Aromasin and Joint Pain

singer2912
singer2912 Member Posts: 8
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hello...I am about 20 months after chemo and am on Aromasin. I have been experiencing pretty bad joint pain on this medication. Does anyone know if this pain is a result of permanent damage or is just a side affect that will eventually go away. I feel like I survived the cancer to live in this pain. Not much fun. Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks.

Comments

  • MsGracie
    MsGracie Member Posts: 4
    #2
    Hi - I have been on Aromasin for 18 mo. I have severe joint and muscle pain since starting the medication too. A few things I find help me; first thing in the a.m. a hot bath helps to loosen those joints, staying physically active as possible also helps, and of course some sort of painkiller, Tylenol seems to work pretty good. I hear that the pain does get more tolerable and sometimes lessens after a period of time. My onc said if it was too unbearable, we could switch back to Tamoxifen. Hang in there. I know it is very difficult dealing with this constant pain....right there with ya. Good Luck......Grace
  • EllenM6246
    EllenM6246 Member Posts: 27
    #3
    I have been on aromasin since 11/03. Initially had a lot of joint pain but was also on Zometa so I don't really know which was the culprit in causing the pain. However, I have no problems now.
  • PJMP
    PJMP Member Posts: 9
    #4
    I have joint pain etc from Arimidex (more than the doc ever mentioned I'd have-which is frustrating) and I just want to comment that you are right....We go through all the physical and emotional turmoil of having breast cancer and fight-the-fight and then have to live with pain as a "survior". Somehow that doesn't seem right! Physical activity does help a lot but it sure is hard sometimes to convince yourself of that when you're trying to just sit and take a break and be comfortable and you're IN PAIN. I hope things get better for you. This site helps in knowing we are not alone.
    Paula
  • Kathy1108
    Kathy1108 Member Posts: 62
    #5
    PJMP said:

    I have joint pain etc from Arimidex (more than the doc ever mentioned I'd have-which is frustrating) and I just want to comment that you are right....We go through all the physical and emotional turmoil of having breast cancer and fight-the-fight and then have to live with pain as a "survior". Somehow that doesn't seem right! Physical activity does help a lot but it sure is hard sometimes to convince yourself of that when you're trying to just sit and take a break and be comfortable and you're IN PAIN. I hope things get better for you. This site helps in knowing we are not alone.
    Paula

    I was on Arimidex for 1 year but my onc switched me to Femara because of the joint pain. The joint pain is better now. I am also on Ultraset for the pain. I only take it at bedtime because it makes me sleepy. I was on Celebrex, Vioxx and Bextra but I stopped them when I heard about the serious side effects. Exercise does help but sometimes it is hard to do. I try to exercise 3 to 4 times a week to help with the joint pain and to lose the weight that I have gained since after my treatments.

    Kathy
  • PJMP
    PJMP Member Posts: 9
    #6
    Kathy1108 said:

    I was on Arimidex for 1 year but my onc switched me to Femara because of the joint pain. The joint pain is better now. I am also on Ultraset for the pain. I only take it at bedtime because it makes me sleepy. I was on Celebrex, Vioxx and Bextra but I stopped them when I heard about the serious side effects. Exercise does help but sometimes it is hard to do. I try to exercise 3 to 4 times a week to help with the joint pain and to lose the weight that I have gained since after my treatments.

    Kathy

    Hi Kathy and others- I'm glad I read your post. I posted one other time hoping to hear how others have done with Arimidex vs Femara but got no responses. Last week I would have gladly switched to anything I was offered because the pain was really getting to me. This week is much better-I don't understand that. I am generally active- the pain has not stopped me (the weather has though- I'm a jogger but when it is below zero or snowing I don't get out much) but being in pain makes it harder to be motivated. I have not found much info on Femara online-is there a website that you (or anyone) knows of? I won't switch until I do more research. Thanks for your response.
    Paula
  • singer2912
    singer2912 Member Posts: 8
    #7
    MsGracie said:

    Hi - I have been on Aromasin for 18 mo. I have severe joint and muscle pain since starting the medication too. A few things I find help me; first thing in the a.m. a hot bath helps to loosen those joints, staying physically active as possible also helps, and of course some sort of painkiller, Tylenol seems to work pretty good. I hear that the pain does get more tolerable and sometimes lessens after a period of time. My onc said if it was too unbearable, we could switch back to Tamoxifen. Hang in there. I know it is very difficult dealing with this constant pain....right there with ya. Good Luck......Grace

    Thank you to everyone that responded. It's particularly bad today so I'm heading to the health club to sit in the hot tub. The exercise recommendations are appreciated...I need a kick in the butt sometimes. And God bless Advil.

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