Remedies for Joint Discomfort/Pain on AI ( Anastrozole)

Posted by anjalima @anjalima, Jun 22, 2023

Anyone find relief with supplemental remedies such as Collagen or Glucosamine or Cherry Juice?

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@rosa1935

Thank you and I will take a note if that med, but I don’t have a prob with my back, and my back is what I’m concentrating on, when I’m sitting down it in bed at night. My problem is I can’t walk fir long distance, can’t stand for more than a couple mins. ❤️

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Can’t walk for any distance and can’t stand in place for more than a minute! That’s me!

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@ginip

Hi Rosa1935
My ongoing connection to this sharing relationship with all in this forum has tested my thoughts and decisions as I bounced around trying to come to some action that made sense to me. To remind me each day what my goal was I would write at the top of my date book how far away I was from the quality of life I believed was acceptable.

After many months of taking Anastrozole my side effects began and my daily calendar went from 100% slowly down. I went from deciding to work through each side effect with all the remedies I could come across for each issue - to realizing there were some side effects that were going to be part of my life going forward.

My right knee pain never left me and was told by all (both medical and anyone else who was kind enough to listen) that it was no doubt arthritis. When I researched arthritis there were a few suggested ways of dealing with that but was no ‘cure’.
The first week in April my doctor approved. 3 month hiatus. Immediately side effects such as chapped lips, cankers my mouth, carpel tunnel feelings in my hands, sleep issues, unexplained sadness, hair loss went away! The muscle/bone side effect continued and made me panic that if this indeed was arthritis- I was destined to endure this going forward in spite of Anastrozole. Fortunately my brain fog had gone and I was able to think!! I read that this particular side effect took much longer to go away after stopping and I waited. One and a half weeks ago I woke up and and had only a little pain in my leg/knee. Slowly each day has allowed me to believe this debilitating side effect may be gone. I have read nothing that gives arthritis this characteristic.
I think all of my advisors were willing to find logic in the arthritis option when there were viable alternatives to that theory.
For all those who have done fine on Anastrozole, I am envious!! There is just a vast majority of women who have suffered because of it and have had to work too hard to be listened to.

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You may have seen my comments on rivaroxaban. I’m in a quandary- the more I investigate my meds , the more I’m confused. I’ve stopped and started Anastrozole, over the last few weeks, I’m back
In it again now, cos I’m really worried at the mo in case my back
Pain is a secondary cancer and logically, going back
On Anastrozole, won’t solve that prob. I’ll wait now till
I’ve got results of mri to change my meds. No point in changing them now. I’ve never had MRI b4, and I fought for it, so
I’m a bit nervous of it, but it has to b done. I’m also, now, worried that rivaroxaban is causing all my probs st the mo. My oncologist is useless and he signed me offend of March 2022. If
I ever, and it’s noted in my emails to my gp surgery, I will never, ever want him ever again. A man who never listens, a man when I woukd question
What he was saying, cos even back in June 2021 when I met him to discuss chemo, I had done some homework on what I might have to go through, he dismissed everything I said.!! Let it b said now - I’m an ‘expert’to what meds affect me and I don’t want some little arrogant man, tell me what and how my body is reacting to my meds! There a saying, and I’m not going to quote it right, it’s something like ‘ before you decide what I do, walk in my shoes’ definitely half right!! 🤣anyway, I just want to get over the MRI on this. Thanks fir reading and
I know, you are listening, too xx

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You go girl!!!!
Please let me know how you do with the MRI. I had one a bit ago Not bad just tedious!!!

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@rosa1935

You may have seen my comments on rivaroxaban. I’m in a quandary- the more I investigate my meds , the more I’m confused. I’ve stopped and started Anastrozole, over the last few weeks, I’m back
In it again now, cos I’m really worried at the mo in case my back
Pain is a secondary cancer and logically, going back
On Anastrozole, won’t solve that prob. I’ll wait now till
I’ve got results of mri to change my meds. No point in changing them now. I’ve never had MRI b4, and I fought for it, so
I’m a bit nervous of it, but it has to b done. I’m also, now, worried that rivaroxaban is causing all my probs st the mo. My oncologist is useless and he signed me offend of March 2022. If
I ever, and it’s noted in my emails to my gp surgery, I will never, ever want him ever again. A man who never listens, a man when I woukd question
What he was saying, cos even back in June 2021 when I met him to discuss chemo, I had done some homework on what I might have to go through, he dismissed everything I said.!! Let it b said now - I’m an ‘expert’to what meds affect me and I don’t want some little arrogant man, tell me what and how my body is reacting to my meds! There a saying, and I’m not going to quote it right, it’s something like ‘ before you decide what I do, walk in my shoes’ definitely half right!! 🤣anyway, I just want to get over the MRI on this. Thanks fir reading and
I know, you are listening, too xx

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Just wait for MRI and get feedback from that. More info is always a help. Keep me updated ❤️

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@ginip

Just wait for MRI and get feedback from that. More info is always a help. Keep me updated ❤️

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That’s what im going to do. It’s only a few days away . Thank u x

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Thank you for such a well-written description of your anastrozole reactions and your responses. It helped me believe I am less of a hypochondriac re: that drug and it's adversities.

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@mglinkhart

I have been using Non drowsy Claritin for bone pain and it works well. I take Anastrozole this time. My first round of cancer I was on exemestaine snd had horrible bone pain but didn’t know about the Claritin then.

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So you had a reoccurrence while on AI? May I ask how it was picked up? xox

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@semurrey

So you had a reoccurrence while on AI? May I ask how it was picked up? xox

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I felt a hard pea size nodule while drying off after a shower. It was at the bottom of my breast between skin and implant. I immediately had it observed and diagnosed by biopsy . Heading to surgery in next few weeks.

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Try osteo bi flex. My oncology nurse kept pushing it so I finally tried it has really helped.

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@anjalima

Interesting. Wonder what the mechanism is there? Thank you. Dosage?

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I saw my oncologist on Friday, and she recommended the cherry juice and acupuncture which I'm going to try. I've never heard of trying claritin. that is interesting and I will probably give it a try. thank you!

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