Side Effects of Anastrozole - bone loss

Yes, my finger joints got very sore and sometimes swollen, funny thing the local doctor told me because I don’t have rheumatoid markers I should look into getting bee stings? I am thinking, are you kidding me!! I did tough it out and honestly it did become less bothersome when I started knitting again, maybe it was just time. I will never know for sure.

My index finger and my thumb on my left hand are most bothersome at night. I used to force them to move when I woke up. Now I just let them be and after a very short time in the morning they feel better. I do regular stretching of my fingers and wrist. Don’t want them to get stuck!!

It sounds like an exact description of what I encountered though it occurred later in the treatment. It was in my right thumb and left pinkie, I would wake during the night and have to manually "open" them. I also have carpal tunnel which is aggravated when I sleep. I have been off the med for six months now and it has taken that long to get rid of the severe joint pain and what they call "trigger" finger. I am left with osteoporosis, and other issues but sleep so much better, I am 76 and know it is a risk to discontinue it but I was a mess. The days are brighter now.

Absolutely. I had the same thing. Once I stopped it got better.

Thank you for your response. I’m considering whether it’s worth it to stay on endocrine therapy. Quality of life is very important to me - I’m 64 and my husband and I are retired and want to travel and enjoy life.

I applaud your courage to make the decision to live free of bad side effects! Praying for your good health and happiness!

Thank you for your kind words and support.

I take arimidex. I now have osteoporosis and take a Prolia shot every 6 months and vitamin D. Joint pain I there especially in feet and hands. Plus now I have Sjogrens which also gives so gives joint pain

Bone loss seems to be the new normal for a lot of us. How are doing with the prolia? Are your docs treating your joint pain?

I have been on Tamoxifen after trying the 3 AI’s with lots of side effects. I had been on it for close to 3 months when I started having rib cage pain, back pain and arm pain. So I have been taken off Tamoxifen for awhile to see if it was what the tamoxifen causing it. It certainly isn’t as bad when it first started but it isn’t gone. I have had blood work and a chest X-ray and everything is fine. We are going for a nuclear bone scan now just to confirm. I have now had 2 shots of prolia. I just looked at the side effects from Prolia and guess what bone pain, arm muscle pain are a side effect of Prolia. So we are hooped no matter what😳

I ended up having to go off of all of them. I had radiation and 6 months of pills..... that was it. I now am following a starchivore diet and I feel so much better. I put my cancer in the hands of God, as suggested by my onco when I asked if there was anything else I could do. She told me no, just pray. I feel more confident in prayer than I do on the cancer system.... Good luck on your journey. My goal is to live as many years as those on the drug!