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Bravo's avatar
Bravo
Member
5 years ago

Achy hips

I have been on the AI drug Anastrozole for 3 years. And since I can’t get to a pool for therapeutic walking in water at the moment, I’ve noticed that my hips are aching a lot. The doc got me to have an MRI which showed all was good, so we are assuming it’s the AI drug. 
I’m 64, ten years past menopause. I walk a lot. I exercise fairly consistently.
Does anyone have any advice on how to cope with this unrelenting ache? 
Is it an inflammation issue? Does anybody actually know what the chemical/mechanical process is that’s  causing it? In my case there is no bone loss, arthritis, etc. Just aching pain.

14 Replies

  • If you can walk, it does help.  It may be worth seeing a physio/exercise physiologist who understands cancer to get a programme for exercise.  It does help to get the right exercise, targeting the right area.
  • @Bravo

    I too am having  aches and pains in my shoulders, hips and joint particularly fingers ever since I started with Letrozole and Soladex. It also affects my quality of life. These are some of the things I do that helps me manage some of the pain and discomfort.

    * I do some stretching to help with my joints particularly after I wake up in the morning or whenever I feel my joints are achy.
    *When I have time, I have magnesium salt bath for 20 or 30 minutes( water not too hot) or just soak my hands for 20 minutes ( temperature that I can tolerate)
    * If I cannot have a bath, I use magnesium oil that I massage on my achy joints.
    * I wear crafter's comfort gloves, I find that mild compression gloves helps in easing joint pain on my fingers especially at night.
    * when the pain is bad, I see a physiotherapist.
    * sometimes, I massage my shoulder and hips then apply Voltaren gel or arnica ointment 
    * using hot compress helps too
    * most often I drink Calm magnesium supplement before bed to help relax my muscle and sleep.

    I hope  these tips are going to be helpful in easing your achy hips and joints.
  • Thanks @iserbrown for the heads up - Yes, @Bravo - I have the same problem but just the left hip.  I DO have a history of arthritis & the bones & joints are showing wear & tear, plus I have bulging discs - but it doesn't stop me from being relatively active in my kayak (in particular, which is a pedal kayak.)

    I am late 60s & been on AIs for 2.5 years, on Anastrozole for the last 2 years.

    I recently had a bone scan and CT of the area & it shows nothing 'sinister' .... but the pain is still there.  I've had it for over 3 months now.  I am going for an ultrasound in 2 weeks, to see if it is bursitis.  My shoulders have both been hurting too - I am having an US on the left one the same time as the left hip - the right one had an US a few weeks back, with nothing sinister to show.

    Someone had mentioned 'infected bursitis' as well ... tho the Dr yesterday said I didn't have any infection or it would be way more painful than it is.  Mine affects me more at night (when I roll over) tho we have 16 steps in the house & I feel it a bit when going up the stairs, less so than going down.

    MRI/CT checks bones rather than tissue - so maybe ask for an ultrasound or even an xray? The bursitis will show up as a white blob.  I have actually had one there in the past from 2 injuries - but that was 10+ years ago and I am not aware of any recent injuries.

    All the best - keep jumping up & down til you get an answer .....  my bottomline fear is always that it may be mets. :(