Oh Shucks! I spoke too soon

missrenee
missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
in Breast Cancer #1
I've been on Arimidex for a year now. Up until last week--I had a few aches and pains and a few hot flashes but nothing I couldn't handle and it really didn't affect my life a whole lot. I thought, okay, I sure can handle this.

For the last few days I've had joint pain--not just one or two joints--more like EVERY joint. It's as if my body is on a circuit board and someone is zapping me with a current of pain in all my joints--with no set pattern. In one second my right knee hurts, then my left thumb, then my right elbow, etc., etc. I took an Ibuprophen last night and was able to fall asleep for about 3 hours. Then I woke up to potty (normal for me) and the joints started up again and kept me awake for awhile. Last night while watching TV, my joints were achy and flu-like.

Anyone had these symptoms--if so, does anyone have any remedies like supplements/vitamins or any other over-the-counter remedies? I won't take narcotic pain meds. I don't want to go off this drug if it's keeping the beast out of my life. Did your pain come and go--or is this it for the next 4 years?!

Any info/help would be so appreciated.

Hugs, Renee

Comments

  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #2
    Not on the same meds but
    sending prayers for relief from your pain!
  • GayleMc
    GayleMc Member Posts: 311 Member
    #3
    skipper54 said:

    Not on the same meds but
    sending prayers for relief from your pain!

    I was very interested to
    I was very interested to read your post. I have been on Femara for about a year now and am experiencing such pain in my right knee I can hardly walk. I weent to see my pc and got the arthritis speech. It responds to nothing, and doesn't seem to get better after rest, etc. Is it possible the affected joint side effect could affect just one joint? Hope you feel better.
  • Jean 0609
    Jean 0609 Member Posts: 2,462
    #4
    Hey Renee,
    What a coincidence. I have been on Femera (now the generic) since December 1, 2010. I have experienced some aching in my knees and have a hard time getting off the floor or have a hard time getting up when I sit for a long time. However, this morning I went to the gym, as usual. I walked 3.2 miles on the treadmill. Came home showered, and got ready to go watch my beautiful granddaughter when I realized the pain in my right knee was really hurting, for no reason. It's been like this most of the day. I've never had this much discomfort and walking down my stairs is a real chore. Hopefully, it will be better tomorrow.

    I LOVE your new picture by the way. You look wonderful friend.

    xoxo,
    Jean
  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #5
    Jean 0609 said:

    Hey Renee,
    What a coincidence. I have been on Femera (now the generic) since December 1, 2010. I have experienced some aching in my knees and have a hard time getting off the floor or have a hard time getting up when I sit for a long time. However, this morning I went to the gym, as usual. I walked 3.2 miles on the treadmill. Came home showered, and got ready to go watch my beautiful granddaughter when I realized the pain in my right knee was really hurting, for no reason. It's been like this most of the day. I've never had this much discomfort and walking down my stairs is a real chore. Hopefully, it will be better tomorrow.

    I LOVE your new picture by the way. You look wonderful friend.

    xoxo,
    Jean

    Wow, with all you ladies
    Wow, with all you ladies experiencing this sudden flare-up do you think it might be weather related? From the US map it looks like most of us are in a heat wave, do you think the heat and humidity might be a factor? Just a thought... I'm on Tamoxifen my onco gave me permission to use Osteobiflex or some other glucosimine tablet. I'm going to try that should my joint pain get out of hand.

    Good Luck ladies,
    Lorrie
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #6
    GayleMc said:

    I was very interested to
    I was very interested to read your post. I have been on Femara for about a year now and am experiencing such pain in my right knee I can hardly walk. I weent to see my pc and got the arthritis speech. It responds to nothing, and doesn't seem to get better after rest, etc. Is it possible the affected joint side effect could affect just one joint? Hope you feel better.

    I am not on this, but, I
    I am not on this, but, I hope that you find something to relieve your pain soon.


