yrs out from chemo, surgery and radiation. Any others experience this side effect in teeth?
I have been on the same drug for 26 months. About 14 months in, I developed trigger finger in right thumb. THAT is when I learned from the doc that it is common; I wish she had warned me up front.
I went to an ortho surgeon who gave me a shot (not cortisone but along those lines). The shot gave me complete relief. 9 months after the shot it is starting to hurt again but not “triggering”. When I go back to ortho doc he will offer another shot or surgery, mychoice.
I'm glad your finger isn't getting worse. I'm sleeping with a thumb wrist support splint at night. I wake up in the morning with severe pain in my wrist. What seems to help me is to squeeze my wrist n forearm n message before I get out of bed. Soaking in Epsom salt seems to help too.
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