Tamoxifen -Leg pain

gshivers
gshivers Member Posts: 6
in Breast Cancer #1

I've been on tamoxifen for one year and for the last 3 months my knees have been hurting. What can I do to ease the pain?

Comments

  • button2
    button2 Member Posts: 421
    #2
    Source of pain

    Are you sure the tamoxifen is at fault? I've been on it for over two years. I have a little osteopenia is some bones but the doctor says it was caused by the chemo, not tamoxifen. Also your knee pain could be caused by something not even cancer related. Knee pain is very common in the general population. Definitely tell your doctor to get a proper diagnosis (may be arthritis??) and proper medication. No need for you to suffer in silence! Best, Anna

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #3
    I had wicked night leg

    I had wicked night leg cramps..soooooooooo painful and seemed like that  lasted forever.though about 10 sconds. ALL the dr said nothing to do with tamoxifen.

     

    anyhow I started taking magnesiam (SP?) and it was better, I am off tamoxifen for almost a year now and ONLY 2 times , recenlty have i have legs cramps at night.

     

    Denise

  • morgamed
    morgamed Member Posts: 75
    #4
    disneyfan2008 said:

    I had wicked night leg

    I had wicked night leg cramps..soooooooooo painful and seemed like that  lasted forever.though about 10 sconds. ALL the dr said nothing to do with tamoxifen.

     

    anyhow I started taking magnesiam (SP?) and it was better, I am off tamoxifen for almost a year now and ONLY 2 times , recenlty have i have legs cramps at night.

     

    Denise

    awful pain

    I had them for a short while.  I stopped all meds and started eating yogurt and a avacado each day and now leggs feel fine.  Oh and a sweet potato every other day it seemed to put what the meds depleated from my body back in.  

  • desertgirl947
    desertgirl947 Member Posts: 653 Member
    #5
    Like a few others here, I

    Like a few others here, I have thought I have had more leg and foot cramps than I used to.  Usually they occur in the evening or during the night.  There have been times when I have had to get up from bed and get moving.  Then I have to carefully get back into bed, lest I cause a flair up. 

    I do not know for sure it is the tamoxifen.  But, like the others here, I step it up with drinking more water and eating things that have needed minerals. 

    Although I do have some problems with a shoulder/shoulder blade/neck, that is more due to an old sports injury from which I did not rehab well enough.  The major portion of my bc surgery was on that same side.  Scar tissue plus rads exacerbated the problem.  Mix that with osteoarthritis, and I find myself -- as I do now -- doing physical therapy, including exercises at home.

    So, your knee problems could be any one of a number of possibilities.

  • RozHopkins
    RozHopkins Member Posts: 578 Member
    #6
    Agree with all said by the

    Agree with all said by the ladies.  I feel chemo does bring problems on down the line or makes earlier conditions worse.  Especially, arthritis and bone loss.  Tamoxifen doesn't help blocking the estrogen we need to a certain degree.  I got jaw bone desease too, which can happen.  I have had bouts of hardly being able to get out of bed and straighten, same after sitting for more than say an hour.  Yes, I know age does this too but I feel it worsened too dramatically unusually quick.  I had two bouts of pain which bounced all over the body And lasted for months.  The fingers and toes were quite painful and still are, when it all went away I was left with painful knees which I have never had in my life.  Have been told I have osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, I suggest fibromyalgia but try and get that one diagnosed.........    

    So, find a rheumatologist who LISTENS.  I am not a believer in all these vitamins etc. now I have to agree taking calcium as directed and Evista for bone loss is a very good thing.  I exercise 'gently' and often and have one smoothly a day full of kale, carrots, non fat Greek Yogurt, any fruits.  They are delicious.  I eat well and still have plentoy of treats.  Aquatic Classes are wonderful, Yoga, Tai Chi, a little bike ride, walking, Pilates as floor based.  Step arobics and heavy arobics are not good for you long term. In my opinion.

     

    i hope you receive some help that makes a difference.  Is a bit of a struggle at first.

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