Aromatase Inhibitors & carpal tunnel and trigger finger: Anyone?

The kinesiology tape continues to work well to reduces pain in my right thumb area only. Hands, left thumbs and both wrist pain continues on and off.

Developed what I thought was plantar fasciitis (in November 2022) and had it continuously for months. This pain has subsided for awhile. Didn’t connect it to taking anastrozole until reading some of the comments here. Have yet to confirm medically if it was actually plantar fasciitis or something else, or was merely a coincidence along with taking anastrozole.

Am now paying much closer attention to my body and pain. Noticing now that I have some hip pain which is not severe and is intermittent. Merely a coincidence? Now have knee pain. Sometimes it is substantial. Need to get it checked out by a medical professional. Merely a coincidence?

Have an oncologist appointment in a couple weeks. I want to stop taking anastrozole and see if my pain subsides in any areas. Will review my areas of “pain” that have developed since starting on anastrozole. The hot flashes began immediately. The hand/thumb/wrist pain began after two months, the foot pain after three months, the hip pain, six months, the knee pain nine months.

I will also discuss with my oncologist if I can have Oncotype testing. Specifically. Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score Test for people diagnosed with early-stage, estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative invasive breast cancer.

Depending on those test results, I will discuss with my oncologist to not only stop taking anastrozole, but also to not replace it with any other drug.

Mobility issues are increasing. I need to stop this medication and explore alternatives. This will be the topic of discussion at my next Dr’s appointment.

That's what I was thinking too..I have 4 more years on the med. Saving second shot for down the road if need be

Hello - yes, shots x2 with short duration relief here, too. Ortho says could do surgery to release - but don’t see point if drug is source of problem and another year to go.
Weird is right!

Cortisone shot helped my thumb, but only for 2 months. Then stiff again. Then when j took two weeks off to switch from anastrozole to exemestane and started that early April my thumb is loosening up again..not perfect but a lot better. Weird

Well, guess I just learned another thing about 4 yrs of exemestane - trigger thumb for the last year; very painful and unexplained sudden appearance. No one - ortho, Onco or primary suggests side effect of the drug. So much they don’t seem to know; unsure they care - it’s always ‘just be glad’….Also now debilitating pain in hips, toes - though I remain active not sedentary. Long for the day they listen, connect the dots, do research related to one size fits all dosage of these drugs.

I asked the poster about it but haven't got any responses yet.
@mrsmary ?

I saw a local podiatrist. It did not dawn on me that this could have happened because of the anastrozole. I went a whole year with pain and having to wear clunky tennis shoes before I started to question how this was happening. My podiatrist didn't think there was a link but after I talked to my oncologist she said there definitely was a link. She changed my medication to Exemestane. Unfortunately there are areas in my foot that have now started to calcify and I am seeing a foot surgeon in 2 weeks. I'll let you know how it goes. Lesson learned is to discuss any change in any part of your body with your oncologist. I didn't want to bother her with my foot problem and that was a big mistake.

Yes, was thinking I had a case of painful plantar fasciitis in my left foot.

Now I’m wondering if it’s not more likely what described as tarpal tunnel syndrome, same type of inflammation, but in the tendons of the feet!
Have been taking anastrozole for ten months now.

Also have varying frequency and degrees of pain my thumbs, hands, and wrist.

What medical specialist did you see for your foot problem diagnosis snd treatment? Thank you.

Thank you for your concern. I find that when I use my hands for longer periods of time such as computer work or sewing the pain level not only increases, it also remains for longer periods of time post hand use.

Someone in one of the posts on this site, mentioned doing hand exercises that they said helped them reduce pain. Unfortunately, I’m unable to locate the instructions for those exercises. Does anyone know who posted the hand exercises? Thank you.