For 7.8 years, I have been taking Letrozole and Ibrance. Recently, an MRI showed that my right gluteus minimus tendon fully tore and retracted for no apparent reason. Because statins can be a factor, I immediately quit taking atorvastatin. I also found a study that claimed aromatase inhibitors can also be a factor—I cannot quit Letrozole!
Has anyone else had tendon tears? It is extremely painful!
I don’t know what atorvastatin means. But I had to come off letrozole and change to Anastrozole after 1.5 years, because I had tendinitis in both my hands so badly . As well as trigger thumb in both thumbs. Then I lasted on ibrance and Anastrozole for another 4 years. So nearly 6 years in total.
But my oncologist never registered that side effect. But it was my GP that suggested it may be a problem.
I have had the trigger finger issues with Anastrozole. And my knees are killers. I see the hand doctor for the hand issues and curcumin supplements control the knees beautifully. Please double check with your onc if you try the curcumin as some people have said it can affect some of the cancer meds.
Atorvastatin is a statin, which also has that side effect. My cholesterol is not terribly high, so I felt comfortable quitting that drug. I don’t know what I can do about aromatase inhibitors like letrozole because it keeps estrogen from feeding my cancer, but other parts of my body could use estrogen. My platelets and neutrophils are constantly low from Ibrance, so I think my body has a tough time repairing itself.
hi! I have been taking Letrozole for 7 years, also AND the past 2 years — and more intensely this past year—I have been having tendon pain in a way that has made me feel like something is seriously wrong (not the pain we have had for years with Letrozole), but scan shows I’m still NED. My glutes, my knee, shoulder, and small tendons all around my body … I too found in my reading that Letrozole is most likely the culprit … but I have also had my ovaries out now for 7 years (from age 45) and the lack of estrogen on this level … I have attributed it to this, as well. But I can’t believe I came across you post! I have not officially been diagnosed with torn tendon like you have — but I do believe I will be at some point — the glutes in particular! So strange. What did they say are you supposed to do with this in terms of healing?
Currently, I am taking Celebrex for pain and inflammation. I will have 6 weeks of physical therapy. I start on Tuesday with the same physical therapist that I saw when I had frozen shoulder from neck pain. In four weeks, I will see the orthopedic surgeon that replaced my other hip 4 years ago. Hopefully, there will be more answers soon.
7.8 years is a remarkable amount of time to be on that combo. That's great. I have never had a tendon tear but I know they take a very long time healing and are ridiculously painful. Is it disabling, are you walking? I'm so sorry it happened to you. I have many tendon issues and a trigger finger (arms and hands) I attributed it all to arthritis and neuropathy - I never told anyone about it. Thanks for sharing.
We should probably be reporting these things to the FDA.Best to you, hope you stay NED.
My gluteus minimus tendon tore completely and retracted. It’s not something that is generally repaired with surgery unless physical therapy does not take away the pain.
Walking is okay thanks to Celebrex. I thought I was just having joint pain, but my hip joint is fine according to the MRI. Generally, I don’t complain and tolerate pain well, but I think my tendon tore gradually and was finally completely torn. I’m trying to “listen” to my body, but I don’t want to spend my life focusing on this disease.
Sorry that happened to you. I haven't had any tendons tear, but lots of joint aches. I wonder if some of my joint problems might be tendon-related.
I was on Letrozole for 6 years. Although I never had a tendon tear, I did have painful tendinitis many times in my wrists, elbows and shoulders. It wasn’t until I went off the Letrozole that I learned that could have been a side effect.
I have suffered tendonitis/trigger finger in my hands on certain brands of Letrazole.i have also suffered after antibiotics for Cellulitis. Presently I have really bad siatica on the left side that I have been told is my Periformis muscle which is in your buttock, the siatic nerve runs through it. So whilst not a tear it's pain in the same place.
Hello! I have been on Letrozole 2yrs in June. Here lately I m having a lot of joint pain . And I get a sulfur smell and taste. I don't know if it's from. This medication are not. I'm to start back on the Zometa infusion in April . Only had it once wasn't informed that I was to take it every 6months. Sorry I don't know much about the Letrozole . Prayers for your healing and strength. God bless
My fingers cramp up and curl inwards, I have to manually extend them several times and it's usually if I am doing fine motor tasks. I also noticed pain along the ITB band, fascia running down the left lateral or outside part of my left leg. It could be I need to stretch. I can't be sure.
Is there a possibility that acupuncture could help relieve some of your on-going pain symptoms?
I personally found that regular movement (exercise) helped by relieve the achy joint, muscle and tendon pain I experienced while on Letrozole (2 years). If you have limited mobility, swimming or walking in the pool is very gentle on your joints and can be tolerated long after other forms of movement have proven to be a challenge (my experience).
I also used heat therapy (sauna, infrared sauna and jacuzzi) and worked hard to stay well hydrated. This seemed to bring a lot of relief as well.
Thank you for the advice! My only concern at this point is the health of my other tendons.
I am on faslodex and Ibrance and for the past 6 months, I have been having hip pain. Started as right hip pain, but now bilaterally. It’s is very positional. They can both flare and become uncomfortable, but I have had 2 instances where I thought I had severely injured the hips but no one can find anything. Difficulty walking when it happens. It eventually calms down but never completely goes away. I have always thought it was a tendon issue.
Have you had an MRI? That is how my torn tendon was diagnosed. My oncologist ordered the MRI to rule out active cancer. She was going to order a PET-CT, but I told her I needed to know what the problem is and not just what it isn’t. Since it was not cancer I then needed to go to an orthopedic doctor. When I called for an appointment, they told me to go to their walk-up clinic. I got in immediately. I wish I had known about that when I had the first bout of difficulty walking. Maybe an earlier scan would have shown the inflammation and a complete tear could have been prevented.
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