    Hugs,

    Diane
  • aysemari
    aysemari Member Posts: 1,596 Member
    #7
    Hi Renee
    Not sure if you read my post on another thread but I just went through
    2 days of sheer hell... my joints were killing me and I had some serious
    bone pain. I couldn't even sleep. I didn't have your drugs as you know.
    I have no clue what to take for it.. so I do yoga and pilates to lubricate
    my joints. I am better for the last 2 days and VERY, VERY grateful of it!

    Hugs,
    Ayse
  • CAchick
    CAchick Member Posts: 277
    #8
    Femara does the same...
    Hi Renee,
    I take Femara and it does the same to me. My hands hurt (every little bone), and my other bones hurt too. Arthritis makes joints hurt, but this pain is in the middle of my very bones! They say it is a side effect of all of the aromatase inhibitors. That is why some women just stop taking them. Calcium and magnesium supplements seem to help a little. But, I don't have a good solution either!
    So sorry about your pain,
    Sybil
  • Tux
    Tux Member Posts: 544
    #9
    CAchick said:

    Femara does the same...
    Hi Renee,
    I take Femara and it does the same to me. My hands hurt (every little bone), and my other bones hurt too. Arthritis makes joints hurt, but this pain is in the middle of my very bones! They say it is a side effect of all of the aromatase inhibitors. That is why some women just stop taking them. Calcium and magnesium supplements seem to help a little. But, I don't have a good solution either!
    So sorry about your pain,
    Sybil

    Just had joint X-ray this AM
    Just had joint X-ray this AM at hospital for joint pain. Arthritis, according to
    doc. Doc suggested tylenol arthritis dose every morn. & glucosimine (sp?); also to keep as
    active as possible. I am ready to try anything. I was a half-marathoner BC (before
    cancer), so I hope I can return to it in some way. Hope your pain eases up.
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    #10
    Tux said:

    Just had joint X-ray this AM
    Just had joint X-ray this AM at hospital for joint pain. Arthritis, according to
    doc. Doc suggested tylenol arthritis dose every morn. & glucosimine (sp?); also to keep as
    active as possible. I am ready to try anything. I was a half-marathoner BC (before
    cancer), so I hope I can return to it in some way. Hope your pain eases up.

    So sorry you're in pain
    So sorry you're in pain Renee.
    Hugs,
    Wanda
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #11
    butterflylvr said:

    Wow, with all you ladies
    Wow, with all you ladies experiencing this sudden flare-up do you think it might be weather related? From the US map it looks like most of us are in a heat wave, do you think the heat and humidity might be a factor? Just a thought... I'm on Tamoxifen my onco gave me permission to use Osteobiflex or some other glucosimine tablet. I'm going to try that should my joint pain get out of hand.

    Good Luck ladies,
    Lorrie

    Sorry for the pain you are
    Sorry for the pain you are having Renee. I am hoping that you will find some med to help relieve the pain. Can you take anything for it? Maybe prescription Ibuprofen?


    Sue :)
  • rainbow4
    rainbow4 Member Posts: 137
    #12
    Pretty similar here
    Renee,
    I've been on Arimidex (generic now, thank heavens for the $$ difference) since July 2009, and I still get occasional "surprise" symptoms. I'm having PT now with the hopes that it will help, although the diagnosis ranges from AI side effects to bursitis to arthritis to just plain old age (I'm 70). I'm like you, don't want to take more pain meds than necessary, but also don't want to stop the AI. Ice sometimes helps (15 minutes, 2-3 times a day). So sorry you're dealing with this!
    -rainbow4
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #13
    aysemari said:

    Hi Renee
    Not sure if you read my post on another thread but I just went through
    2 days of sheer hell... my joints were killing me and I had some serious
    bone pain. I couldn't even sleep. I didn't have your drugs as you know.
    I have no clue what to take for it.. so I do yoga and pilates to lubricate
    my joints. I am better for the last 2 days and VERY, VERY grateful of it!

    Hugs,
    Ayse

    Sorry that you are having so
    Sorry that you are having so much pain Renee.


    Hugs, Leeza

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