Letrozole: Anyone have muscle pain as a side effect?

I already had suffered for over 10 years with ME/CFS after battling a very bad second Lyme Infection with multiple coinfections. I fact, I was awarded full disability for both. The ME/CFS got so bad I was ed ridden 80% of my time, and the rest I could only use very restricted activity. The pain was endless. I also had spinal stenosis and a crushed vertebrae after a total car accident. Additionally, I suffered a very severe case of Endometriosis that began round age 13. Because it was unknown then, I got no help until many years later. I still have it, but because I am post-menopausal, no doctor will operate (more and more reliable studies show that this is not the case. Then 3 years ago I got Long COVID = more ME/CFS. I am now battling Inflammatory Breast Cancer, was prescribed Letrazole and zero additional pain medicine! I was told either take the Letrazole or stop it (and die of cacer). Pain management is a joke for acute severe chronic pain. Yoga, certificate acupuncture, massage, etc, may help a little, but I do have the money for any of those things. I never heard of a Cancer Hospital not giving pain meds. Yet I am at my second opinion hospital where it came down to the same mis-treatment. I was laughed at for suggestions, never once given a single choice into my care plan, and was manhandled by an ancient GYN who was rude to boot. Is this how the poor with Medicare get treated now? Or do all patients get mistreated like this?

Oh! God Help Us All!

@godhelpusall: I hear you, I almost feel your pain and ache for you... I am so sorry for all your sufferings through the decades!

As most of us probably have experienced this personally, that just about all medications have side-effects or our bodies' reactions to them... In my case, my main goal is to keep those hormone-fueled cancerous cells from popping out anywhere in my body so I strive on taking AI's medicine and mitigating any pains that come with it along the way. It is not an ideal situation, but this is part of my journey...

Wishing you all a blessed holiday season with peace of mind, joyous gathering with your loved ones, and hope for a healthier and happier New Year!

I have been on Letrozole for 1.5 years. First I got 3 trigger fingers in each hand. Had surgery on my right hand since I'm right handed but chose not to address left hand since I have lymphedema following my left mastectomy. One trigger thumb resolved itself on the left hand but now my right hand/wrist is really painful. If this continues, I'll lose functionality entirely so I stopped 2 weeks ago. Since most of the AIs have similar side effects, looks like I'm going on Tamoxifen. I'm 67 with stage 3 C estrogen receptive cancer.

Dear Karla:

I am so sorry for what you've been through for more than 1.5 years:( I almost feel your pain because I experienced similar aches and pains from taking one of the AIs also...

Have you tried physical therapy/occupational therapy to resolve these painful issues yet? They helped me tremendously! Here is my story... I started taking Anastrozole on 1/18/24; experienced loads of awful side effects such as: joint pain, trigger fingers, muscle pain all over my body, back pain, etc., almost immediately after taking this AI medicine. Apparently my old body still needs hormones to function adequately! Due to the fact that I declined the radiation treatments against my oncologists' recommendation already, I decided to continue taking Anastrozole - like you said, all AIs have similar side-effects, my cancerous cells are ER95%+, PR+, and Her2-, and taking any AIs is the only avenue for me to keep those hormone-fueled cancerous cells from popping up anywhere in my body:(. Toward the end of February, I developed an acute Lumbar spine issue, MRI showed troublesome issues along my Lumbar Spine, and my medical Oncologist referred me to a Spinal surgeon! I turned to my primary care physician for help, because the thought of spinal surgery sent chills to my bone:( Fortunately for me, my kind-hearted PCP recommended PT/OT for cancer patients' rehab for me to strengthen my weakened back, muscles, bones, & aching joints and gradually keep my fingers moving daily. The aches and pains are still there with much less intensity, but at least I can perform my daily functions normally.

Sorry for such a lengthy note, but I simply wish to share with you my personal struggling experiences to show there's hope to mitigate pain under any circumstances. Please bring up all your side-effects and discuss with your physicians - especially your PCP - to see if they'd recommend any viable solutions for you.

Best wishes to you all for the new year!