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Aromatase Inhibitors & carpal tunnel and trigger finger: Anyone?

Posted by shenriq @shenriq, Feb 27, 2018

14 mos of “AI” meds, I’m coping with daily hand-wrist-finger pain. I’m on my 3rd drug, having taken Anastrozole & Aromasin-each for 6 mos and now on Letrezol since January. Any advice to deal with this, besides using hand braces&finger splints and daily exercise? I need to be on this for 5 yrs total and can’t take Tamoxifin. Help!

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babs25 | @babs25 | Mar 13 7:15am
In reply to @betsym "Dear Friends, 1.5 years ago I had cancer removed from my left breast. Following radiation, I..." + (show)
@betsym

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.

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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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betsym | @betsym | Mar 13 10:03am

Ooooh this is so helpful! Thanks so much for sharing! I was really wondering about the hot wax dipping! I am sooo glad that worked for you! I am definitely interested in going to an OT! I am going to ask my care team! Have you heard about using Duloxetine? The stuff I saw in it didn't seem to be very conclusive. I'm already taking naltrexone and I really don't have a lot of pain at this point yet. I'm more concerned about damage to joints. Again thanks so much for sharing!

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betsym | @betsym | Mar 13 9:14pm

Yes, met ductal bc. I am 54. The oncologist physical therapist said the problems in my hands is likely due to the meds blocking the estrogen protection in my joints. She didn't think it was neuropathy per day and I agree. The only "functional medicine" that I have continued since my rediagnosis is the naltrexone. The others I abandoned mostly (I suppose) in disgust because it didn't appear to help me anyway I still got bc again. Frustrated, absolutely! I feel like I did everything I could have and to no avail! Here I am and that's the way it is. I had one ZOMETA treatment and am scheduled for the next. Hoping for less of a reaction this time!!!

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mamacat02ny | @mamacat02ny | Mar 24 8:34am

I will be having surgery on my trigger finger this week
What should I expect with pain and usage after surgery?

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