Bone and muscle pain

I'm just on anastrozole. I say just, it's taking its toll. I'm 69 and getting up on a morning is horrific. The pain in my knees, ankles, feet and hands is awful. It's not unexpected though. I've done tamoxifen before. 

I take painkillers to get moving, and a wrist brace for the carpal tunnel thats started to develop. I also use Volterol if it's really bad. My very generous GP prescribed some Volterol when I went last week. The prescription was for a 30 gm tube, that's enough for 7 days!! Thanks Doc! I persuaded the practice pharmacist for more. I got 100gms!!!

My oncologist suggested acupuncture and I had my first session last week. It's £50 a pop so I am not sure I want it to work! Paying for Volterol and acupuncture will have me bankrupt.

I've got back to Aquafit, I was doing three sessions a week before diagnosis. It does help with my strength and flexibility after the double mastectomy.

I'm afraid the side effects can be grim but without them it could be worse.

As you hobble to the loo or the kettle remember you are not alone. Hugs

I’m coming to the end of two years on Abemaciclib which I’m on with Exemestane. I gather Exemestane (a further 3 years!) has a small amount of steroid so unfortunately I’m still eating too well in spite of the Abemaciclib side effects. 

feet and ankle stiffness and pain is, as Silverberg says, pretty awful especially first thing in the mornings. But once the first meds kick in and I begin to hobble around I can sort of cope. I do exercises each evening to try and keep the joint range as full as I can. Getting to sleep can be difficult too. 

I know it’s going to continue for a while but I guess it’s a small price to pay for living as well and long as possible. And I’ve already had a 5 year stint on oestrogen busters before, this time is a recurrence.

hugs xxx

Hi, is anastrzole like Letrozole?. I don't have pain with abemaciclib. It's the Letrozole is debilitating if I get the wrong brand, is there a different brand of anastrzole you could ask for and try. Also if you think it's the abemaciclib , my oncologist said I can drop down the dose. I'm on 150ml to see how I get on but the is 100ml and 50ml and the option to take it once a day.  I did take painkillers in the first 2 months but my body seems to be getting used to it in the third month of taking Letrozole.

Yes, Anastrozole is similar to Letrozole (as is Exemestane) and yes you’re right, it’s the oestrogen blockers that cause the aches and pains. I needed to come off Abemaciclib for a total of 6 weeks in the end, and the pain got worse, then slightly easier again after I restarted the Abemaciclib. So that drug masks the aches a bit I think. 

Hugs xxx

Oh wow, thanks for telling me this I had no idea. I will definitely keep that in mind now. 

I discussed this with my Onco but I’m not sure he believed me! You might find some brands of Letrozole easier than others, I used to stick to Accord which I understand is reasonably close tho the actual original branded med, Femara 
hugs xxx

I believe you, and at the end of the day, we are living with it. 

Xxxxx