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Foot pain with Anastrozole?

Posted by lhwoz @lhwoz, Oct 17, 2023

Hello all-
I have read on this topic from posts that were from 4-5 years ago but looking for your experience from more recently.

I am 56 and on month 6 of Anastrozole. I had ILC stage 1/2 with lumpectomy/re excision and a course of radiation.

I have alwasy been very active as a lifestyle, hiking, gym, Orangetheory etc. Hike all over zion/Bryce Canyon in early May when radiation done to celebrate and remind myself if who I am and will be.

Since Aug I have had some achilles tenderness but more debilitating is crazy foot/heel pain especially in the am or when I get up from sitting/non movement. I have been attributing it to achilles tendinitis(self diagnosis 🙁 ) but I am finally thinking this is the anastrozole? I literally walk /hobble when I am first out of bed. I have some hand pain also but it feels just more like arthritic/tightness and not as noticeable/not affecting daily activities or exercise. Knees also feel out of sorts but I've had that here and there prior to this.

Can anyone share their experience with the foot /heel situation? Should I try a different AI or will this subside?

Much love and support to you all!

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 15 10:03am
In reply to @bowlerlady "I have been on anastrazole for 6 months now. I have just recently started having joint..." + (show)
@bowlerlady

I have been on anastrazole for 6 months now. I have just recently started having joint pain in my fingers. I take my pill every night and I feel it most in middle of night and in the morning. I am dealing with it, but I would like to try that bioflex and see if it helps.

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A belated welcome, @bowlerlady. It's hard to deal with joint pain, especially if it is interrupting your sleep. Has the joint pain changed over the past couple of weeks? How are you doing?

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bowlerlady | @bowlerlady | Sep 15 10:28am

Thank you Colleen it actually is a little better now. I started putting some Voltaren on my finger joints on the hand that has been hurting before I went to bed. Has eased the stiffness. I know you aren't supposed to use that for more than 10 days, so we'll see how it progresses...

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kathyomaha55 | @kathyomaha55 | Sep 16 9:05am

I suffered really bad hand joint pain when on anastrozole. My toes really hurt too, as well as my shoulders. After 9 months my hands were at a 7 pain level. I insisted my doctor change me AI drug, or I would stop taking it. After going to a rheumatologist, to rule out arthritis, I got switched to exemestane, Then about 8 to 10 weeks later - the hand pain eased down to a 1. Everybody reacts differently to each drug. Hope you find one you can tolerate. I finally hit my 5 years and said no to another 5 years. Good luck everyone!

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1 reply
kamra | @kamra | Sep 23 7:52am

I had been taking anastrozole for a year and had to go off of it for a month while I dealt with an unrelated allergic reaction to an antibiotic. The pains I had in my knees, back, and feet went away in that month. Amazing, huh?

REPLY
lilacs777 | @lilacs777 | Sep 24 3:51pm
In reply to @kathyomaha55 "I suffered really bad hand joint pain when on anastrozole. My toes really hurt too, as..." + (show)
@kathyomaha55

I suffered really bad hand joint pain when on anastrozole. My toes really hurt too, as well as my shoulders. After 9 months my hands were at a 7 pain level. I insisted my doctor change me AI drug, or I would stop taking it. After going to a rheumatologist, to rule out arthritis, I got switched to exemestane, Then about 8 to 10 weeks later - the hand pain eased down to a 1. Everybody reacts differently to each drug. Hope you find one you can tolerate. I finally hit my 5 years and said no to another 5 years. Good luck everyone!

Jump to this post

Exact same as you @kathyomaha55 in terms of all the joint pains, only I have several more years to deal with it 🙁 I'm considering trying a diff AI to see if it improves at all

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