Joint Pain and Trigger Fingers

mgm42
mgm42 Member Posts: 491 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I've been on Arimidex for almost six months and developed joint pain in my three middle fingers of my right hand along with trigger finger, but only my right hand. The pain and achiness is similar to arthritis accompanied by what I know to be the symptoms of trigger finger (where the joints click and are painful when bent.) It's the worst in the morning, and if I exercise my fingers before getting out of bed, the "trigger finger symptoms" disappear for the rest of the day, as long as my hands are busy. The pain in the joints stays unless I take something. I was under the impression, perhaps mistakenly, that joint pain and problems arising out of use of aromatase inhibitors would be bilateral. I've tried to research the bilateral question as well as the "trigger finger" symptom but to no avail. Has anyone out there had the experience where the pain and achiness was not bilateral and/or the trigger finger joint symptoms? My PA says she's never heard of the trigger finger joint problem and my family doctor tells me to squeeze a rubber ball. GREAT! If anyone can shed any light, I'd be most grateful. Hugs, Marilynn

Comments

  • cruf
    cruf Member Posts: 908
    #2
    Trigger fingers
    Hi Marilyn! I was on Femara for 8 mos. and due to joint pain and trigger fingers, I switched to Aromasin and was no better. I had bilateral joint pains in both thumbs, and Rt heel and toes. My trigger thumbs got so bad I had to have them released(office procedure, not bad). I've been off all meds for just over 1 year and still have bil. thumb pain but now I have shoulder , knees and Rt heel pain.My Orthopedist disagrees that trigger fingers and joint pain are from the meds but I disagree. I must also have arthritis but none of these joints hurt pre meds except my Rt thumb.I did go for Occupational Therapy and did ex and have splints for nighttime but not comfortable sleeping with them.If you read all the prior threads here about joint pain you will see it's pretty common for all of us who are on meds. Treat them with tyelonal or motrin/advil and moist heat and hopefully, they won't interfere with your daily activities. If they continue to get worse, see an Orthopedist and see what he/she suggests.Good luck! Feel better! HUGS!! Cathy
  • mgm42
    mgm42 Member Posts: 491 Member
    #3
    cruf said:

    Trigger fingers
    Hi Marilyn! I was on Femara for 8 mos. and due to joint pain and trigger fingers, I switched to Aromasin and was no better. I had bilateral joint pains in both thumbs, and Rt heel and toes. My trigger thumbs got so bad I had to have them released(office procedure, not bad). I've been off all meds for just over 1 year and still have bil. thumb pain but now I have shoulder , knees and Rt heel pain.My Orthopedist disagrees that trigger fingers and joint pain are from the meds but I disagree. I must also have arthritis but none of these joints hurt pre meds except my Rt thumb.I did go for Occupational Therapy and did ex and have splints for nighttime but not comfortable sleeping with them.If you read all the prior threads here about joint pain you will see it's pretty common for all of us who are on meds. Treat them with tyelonal or motrin/advil and moist heat and hopefully, they won't interfere with your daily activities. If they continue to get worse, see an Orthopedist and see what he/she suggests.Good luck! Feel better! HUGS!! Cathy

    Thanks So Much...
    Cathy, thanks so much for your response. I thought I was going nuts! I knew about the joint pain, but the trigger finger was something I never anticipated. I had trigger finger once in my thumb and went to hand specialist who gave me a shot which took care of the problem - this was several years ago. So I was familiar with the symptoms, but thought I was really going cuckoo with this latest bout. I, too, believe its caused by the the AI and I suspect that no matter which one you switch to, if you're going to have side effects, you're going to have side effects. I hope you will get rid of all of your side effects soon. I have approximately 4 1/2 years left to go. Also, I don't think orthopedists are familiar enough with AI's and their side effects to make a judgment as to the cause of BC survivors joint problems. Plus, if we're on AI's, it means we are post-menopausal and therefore they just assume we have arthritis (old age disease LOL).

    Cathy, I can't thank you enough. You've saved my sanity. Hugs, Marilynn
  • cruf
    cruf Member Posts: 908
    #4
    mgm42 said:

    Thanks So Much...
    Cathy, thanks so much for your response. I thought I was going nuts! I knew about the joint pain, but the trigger finger was something I never anticipated. I had trigger finger once in my thumb and went to hand specialist who gave me a shot which took care of the problem - this was several years ago. So I was familiar with the symptoms, but thought I was really going cuckoo with this latest bout. I, too, believe its caused by the the AI and I suspect that no matter which one you switch to, if you're going to have side effects, you're going to have side effects. I hope you will get rid of all of your side effects soon. I have approximately 4 1/2 years left to go. Also, I don't think orthopedists are familiar enough with AI's and their side effects to make a judgment as to the cause of BC survivors joint problems. Plus, if we're on AI's, it means we are post-menopausal and therefore they just assume we have arthritis (old age disease LOL).

    Cathy, I can't thank you enough. You've saved my sanity. Hugs, Marilynn

    Sanity!
    Marilynn, I'm so glad I was able to make you feel somewhat relieved! With so many breast cancer patients and with so many side effects, one would think these MDs would have enough knowledge to help us.I guess in time, and with more education, this will be so commonplace that they will have some idea of how to prevent these symptoms or at least how to relieve the symptoms. I hope you feel better soon and that your symptoms don't get worse. Keep us updated. HUGS!! Cathy
  • Derbygirl
    Derbygirl Member Posts: 198
    #5
    cruf said:

    Sanity!
    Marilynn, I'm so glad I was able to make you feel somewhat relieved! With so many breast cancer patients and with so many side effects, one would think these MDs would have enough knowledge to help us.I guess in time, and with more education, this will be so commonplace that they will have some idea of how to prevent these symptoms or at least how to relieve the symptoms. I hope you feel better soon and that your symptoms don't get worse. Keep us updated. HUGS!! Cathy

    Preventing side effects of
    Preventing side effects of joint/bone problems while on Femara (started in December) is why my oncologist has recommended Glucosamine/Chondroitin twice a day. No aches or pains currently so I guess we'll see if it helps me. My bone scan prior to diagnosis of bc in 2008 was normal and I'm hoping it will stay that way also.
  • mgm42
    mgm42 Member Posts: 491 Member
    #6
    Derbygirl said:

    Preventing side effects of
    Preventing side effects of joint/bone problems while on Femara (started in December) is why my oncologist has recommended Glucosamine/Chondroitin twice a day. No aches or pains currently so I guess we'll see if it helps me. My bone scan prior to diagnosis of bc in 2008 was normal and I'm hoping it will stay that way also.

    Again, my thanks.
    Thanks for the information. I've heard that Glucosamine/Chondroitin usage was helpful. I see my doctor on the 12th of this month. I'm going to ask about it and the dosage. Thanks, again. Hugs, Marilynn

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