CancerCompass message board discussion started by BettyP on 4/21/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23283,0.htm Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hi, I  am on Arimidex also for about 15 months now and some had said they had triggered finger. I woke up one morning with trigger thumb and have been batteling it since Jan of 08 and went to the doctor and he gave me two shots in it but it didnt help. Do u think this is a side effect of the Arimidex? Also I have Numbness in my right thigh and it is the Cutaneous nerves which is so close to the surface, it has tingled and burned, I have been going to a Physical Therapy for 2 months now and it still burns tingles and is numb. Do u think that this  is a side effect also? I dont go back to my oncolognist untilJune but I may go sooner to see what she says. Has anyone ever had that problem before.? BettyP Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT I have trigger thumb also.  It is my right thumb and I am right-handed.  It is very painful.  I am an art teacher and potter and I use my hands constantly.  I started on Arimidex 6 months ago and only lasted two months before getting increasingly painful joint and bone pain throughout my body.  I went off it for a month and started feeling back to normal.  Then my doc put me on Aromasin.  I'm better in terms of my whole body, but now have this trigger thumb.  All of my fingers are beginning to feel stiff and swollen and I'm worried that the joints in my other fingers will trigger too.  So far I've avoided pain meds., but I'm seeing my doc in a few days and want some answers like can this cause permanent damage, what can I do to alleviate the pain without a lot of pain meds, etc.  If you hear of any remedies, please post them and I will do the same.    Sharon  ArtLady Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 4/21/2008 BettyP wrote:Hi, I  am on Arimidex also for about 15 months now and some had said they had triggered finger. I woke up one morning with trigger thumb and have been batteling it since Jan of 08 and went to the doctor and he gave me two shots in it but it didnt help. Do u think this is a side effect of the Arimidex? Also I have Numbness in my right thigh and it is the Cutaneous nerves which is so close to the surface, it has tingled and burned, I have been going to a Physical Therapy for 2 months now and it still burns tingles and is numb. Do u think that this  is a side effect also? I dont go back to my oncolognist untilJune but I may go sooner to see what she says. Has anyone ever had that problem before.?Oh, and I almost forgot, I had the tingling and burning sensation in my lower back and butt (believe it or not).  My doctors dismissed it when I told them.  They said it couldn't be the arimidex.  Thank you for sharing.  I would never have known if it hadn't been for your message.  The numbness did go away when I got off the arimidex and hasn't come back on the aromasin.  But at least now I know I'm not crazy.  Good luck and keep communicating.  This message board is the only way to get the real story on these drugs.  ArtLady Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi Betty,The following is a response of mine that I cut and pasted from page 3 titled "Joint Pain".  I take Femara.  I have been taking the Lovaza for two months now.  Best Regards.Just an update on the Lovaza (prescription fish oil) I have been taking for a month and 1/2 now.  The joint pain continues to lessen each and every day.  I am riding a bike now.  My hands are no longer like "claws" in the morning.  Everyone can tell just by seeing me that I am better.  My original message is the first response above.  My primary Dr. put me on this.  I have since seen my oncologist and he was amazed that it helped so much and he knew nothing about how it might help joint pain.Linda Lou Linda Lou Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT I also had trigger finger (actually it was my thumb). I spoke with my oncologist about it and he told me to get on calcium supplements now. I have been on them for 3 years now.. I've been on Arimidex for 4 1/2 years. Shortly after starting the calcium supplements the trigger finger went away. I am also taking Fosamax once a week. jbecca Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi,  I was on Arimidex for about a year and I had to quit....  The pain in my hands was so bad that I could not use my hands in the mornings.... I ended up having surgery because of my fingers were stiff... I have been off of them for about four months and the pain is not as bad as it was....My doctor started me on Tamoxifin....  It still has some side effects but nothing like the Arimidex....   It should not even be on the market.... We are being used for testing by these big companies and we are paying for it !!!!!  I have done a lot of research and there was very little testing on Arimidex before it was put on the market ......  This is crazy !!!!  I wish you the best of luck on your cancer and whatever meds you decide to use.....Hang in there !!!!!  Lorraine from Idaho Rainyid Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT I can only tell you what I've experienced but I have battled d' Quervane's syndrome (trigger finger of the thumb) for over a year now.  First on my left hand and now on my right.  I've also been bothered with the trigger finger problem in my fingers but that seems to have lessed with time.  A gal on one of the cancer survivor sites I'm a member of, encouraged me to call the Astra Zeneca company, they're the ones that make Arimidex.The company told me that there is a larger percentage of people on Arimidex that suffer d' Quervanes and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome than would normally be found in the general population.  It does appear to be a side effect.  I suggest that you call them also.  The more people that call, the quicker they can do clinical trials or whatever it takes to start working on what might be causing this or find some suggestions to help.  Their number can be found on the patient insert that comes with the prescription or call your pharmacist for the number.As to the problem with the pain and tingling in your thigh, I have no suggestions.  I do have a similar pain problem in my left thigh, to the side and back, but it appears to be from a lumbar disk that is deteriorating and I don't think it has anything to do with the Arimidex or even the cancer.  