Forum Discussion

Sister's avatar
Sister
Member
6 years ago

Letrozole and Prednisolone

I posted on another discussion thread the other day that my oncologist was very unhappy with the joint pain that has gradually crept in over the 8 months or so that I've been on Letrozole.  As well as okaying painkillers, he gave me a first option of prednisolone over 7 days to see how it would work.  I took my first one this morning, hoping that it would make a perceptible difference and that I might see some improvement by the weekend.  I got up from my desk at midday and walked across the office - shocked that I thought about the process after I had already taken a few steps.  Tonight, during dinner, I got up from the table to let the cat out.  To make it clearer, I just stood up in one motion and started walking.  Last night, to get up from the table took me swinging around sideways in the chair, painfully levering myself up using the table and bench for support, getting my balance, then slowly straightening my body over the course of a number of hobbling steps.  I turned around to go back to the table and saw one of the kids with her mouth open - "Mum! You just got up to let the cat out - did you realise that!"

I feel overwhelmed...I don't know what I feel...  I knew it was bad but I don't think I realised how restrictive it has become.  I'm scared in case it's some anomaly.  I'm scared to hope that it will keep improving and that the improvement will continue after the course is finished.  I'm not sure I can go back to feeling the way I was.

I'm not saying that I'm pain-free.  My legs are really aching after a day at work and my joints are still sore but they're sore in a way that I can feel it, not stiffening up and sore in a way that I can't actually do anything.
coping
hormone-therapy
side-effects
treatment
  • Shakalker's avatar
    Shakalker
    Member
    6 years ago
    I am 4 months into Letrazole, I have developed trigger finger in both middle fingers and the joints there are now stiff and sore, some days my knees are very stiff and sore to bend and go up stairs, my right hip gives me constant discomfort, physiotherapist says it is bursitis.
    I make the effort to go to Curves Monday to Friday in the hope of keeping it all moving and help with the calcium absorption into my bones.
    My worst problem is exhaustion.
  • Sister's avatar
    Sister
    Member
    6 years ago
    I think you can only go into it assuming that you will be okay and you quite possibly will be.  
  • GJH_104's avatar
    GJH_104
    Member
    6 years ago
    I am about to start Letrozole and the fear of joint and muscle pain is one of the things that has made me take so long to decide to do anything. I had horrendous pain when I was on Arimidex after my initial diagnosis.  I ended up stopping it completely with the thought it was better to have quality rather than quantity of life if that was what I had to endure.  Hopefully my fears are going to be ungrounded and it won't be the same this time round.
  • kmakm's avatar
    kmakm
    Member
    6 years ago
    I had to be helped off the floor on Thursday when I got down to pick up the contents of my handbag that I'd scattered to all corners (no tampons any more...) and had to be helped up because there was nothing firm around on which to haul myself up... This was not the case a year ago.
  • Sister's avatar
    Sister
    Member
    6 years ago
    Day 2, yesterday.  I squatted (in low heels) to shelve books on the bottom shelf.  Prior to that it had to be a controlled fall onto hands and knees then a desperate search for something stable to pull myself up again.
  • kmakm's avatar
    kmakm
    Member
    6 years ago
    I'm following this very closely @Sister as I suspect I'll be having a similar conversation with my oncologist when I next see her. I hope you get a good outcome.
  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    6 years ago
    The rheumatologist has suggested I consider and if my shoulders are an issue when I'm reviewed in 2 months I will. 
    I'm so happy you've had a good response. It is a wonder drug at times. 
  • Deanne's avatar
    Deanne
    Member
    6 years ago
    I really hope that you can find a way to permanently improve things @Sister. Quality of life is so important. The thing is if simple movement becomes easier then you move more and the benefits build upon themselves. Fingers crossed for you.
  • arpie's avatar
    arpie
    Member
    6 years ago
    I found the prednisone really helped me almost immediately in February for my uke group performance.... I wish they could sort out a better regime of taking it long term, to give us better quality of life