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Heel pain--is it from aromatase inhibitor?
At beginning of June 2026, I started getting pain in one particular spot on my right heel. The spot is towards the inside back of the heel. If heel were a clock face with 12 pointing towards middle toe, pain spot is a circle approx 1/2 inch in diameter at 7 on the clock face.
Is this from exemestane (been taking it since Nov 2024 with no problems)? My PCP says it's heel pad syndrome. Is that from exemestane? Why is my left heel and all the rest of the right heel OK?
Many thanks in advance to any one who knows!
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An AI would most likely make heel pad syndrome worse, where you might not have noticed the discomfort before. Lack of estrogen probably would reduce the quality of the fat pad that protects the bone during foot strike.
Did the doctor mention adding a silicone heel cup to your shoe - it will not fix it but might make it feel a little better.
A good sports medicine trained physical therapist might provide helpful ways to reduce the pain. One thing a PT might do is use a specialized wrap that will push what fat pad area you have into a position to protect the bone during heel strike. They also are trained to look at your walking mechanics, it could be that you overuse that back left corner and an adjustment in foot/ankle position or where the heel hits would reduce pain. This would be helpful even if you stop AI. Most doctors will write a script recommending PT, and many insurance plans and medicare cover some PT, and that is what you’d want, just a limited amount. The words the doctor needs to use includes some of the possible targeted therapy I mentioned, but also how it affects your ability to function independently. Insurance companies don’t like to approve procedures that don't have ROI in their estimation. The heel pad syndrome might cause you to reduce your level of exercise or limit your work activities - both important to the insurance co.
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1 ReactionCould be. https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/breast-cancer-forum/f/general/274463/aromtase-inhibitors-eg-exemestane-and-feet-problems Low estrogen causes collagen loss which can affect all of our joints as well as those foot pads at the bottom of our feet.
Many thanks for both replies! I switched from barefoot shoes (that I love) back to Saucony running shoes (which after the barefoot shoes make me feel like I'm wearing boats on my feet). However, they have lots of heel padding and that seems to help. I also tried heel cups. They pushed my foot to pronate--I'm a natural supinator. So I stopped using them.
Also things seem to be slowly improving, so I'm hoping I can soon go back to my barefoot shoes.
@peggydobbs
I am on Metrozole and have the same thing. Assume it’s from that. Usually starts at a long distance- user walk 7 to 10 miles daily.