Has anyone stopped anatrozole because of carpal tunnel symptoms??

I had terrible trigger finger problems on Letrozole. I tried several different drugs over the years and finally quit after 7 years (and 3 finger surgeries).

My oncologist has always tried to be as supportive so this is why we tried the various meds first and even a lower dose of Tamoxifen. But it seems my body just did not tolerate these drugs very well. I really tried to give it my best but when I could no longer move around as much without significant pain every day it made me rethink another 3 years of this as well as the permanent damage it could be causing. He explained that these drugs do have this effect on some women causing them to stop earlier. So yes, I guess we can't have it all. Of course, the fear of recurrence will always be in the back of my mind but even taking the drugs does not guarantee non recurrence. So, I will still see the oncologist for checkups every 4-6 months and my breast surgeon yearly for exams. I am hoping this will help to catch things should they arise. Thanks for the prayers. I am thankful that the muscle/tendon pains from the medications have subsided so I can now get back to exercising more normally. Best wishes to you too.

How long can I take Anestrozole?

Has it been prescribed for you? Can you tell us a bit more about your situation? Without side effects, you should be able take it for as long as your oncologist thinks it will be useful. I gather the range is often 5-10 years. What motivates you to ask?

Hm. You had bilateral stage 1a and still were encouraged to take it. Hard to hear. I find out this afternoon if its negative or positive. My gene testing was done day one with a scare 5 years ago. My sister and cousin had br ca, other cousin died youngish with ovarian. Other side of family, lots of ovarian. Dr. is concerned about family history. But I was thinking if i just had a double, I woukdnt need anything else. I had a Complete hyst with ovaries 20+ year ago. I was hoping i could avoid radiation and chemo. Each dr and cancer is different. Thanks for sharing.

I believe for any invasive ductal Estrogen driven breast cancer its standard that some sort of endocrine therapy (anti-estrogen medication) is prescribed unless you have other factors like HER2 positive. I was fortunate to not have to do radiation or chemo so the endocrine therapy was the recommended treatment besides the surgery. I pray for the best outcome for you as I truly understand how nerve wracking waiting for results can be. Best wishes.

I had carpal tunnel syndrome after the birth of my 2nd child. I got custom-made rigid plastic splints, wore them every night to give my thumbs / wrists a rest and chance to heal, and the condition cleared up in a couple of months. That was 40 years ago--long before I got cancer. My mother had trigger finger--not cancer related--she just lived with it. My sister had severe carpal tunnel, (no cancer) and was successfully treated by surgery.
My guess that some people are just prone to these hand / wrist conditions and AIs may make them worse. However, before stopping AIs, see if you can get rigid custom splints that immobilize the thumb and wrist (not the kind that let the thumb move freely). They really helped me.

@peggydobbs I believe that type of splint is called a thumb spica.

I found an excellent article on what is currently (2022) known about joint and tendon pain from AIs. Link below. Reading comments on this forum it seems that joint manipulation during exercise seems to help (some people). Makes me wonder if that is because it moves fluid away from the joint, and maybe helps keep tendons and the sheaths (that cover tendons) flexible.

“Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in women experiencing AIMSS have shown fluid surrounding the flexor sheaths, thickening of the flexor/extensor tendons in the hands, and fluid in the metacarpal joints, suggesting underlying inflammation caused by the medication.”

AIMSS = Aromatase inhibitor-associated musculoskeletal syndrome

There is a lot of info in this article, I can’t begin to quote all the areas they hit on to focus treatment.
When it gets to the point of deciding to stop an AI, I really don’t understand why the doctors don’t recommend a short therapy session set with a hand therapist, usually an OT, certified in hands. It could be the right joint exercises to reduce fluid buildup, or a splint for tendons that now ache from “overuse” (May not have been overuse before but the new normal is the tendon gets inflamed from everyday use) would make a big difference.
IDK maybe I’m wrong, but it’s something worth asking about IMHO,
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8935546/

I have been on Anastrozole for 4 1/2 years. I have not had carpel tunnel but the arthritis in my hands have increased considerably. I am 85 years old and considering stopping the pill now rather than waiting for 5 years.
Any comments to help me make that decision?
Thanks