The last two weekends at work have been dreadful. The pain in my legs at the end of the day was so bad I could only hobble and the drive home was agonising. Even in bed I couldn't find a comfortable position so I took the plunge and made an appointment at the doctors. This morning I had the x rays and only minimal arthritis was found but the bones are a bit thin so the doctor then ordered an MRI and a bone density test. Had the MRI this afternoon but the results won't come to the doctors surgery for 2 days. I have the Bone Density test on Wednesday afternoon so should have all results by then. My doctor has written a letter to the onc suggesting I come off the Arimidex as it seems that is the problem. I am OK in the mornings but by the time I get to mid afternoon the pain starts and gets worse and worse until I can't walk. I even tried sitting on a stool as much as possible but still no good. I thought I could last the course but I'm not so sure any more. I first thought it was bone cancer but nothing showed on the x-rays.... .much relief!!!!

my doctor suggested I start either Tamoifan or one that sounds like Faro????something. I really thought I was going okay with the pain only happening intermittently but now it is settling in every time I go to work and stand for any length of time. I am seeing the onc in Feb and hopefully she will listen to me this time Lynne XX

Hi Lynne, how long have you been on Arimidex, and do you mind me asking how old you are? I was very interested in what you were saying about your side effects, yours too Leonie. I too am fed up with the side effects of these Aromatose inhibitors. I have been on Femara now since the end of August, and for a several months I didn't have too many troubles, but now I'm well and truely over it. I hate this drug. I have leg pain all day now, not terribly bad, but really annoying because it doesn't let up. My hips hurt, especially on bed, and my fingers are very stiff in the morning and I can't easily make a fist, and I am developing trigger fingers in some fingers. When I stand up after sitting for any length of time, I hobble like an old lady, but I'm only 53, and my plantar fascititis which was finally cured 6 months ago has started to flare up again. I hate the insomnia that also accompanies this, so at night I am struggling. Because of my tissue expanders, I find it hard to sleep comfortably anyway, and so all these side effects seem magnified during the many hours that I try to fall asleep, and of course the horrid hot flushes just add to my woes. I will start my fish oil tablets again, soon after my final surgery tomorrow, but with my tendency towards hematomas, I will need a few more weeks off it. I do think they have helped, as my femara side effect have been at their worse these last few weeks, and that is the time frame that I have been off the fish oil. I wish you both well with your side effects, and hope that they will lessen sooner rather than later. Love Chris xx

Hi Chris, I have been on Arimidex since August 2010. I was ok to start with but the side effects have increased very gradually. To start with i had mild nausea, quite bad headaches and my joints (hips, hands, shoulders etc) were uncomfortable but OK. 18 months later i still have mild waves of nausea that last a couple of minutes, headaches which as soon as I feel one coming on I kill it with Nurofen and these !#$%^ joint pains. At the moment i am fine but if I stand or walk around for 20 minutes or so the legs start to ache. And get worse and worse! I am 61 years old (62 next month) and I have always ben a keen walker. I think Femara was the other option recommended by my doctor. I will blog my results when I get them in a couple of days. I hope your recovery is quick and the side effects die down. If you think your hot flushes are bad, try getting them in a fast food shop in Brisbane over the summer months! Love, Lynne Xx

Hi Chris, all the pain you described is the same for me. The "trigger" finger seems to be lasting longer each day now. Each morning I have to straighten the fingers all out and there is one that is particularly stiff. It makes going to the toilet first thing in the morning quiite an issue - really funny pulling up knickers!!!!. I try not to sit still too long as it is very difficult getting up. I must say that the pain has lessened in the last month but is still with me. The one thing I "forgot" about when I first started Arimidex in Dec 2010 was the hot feelings. I used to say that I was cooking from the inside out - don't seem to have that now but am always tired. My husband says "If you say you're tired one more time.........!!" I have just been reading the Verve Magazine which is put out by the producers of Arimidex and noted the reference to using fish oil/cod liver oil and pain relief (Brufen, Nurofen, Naprosen) It can interact with these drugs and the side effect can be bleeding. This is the last thing I need as I have a Factor XI deficiency which means that my blood doesn't clot!!!!. It just goes on and on. I am going to try and go back to Yoga this Thursday. Should be an hiliarious sight as I have no strength in my hands and the legs don't work!!!!! Can you imagine "downward dog"????? Anyway the Yoga instructor said that by just being in the class "I could get the goodvibes". XLeonie

