BC, arimidex and RA?

cathdavis
cathdavis Member Posts: 42
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I have been on arimidex for about a yr and a half. Now, due to wrist pain and trigger fingers they orthop. dr thinks I may have RA. Could my speeded up bone loss from arimidex cause or exacerbate a condition like this? Could this just be bone pain like some have said they get taking arimidex? Has anyone experienced this or anything like it?
Thanks. Cathy

Comments

  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    #2
    RA- I am guessing rheumatoid arthritis is what you are referring to. I am no doctor but have been around awhile - like 66 years - and met a lot of doctors - some who shrug everything off and others who guess the worst first. It's unlikely you would get RA from Arimidex - most likely you have been overworking your hand/wrist - think of what you do daily in the line of housework etc. I had a trigger finger ( thumb) in 1988 - so bad it clicked twice when I moved it - saw a hand surgeon who predicted dire things for ALL my fingers. Well, they are all still working and one shot from this guy of dexamethasone or some such cortisone fixed the thumb - still good.

    Had arthritis in the base of same thumb some years ago - just left me as I got lymphedema in my hand - especially in poor old same thumb.

    Wishing you just a simple explanation and not RA. Let us know how your problem works out.

    Best,
    Jean
  • Kathy713
    Kathy713 Member Posts: 6
    #3
    I was diagnosed with RA in 2000. Thankfully, I am still on low doses of medications. I've had terrible trouble with my right wrist -pain and fingers going numb. My doctor and I agreed that it was carpel tunnel related and she suggested that I sleep at night in a wrist splint. After only a couple of weeks, there is improvement.
    Kathy713
  • LisaBe
    LisaBe Member Posts: 1
    #4
    Kathy713 said:

    I was diagnosed with RA in 2000. Thankfully, I am still on low doses of medications. I've had terrible trouble with my right wrist -pain and fingers going numb. My doctor and I agreed that it was carpel tunnel related and she suggested that I sleep at night in a wrist splint. After only a couple of weeks, there is improvement.
    Kathy713

    Cathy,
    I have been on Arimidex since September of this year and have very bad joint/bone pain. I am 43 years old and did not have this problem prior to BC. At first my Onc said the pain was arthritis but when I went back to him last week he said he wasn't sure. I went to my GP and she said she knew I didn't have RA because my hands don't swell up. I have pain in my hands but they don't swell up. She also didn't think I have OA because of my age. I have been posting on breastcancer.org and most of the women (90%)on Arimidex have experienced joint or bone pain. Many of them say the pain goes away with time. For some reason Drs are afraid to admit Arimidex causes the bone pain. I talked to a pharmacist that says it does. I guess because Arimidex is still fairly new there is not enough information on it. I looked up Arimidex on the internet and it says: "Joint and bone pain have been reported". My GP told me to wait a couple more months to see if the pain goes away. If it doesn't my Onc is willing to switch me to something else. Ibuprofen and exercise help so I will keep on doing that for a while. Let your Dr know about the Arimidex and see what he thinks. Good luck to you and I will keep you in my prayers. Lisa.

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