Joint Pain

I’m on Tamoxifen and Zoladex and I also get joint pain. My nutritionist recommended that I take 5 milligrams each day of high strength fish oil. I find that if I take that each day and exercise regularly I hardly get any joint pain - in fact I actually feel normal again. Although when I don’t take it regularly my joint pain comes back.
This is what I take: https://www.bioceuticals.com.au/mobile/preview/UltraClean-85-Liquid/products_b.BioCeuticals

I have been one of those who has had really debilitating pain on Letrozole which I started taking in August 2018 - joints, muscles, tendons - the works.  I keep injuring myself without knowing how.  So far, my left shoulder has escaped any effects.  It has also caused osteo-arthritis in my hands; something that would have probably happened 20 years down the track but I'm certainly not ready for it yet.  I had bursitis in my right shoulder last year and no idea what I did to cause it.  I was surprised when, at last visit, my oncologist said that seeing how badly it affected me, he didn't think I would last the first year on Letrozole.  But I'm too pig-headed for my own good, I guess.  For me, and I'm not saying this should be the case for anyone else, if I was going to take something and suffer side effects then I wanted to be taking the one with the best results for my sub-type (ILC) and that is Letrozole.  So as long as I could endure it, that was my thinking.  I am glad to say that a combination of regular pain-killers, some not so regular pain management, and a couple of goes on prednisolone when it got too bad, has seen me out the other side of the worst of the side effects.  I still ache and hobble after sitting or sleeping.  I am hyper-prone to injury and the arthritis in my hands has not gone away.  But the constant high level pain has mostly subsided.  I still need pain relief on some days but not every day.

But I do want to stress to anyone reading this who may have AIs in their future, it does not affect everyone this way.  I was one of the unlucky ones.

Pretty similar @arpie, my hands hurt too, mainly my fingers. Not as much as my feet and legs, but still painful. And this morning, when I woke up, I felt numb in the tips of my right hand fingers. That’s how it started on the Letrozole the first time, until it eventually developed into carpal tunnel 😳. So same thing seems to be repeating. I was hoping to avoid surgery for carpal tunnel. 

Gosh, @FLClover - just like you, my legs, feet and hands took the brunt of it on both Letrozole and Exemestane (it gradually got worse & worse til at 6 months I wanted to stop.)  I was put on short doses of Prednisone when it got really bad - but that is not good for your bones, so shouldn't be relied on.  I couldn't even play my ukulele at one stage!!  grrrr

I am MUCH better now tho, on the Arimidex!  If you are in discomfort & pain, give it a go!  I am much happier on it! xx

Hi @arpie, yes I’ve seen you write that before, but I got mixed up and thought the Exemestane was the third good one you’d tried. I was so happy when onco suggested it, until I read that it was the Arimidex that was best 😆😆🤦🏼‍♀️. 

Great to hear, @Dory65 ... long May it last!

Same happened to me, @FLClover ... short time on Letrozole, then took 6 months on Exemestane to reach the same level of discomfort as Letrozole.  Been on Arimidex for 2.5 years now and going ok!   

Take care ladies xx

Hey @Dory65
I was on Letrozole for a few months and had sore joints and muscles, plus carpal tunnel. About two months ago  I switched to Exemestane. All my pains and aches disappeared. I got injections in my wrists, and after a few weeks they were also back to normal. Obviously, I got very happy. 

Hi friends,
re. my recent switch, after nine months on Letrozole (Femara), to Exemestane (Aromasin) - to reduce joint/bone pain. 
I don't want to speak too soon, but I can report a noticeable reduction in joint stiffness and overall pain. It's not completely gone, but definitely bearable in comparison. :)

Unfortunately, @Blossom1961- the Gov didn't co-ordinate their legislation with the companies that make the oil, or the pharmacies that sell it.  It will be at least 6 months before it is available, they reckon - and it won't be cheap.

Companies HAVE been growing it for a few years now ...... in hidden locations! ;) 

@arpie I understand you can now buy CBD oil over the counter without a script. HOWEVER, no-one has any because it has been illegal to grow it!
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/cbd-oil-cannabidiol-now-available-over-the-counter-in-australian-pharmacies/news-story/c5e516bdc8bd6639163d5e39453a7927