Can imagine how hot it is for you. It would be horrendous. I live in Rockhampton and yesterday we cooked. I am presently sitting in my loungeroom in the air conditioning and feeling guilty as my husband is working on a shutdown at the local meatworks and he will be frying!!!. I am forunate that I have been on Income Protection payments for the last 13 months. Unfortunately these will end at the end of this month. I am going to resign after my annual leave entitlements finish in February and take my super. At this stage I am hoping that I will be well enough to resume work about July. These pains need to subside a bit though. Hoping for some cooler weather for you. XLeonie

too much pain | BCNA Online Network

25 Replies

Leonie_Moore
Member
14 years ago
Can imagine how hot it is for you. It would be horrendous. I live in Rockhampton and yesterday we cooked. I am presently sitting in my loungeroom in the air conditioning and feeling guilty as my husband is working on a shutdown at the local meatworks and he will be frying!!!. I am forunate that I have been on Income Protection payments for the last 13 months. Unfortunately these will end at the end of this month. I am going to resign after my annual leave entitlements finish in February and take my super. At this stage I am hoping that I will be well enough to resume work about July. These pains need to subside a bit though. Hoping for some cooler weather for you. XLeonie
Leonie_Moore
Member
14 years ago
Can imagine how hot it is for you. It would be horrendous. I live in Rockhampton and yesterday we cooked. I am presently sitting in my loungeroom in the air conditioning and feeling guilty as my husband is working on a shutdown at the local meatworks and he will be frying!!!. I am forunate that I have been on Income Protection payments for the last 13 months. Unfortunately these will end at the end of this month. I am going to resign after my annual leave entitlements finish in February and take my super. At this stage I am hoping that I will be well enough to resume work about July. These pains need to subside a bit though. Hoping for some cooler weather for you. XLeonie
Leonie_Moore
Member
14 years ago
Hi Chris, all the pain you described is the same for me. The "trigger" finger seems to be lasting longer each day now. Each morning I have to straighten the fingers all out and there is one that is particularly stiff. It makes going to the toilet first thing in the morning quiite an issue - really funny pulling up knickers!!!!. I try not to sit still too long as it is very difficult getting up. I must say that the pain has lessened in the last month but is still with me. The one thing I "forgot" about when I first started Arimidex in Dec 2010 was the hot feelings. I used to say that I was cooking from the inside out - don't seem to have that now but am always tired. My husband says "If you say you're tired one more time.........!!" I have just been reading the Verve Magazine which is put out by the producers of Arimidex and noted the reference to using fish oil/cod liver oil and pain relief (Brufen, Nurofen, Naprosen) It can interact with these drugs and the side effect can be bleeding. This is the last thing I need as I have a Factor XI deficiency which means that my blood doesn't clot!!!!. It just goes on and on. I am going to try and go back to Yoga this Thursday. Should be an hiliarious sight as I have no strength in my hands and the legs don't work!!!!! Can you imagine "downward dog"????? Anyway the Yoga instructor said that by just being in the class "I could get the goodvibes". XLeonie
Lyn11
Member
14 years ago
Hi Chris, I have been on Arimidex since August 2010. I was ok to start with but the side effects have increased very gradually. To start with i had mild nausea, quite bad headaches and my joints (hips, hands, shoulders etc) were uncomfortable but OK. 18 months later i still have mild waves of nausea that last a couple of minutes, headaches which as soon as I feel one coming on I kill it with Nurofen and these !#$%^ joint pains. At the moment i am fine but if I stand or walk around for 20 minutes or so the legs start to ache. And get worse and worse! I am 61 years old (62 next month) and I have always ben a keen walker.

I think Femara was the other option recommended by my doctor. I will blog my results when I get them in a couple of days.

I hope your recovery is quick and the side effects die down. If you think your hot flushes are bad, try getting them in a fast food shop in Brisbane over the summer months!

Love, Lynne Xx
Chris
Member
14 years ago
Hi Lynne, how long have you been on Arimidex, and do you mind me asking how old you are? I was very interested in what you were saying about your side effects, yours too Leonie. I too am fed up with the side effects of these Aromatose inhibitors. I have been on Femara now since the end of August, and for a several months I didn't have too many troubles, but now I'm well and truely over it. I hate this drug. I have leg pain all day now, not terribly bad, but really annoying because it doesn't let up. My hips hurt, especially on bed, and my fingers are very stiff in the morning and I can't easily make a fist, and I am developing trigger fingers in some fingers. When I stand up after sitting for any length of time, I hobble like an old lady, but I'm only 53, and my plantar fascititis which was finally cured 6 months ago has started to flare up again. I hate the insomnia that also accompanies this, so at night I am struggling. Because of my tissue expanders, I find it hard to sleep comfortably anyway, and so all these side effects seem magnified during the many hours that I try to fall asleep, and of course the horrid hot flushes just add to my woes. I will start my fish oil tablets again, soon after my final surgery tomorrow, but with my tendency towards hematomas, I will need a few more weeks off it. I do think they have helped, as my femara side effect have been at their worse these last few weeks, and that is the time frame that I have been off the fish oil. I wish you both well with your side effects, and hope that they will lessen sooner rather than later. Love Chris xx
Lyn11
Member
14 years ago
my doctor suggested I start either Tamoifan or one that sounds like Faro????something. I really thought I was going okay with the pain only happening intermittently but now it is settling in every time I go to work and stand for any length of time. I am seeing the onc in Feb and hopefully she will listen to me this time

Lynne XX

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