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Aromatase Inhibitors & carpal tunnel and trigger finger: Anyone?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Mar 24 8:34am | Replies (74)Comment receiving replies
Dear Friends,
1.5 years ago I had cancer removed from my left breast. Following radiation, I went on Anatrazole. It caused trigger fingers in my right hand (thumb and middle fingers) also plantar fasciitis in my left foot. My risk was VERY low so I went off of it and chose not to go back on an AI - my trigger fingers eased and the thumb trigger went away entirely and plantar fasciitis. I tried some more "natural cancer therapies" as per my functional medicine doctor's advise. To no avail! In January of this year I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in my lymph nodes (left side) and in my bones - scattered all over my body, but mainly in my rib/spine. Now I am on Letrozole and Ribociclid -- I am experiencing similar hand/joint stiffness and my right hand trigger finger has intensified. Yes I am stretching and doing hand exercises. Do I try something else? At what point does it become "too much?" I have NO CHOICE but to be on something! I wonder has anyone used Duloxetine to reduce symptoms. I am really curious about it and I haven't seen it mentioned in discussion groups.
Best wishes to you all.
Replies to "Dear Friends, 1.5 years ago I had cancer removed from my left breast. Following radiation, I..."
I would suggest to find an OT for your trigger finger & carpel tunnel. I have 2 trigger fingers that showed up as a result of taking Anatrazole and I've had carpel tunnel for years but it got worse on the meds. My PT suggested I see an OT for my trigger finger - at that time I had 1 on my right hand - I'm so glad I decided to give OT a try as it helped tremendously. The therapy includes hot wax dip, ultrasound & tooling - she also had me wear silicone finger sleeve during the day and another type that keeps your finger from bending at night plus I wear my brace for carpel tunnel at night as well. Couldn't believe how it helped - it doesn't trigger much and when it does no pain and I'm able to open jars,
cut things etc. About 6 months later another finger started to trigger on my left hand so back to OT & same results. She said others she's treated who took Anatrazole found that once they were able to go off it their issues cleared up. So for me not having surgery as this has helped me so much, and given all fingers are fair game I don't want to go that route. My therapy lasted a month going 2 x's a week and if I have a flare up I go in for a "tune up" as my OT refers to it. I hope you find relief. Take care.
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Hi Betsym,
Sorry to hear about this and I too am experiencing the trigger finger and a lesser stiffness in the dominant right forearm and sometimes when I happen to kneel on my knee without being careful it felt like my left knee i think had a nail in it ( like a sudden sharp pain there so I avoid doing that) I had no remarkable bad side affects, until the last 3 wks or so off and on with what I describe after I've been taking the half dose of Anastrozole for a year now ater this BC reccurrence was found on a vertabrae which. 3 scans so far since a yr ago have come back unchanged.
I'm wondering what oncologists and your functional Dr. say is the exact reason we are all having trigger finger and other joint pain exactly. IS the AI's blocking the production of estrogen directly the source of then stripping our bones of it's calcium to such a degree that this is happening? I feel like my oncologist does not explain what will happen to us and why with AI's...I am over due for a 2nd Zomeda infusion (Bisphosphonate/Zolendronic acid) It's been delayed due to a long wait to have a needed Periodontal deep cleaning & periodontist then "OKing" the Zomeda that I will be ok to have it since my oral baseline is not from their observation, likely to get this Jaw Osteonecrosis if I have a 2nd round of Zomeda.
Also, I do holistic therapies to support my immune system and I think some holistic protocols can help along side conventional med treatment. I'd really be interested to know what adjuntive therapies you are utiizing & have found to be helpful to impede the metastic spread. I hope you are finding through "trial & error" some effective protocol for your I assume Met. Ductal BC. I have Met. Lobular BC. Take care.