Perhaps I should mention that one to my oncologist also???  LOL!!! Logicat Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 4/21/2008 BettyP wrote:Hi, I  am on Arimidex also for about 15 months now and some had said they had triggered finger. I woke up one morning with trigger thumb and have been batteling it since Jan of 08 and went to the doctor and he gave me two shots in it but it didnt help. Do u think this is a side effect of the Arimidex? Also I have Numbness in my right thigh and it is the Cutaneous nerves which is so close to the surface, it has tingled and burned, I have been going to a Physical Therapy for 2 months now and it still burns tingles and is numb. Do u think that this  is a side effect also? I dont go back to my oncolognist untilJune but I may go sooner to see what she says. Has anyone ever had that problem before.?I almost fell off my chair when my oncologist said my trigger thumb and painful hand might be caused by Arimidex. We stopped it for over a month and it went away - almost.  I also developed tendenitis in both lower leg tendons but they have not improved by the suspension of A. Amazing - now what do you do? There are other options but does anyone have any ideas what route to take? Thank you, thank you for sharing, it really made my day to see others were having the same problem. Kelyro Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 4/24/2008 Logicat wrote:I can only tell you what I've experienced but I have battled d' Quervane's syndrome (trigger finger of the thumb) for over a year now.  First on my left hand and now on my right.  I've also been bothered with the trigger finger problem in my fingers but that seems to have lessed with time.  A gal on one of the cancer survivor sites I'm a member of, encouraged me to call the Astra Zeneca company, they're the ones that make Arimidex.The company told me that there is a larger percentage of people on Arimidex that suffer d' Quervanes and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome than would normally be found in the general population.  It does appear to be a side effect.  I suggest that you call them also.  The more people that call, the quicker they can do clinical trials or whatever it takes to start working on what might be causing this or find some suggestions to help.  Their number can be found on the patient insert that comes with the prescription or call your pharmacist for the number.As to the problem with the pain and tingling in your thigh, I have no suggestions.  I do have a similar pain problem in my left thigh, to the side and back, but it appears to be from a lumbar disk that is deteriorating and I don't think it has anything to do with the Arimidex or even the cancer.  Perhaps I should mention that one to my oncologist also???  LOL!!!You learn something new every day on this site. I too have a nagging ache on my lower back over my right kidney. The thought did occur to me that Arimidex could be the culprit. I agree that this medication probably was on the market too soon but does anyone else have a problem with a drug company that only acknowledges that a problem exists  when called on it? Kelyro Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT I'm not sure I'd say that Arimidex went on the market too soon.  It was proving to be something that could help many people survive longer.  The side effects are simply that; side effects.  Those that were bothered more than they could tolerate can be taken off and put on something else but those of us that can put up with the aches, pains, and odd occurances, are better off, I think, with the medication.The problem, as I see it, is that perhaps people that were being bothered with the "trigger finger" and such had no idea that it could be related to the Arimidex until enough people were getting together and comparing symptoms.  I credit the Internet with our ability to do that in ways never dreamed of before.  No way could enough doctors know that this was something related to the drug until enough people said something.  Not only about their own symptoms but of others they had talked to.  There are still quite a few doctors that don't know anything about this.  I, for one, am trying to spread the word.  My doctor took my word for it and then read the literature I received from Astra Zeneca.  He then sent me to Occupational Therapy for the problem and they've helped very much.  I am hoping that I only have to finish the therapy I'm doing now for the right hand and the left, where the biggest problem was, has been doing quite well.  In one of my jobs, (I have several), I handle lots of things like expensive crystal vases, plates and such to engrave them.  I have to be able to trust my hands to keep working.  And, If the Arimidex keeps doing it's job, I'll be around to engrave many more.   Logicat Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Oh, as far as the Astra Zeneca company is concerned, they can't say too much until more is known.  There's no sense in unnecessarily worrying people when there may be just a small percentage of us that are bothered.  I think that applies to most any drug or even food that we eat, don't you think? Logicat Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT My 72-year old mother has been taking Arimidex for over a year now (she had breast cancer 12 years ago, and had mastecetomy, left breast).  Most of the time these days, she is having painful stomach cramps; lately the cramnps are getting more frequent and the pain more intense.   Do you think this is a long-term side effcet of Arimidex?   My mom's oncologist plans to switch Arimirdes to Tamoxifen.  Do yiou think this switch will alleviate her frequent stomach cramps, whch are getting more intense by the day?  BTW, she is also taking iron supplements because she has anemia, so the stomach cramps may also be due to iron-induced constipation.  What are your thoughts on this?   Best wishes to you all. Martas son Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT I have been taking Arimidex for 1 and 1/2 tyears and I am 66 yrs old and I havent had any side effects that I know of. I have had a few things that have gone wrong but I dont think the arimidex had anything to do with it. I would ask about the iron pill that may be what is causing the pain in the stomach. Good Luck and hang in there Life isnt easy.God Bless Betty BettyP Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT