Nothing seems to help with the anastrozole side effect of pain in joints, ligaments, muscles. I have been reading recently about infra-red light therapy (LED phototherapy - has a bunch of names), used on skin but also on athletes for injuries of all sorts.
Has anyone tried this?
If so, did you get it from a physical therapist or doctor (or dermatologist)?
I have tried one of my friend’s father’s near- red infrared pads and it felt good as the better models really get down into the deep tissue. The good models do cost between AUD$300 to $500 but you can get one in a lamp which is cheaper. I haven’t decided which model to get yet as I am looking for a reliable company that suits my budget and circumstances!🌸
That sounds worth it! I got one that was 10 times that and is probably not strong enough...Found one online for $150 US...
hi Chris.
earlier last year I tore one of my hip flexor tendons....diagnosed as 'severely torn' via MRI. my spine/pain management doc was the provider taking care of this injury. he ordered the infra-red laser therapy to be administered during my PT session. so it was the PT guy that held the wand and directed it towards my injured R hip. the reasoning is that this laser therapy is supposed to expedite the healing process. there is no way for me to know if it did or didn't but my injury healed. I feel like it helped speed things up. so my doc ordered it and the physical therapist administered.
the doc explained to me that this treatment was approved by the FDA in 2019. but for some reason the insurance companies are slow to accept it...no clue why....but that means you have to pay out of pocket. they charged me $25 per session which I thought was more than reasonable. the doc also told me that professional athletes use them all the time....like you mentioned already.
hope that helps....
carole XO
Hi,
My physical therapist used this on me and I did feel relief for a purple of hours after. So I bought it for myself. It doesn’t give me a little ng term relief, but it does give a short time relief. I think the one I got was about $120. It was the same one the PT used.
Corby
I was afraid of that. It does say that for pain, effect is short lived. For healing of injury, it seems to expedite it. I fall into the former category, though.
hi Corby. that's interesting. when I had it done by PT, it was a larger machine about the size of a small microwave and it was on wheels and had the laser wand attached to the machine. they told me it cost thousands of dollars to purchase. why such a difference I wonder? I'm confused. good that it gives you some relief! carole XO
I just read a long article from a Dr. Jockers on infrared light. It sounded amazing and worth trying. If I can find a way to share the article with you I will. He even recommended one to try. I'll see what I can to send this to you. It is very informative as to why it works. Sending hugs.
Yes, please! Thanks. I feel like I am stuck with the one I bought, stupidly, and I think it is not strong enough for muscles and joints, just for skin. I got shanghaied by some amazing sales women while walking up Madison Ave. I should never go to Madison Ave. Out of my league.
I can send it via email to you. Can you private message me your email address. I promise not to share with anyone else. It is a good article but I don't know another way to send it.
Will try.
I bought one from amazon & one of the caveats was that it was NOT to be used by those with metastatic disease. I promptly shipped it back...
Oooh, but the people here who have used it or had PT use it on them have metastatic. What I read last night is that it should never be used on a spot where you have a tumor or skin cancer. I could not use it on the painful joint in my chest (clavicle meets sternum), but I think my arm is safe. Seeing oncologist Tuesday and will ask, but she tends not to know stuff like that. Maybe I should write the NP and ask.
Saw my oncologist on Tuesday, brought her the latest scientific article with a summary of research and description of the effects of infra red on water in cells and mitochondria, etc., too technical for me to read. She said NO. Not enough research on how it affects cancer. No because I have active metastatic disease (I think it is inactive, but...). No big studies yet, no studies with random assignment, control group...She took the article, though. I am both really disappointed because I thought it would help with joints and wrinkles, and relieved because the thing I got was very expensive. I am about to fight with the spa (wrong place to buy it!) to get a credit. I cannot afford this, either.
Second thing she said, because I asked, was that having been on one oral SERD, I can try the one that is about to get approved, the one in the Emerald trial. She said it is like Ibrance and Verzenio and...Kisqali? When one stops working, you can try another, because they work somewhat differently. Yay! Another line of treatment to try before chemo is a good thing, and I found the oral SERD great.
I had laser therapy for pain after foot surgery. (Unrelated to breast cancer) had in the doctors office by a tech. Not covered by insurance. $40 per treatment. It did help but took about 10 treatments.
I did have a lot of pain in my hands when taking anastrozole. The anastrozole didn’t work for me. 😔
The pain went away when I stopped taking it.
Hi— I got this one fir around $150. Didn’t try insurance. It really helps with the pain especially good for back and hips, my areas with Mets. I have found it to work very well for me!
Does your oncologist know you are using it where you have mets?
actually, I’ve never thought about telling her. Perhaps foolish on my part.
I got rid of my joint by refusing any more letrezole and. Switching to exemetane. That said I built my own infrared sauna for less than $150. I used 250 watt infra red bulbs from Hardware store. If nothing else it is warming, induces sweating and so cleansing like a steam room.
I love this! I want to build a sauna! And I too got rid mostly of joint pain from Letrazole and switched to exemetane, I can really tell a difference.
I'm interested too in the red light therapy. My PT heard of it but wouldn't prescribe it because it's so new. I'm gonna research myself.
Sounds like your PT is not in the vanguard. There is research, but not gold standard research, with random assignment and control group; ideally double blind, but that might be hard to do.
I don't know if the PT could prescribe it at another facility. Some facilities have invested in expensive machines. That is best, because they can use a stronger and bigger machine than one would use at home. See Kokopelli's experience.
I am still torn about returning the expensive one I got, for which I cannot get technical info, and finding a PT who does it. (Last time I was at Columbia PT, they did not use it.) It moves around and is chronic, so would be better if I could do it at home.
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