Well it has been 4 months including 6 weeks of physio and daily stretching exercises and my tennis elbow is still dreadful.I can’t recall any significant event that initiated it but am starting to think hormone therapy may be the culprit as have read members on her discussing carpal tunnel , trigger thumb and other tendon related issues.Anyway I found this newish article on the subject and thought may be of interest.Just curious is anyone else out there experiencing similar ?I am weighing up revisiting my GP who probably will suggest cortisone injection for pain relief or visiting my oncologist and suggesting a MRI.Btw I take Sandoz brand Letrozole .I include the brand as I still believe fillers and coatings impact on our well being .I have been on Letrozole since 8/17 and I would have said managing ok until now.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6120376/

Interesting article. And read with interest because my elbows are increasingly sore and tender. It almost feels like they're bruised.This bit made me snort:"In every case of a female patient with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer under treatment with AIs and arthralgia, an MRI should be performed in order to exclude the presence of tendinopathy or muscle tendon rupture."Yeah, right, like that's gonna happen!

And fatigue forgetfulness and poor 'sleep hygiene' are RARE. Yep I'm yelling. WFT with the hygiene thing? Yeh, I know it's a medical term, but it implies if we (the rare affected) could just clean up our act we'd be all better!

Does anyone ever get the feeling that the medicos are so excited about AIs that the persistent buzzing of patients with side effects is an annoyance?I have stiffness in my joints and in the soft tissue around the long bones - I have no idea whether muscular, tendons or ligaments since taking Letrozole. I also have a long existing ACL injury to my left knee which I have successfully managed since it became more of an issue for me about 10 years ago. All of a sudden, without any incident occurring, it has become painful when I move it. And yes, @kmakm I also have elbows that feel constantly bruised and the backs of my hands and wrists are sore.I had a bath last night and the contortions I had to go into to get in and out were ridiculous - I was actually thinking that the rails they put on the side would be in order... I'm 55 and was quite able before the meds.I'm not game to discontinue the Letrozole but I do wish there was more acceptance that it doesn't come easily.

Thanks Kate! I am so looking forward to it. I'll be able to prune the roses and do lots of other things with litlle or no discomfort...i hope! My biggest problem might be to not over do it.@arpie have a good time at Thredbo. We're hoping for another ripper of a season here at Falls Creek.

@arpie my right thumb was doing exactly what you describe (gets stuck in straight position, bends with pain and then gets stuck in bent position) and my left ring finger and thumb were heading in that direction too. I have been off Letrozole since 1 Feb (taken off it by my oncologist who confirmed that tendon issues are a side effect). Started Tamoxifen again in March as advised by my onc. The thumb is a lot better but still triggering at times. The pain is hugely better and I have strength back in my thumb. Can even open ring pull cans again etc. I had acupuncture (4 treatments) which helped I believe. The other thumb and ring finger are fine now but it remains to be seen if the right thumb will ever fully fix itself. But I have little pain and much improved functionality and strength. It was so bad on Letrozole that I could not even sign my name.These issues developed suddenly after 3 years on Letrozole.

Hormone therapy and tendon issues

44 Replies

Romla
Member
7 years ago
I think it attacks spots in our body where there is greater usage and hence possible weakness @arpie
arpie
Member
7 years ago
I’ll be hearing from my Onc a week after I return from Thredbo (not looking forward to the extreme cold tho! My Nimbin bits most likely won’t arrive till after we leave for the snow!).... and then the decision will be made to either stay on exemestane or try anastrozole ... all dependent on how I describe my 4 week break. So far it is mixed. On the whole, my body isn’t too bad (tho I wonder if I am just getting used to it!) It is mainly my hands, which appear to be worse.
kmakm
Member
7 years ago
@Artferret When I had a month off it took 12 days for the ankle pain to go, and another few days for the hand pain to go. The hand pain hasn't come back as bad (though I'm dreading the cold) , and the elbow tenderness is new since I went back on. Ankles the same as ever, big toe and foot bones in general are now sore, and the pain is worse in my calves and knees, which I notice in bed at night. Weirdly, the coccyx pain hasn't returned since the break. I'll take a win, no matter how small. A two month break sounds like bliss. Enjoy. K xox
Artferret
Member
7 years ago
I'm having a 'holiday' starting June for 2 months. I'll let you know how i go, @Romla. I think what made me laugh at my last onco appt was when I asked her how long would it take for the side effects to ease...she said less than a week...after hearing from various people here it takes longer than that! I should have laughed out loud rather than silently! I hope my hands and wrists ease up esp now that my left hand is rapidly catching up to my right😤
Loved your getting into the car comment @Sister ...i can sooo relate to that.
Romla
Member
7 years ago
Oh - I did read they said 6-8 week break to get out of system so maybe it’s still lingering.Will be interested to hear if things improve.
arpie
Member
7 years ago
2 weeks in without AIs and my main problem, my hands, are just as bad, maybe even worse! :(
Romla
Member
7 years ago
Also if anyone has temporarily stopped their AI has it helped ?
Romla
Member
7 years ago
If we are acknowledging joint/muscle/tendon issues from hormone therapy - are there things we as individuals have done that have helped us even for a little ? For my elbow the brace helps when something is awkward or heavy , heat and cold packs help a bit plus some stretching of the tendon daily helps.
kmakm
Member
7 years ago
:s
Sister
Member
7 years ago
I was goingto pick up my son this morning and drove past an elderly woman trying to get out of the driver's seat of a car on the side of the road. She had to have a few goes at it before being able to stand. And then it occurred to me...that's exactly what I look like now.

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Hormone therapy and tendon issues

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