I am sure this has been discussed here but I do not know how to search for it. I had been on Tamoxifen for 2 yrs with no significant side effects, Then about 4 months ago my onc decided to try Aromasin on me. It was somwhere around thern that I began to notice symptoms of carpal tunnel, both hands, can't hold a phone for long (minute) before numbness starts, Sleeping, never a good thing for me, is now even worse, as almost any position sets off the numbness, As of this week, they switched me back to Tamoxifen, mainly due to my increasing joint pain. I am wondering if this carpal tunnel feeling will improve. Anti inflammatories seem to give very limited relief.
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BridgetO Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 19 |
Aug 26, 2008 03:06 pm
BridgetO wrote:
hi Julie, I have carpal tunnel syndrome, but not from aromatase inhibitors. For over 10 years I've been sleeping in wrist braces and my symptoms are now very mild and not frequent. You might try it. It gives your wrists a rest from movement, which I think decreases inflammation. |
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FitChik Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 4460 |
Aug 26, 2008 03:23 pm
FitChik wrote:
Julie...I developed CTS in both hands several months after starting Aromasin. The doctors do not question the cause & effect and I've just decided that I'm lucky to be able to take an AI and will just live with the pain. Fortunately, cortisone injections take the pain away completely for 6-8 months (my experience, anyway). I'm thinking about having the surgery next Spring so that I won't need to await the muscle deterioration that eventually occurs with CTS. So I'm guessing that If the CTS developed after you started Aromasin, it seems reasonable to expect the pain to ease up after you've had a few weeks on Tamoxifen. So hang in there, girl. It all gets better! ~Marin "The challenge is in the moment, the time is always now." ~James Baldwin
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Isabella4 Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1586 |
Aug 26, 2008 05:56 pm
Isabella4 wrote:
I am on Arimidex, nearly 5 years. I developed CTS in both hands. I sleep in wrist braces, really does help. I questioned my Dr when it first started, she was adamant that Arimidex could NOT be the cause. Now, on the packet insert of Arimidex it lists CTS as a possible se., so can't see why Aromasin should be any different. Try the wrist braces, I really notice the difference if I have just rolled into bed, and forgotten to put them on !! Isabella. Dx 5/14/2003, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 1, 0/26 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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JulieKW Joined: May 2006 Posts: 18 |
Aug 26, 2008 11:48 pm
JulieKW wrote:
Thanks everyone, I truly appreciate your input. I do have the wrist braces, and am not good about wearing them nightly....my hot flashes are so bad (despite Effexor) that I feel lilke EVERYTHING is making me hot when I am having one (several times a night) and I end of taking the darn things off! I know it's silly, but there it is. I have a fairly active life (we have goats and horses) and I NEED to be able to use my hands. But with regards to what some of you have said, I will take the improved chance of survival over the carpal tunnel hassle any day, and thank God for it! |
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hazelwoodsm… Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 40 |
Oct 2, 2008 02:46 pm
hazelwoodsmith wrote:
Hi-Julie, et al. I too have just switched 3 months ago from Tamox to Aromasin. Just the past 2-3 weeks, my wrists feel totally weak and my fingers have pain when I bang my fingers ..deep down inside the joints. My wrists are the worst part tho. My doc said to stick it out and see if there is improvement. I tend to differ. I do not want to cause permanent damage to my wrists and finger digits. What are you thoughts please. I thought Aromasin would be good after Tamox, but I did proceed with caution. I wish they had this in big letters on the box! Carpel Tunnel is no fun. How many years were you on Tamox. Me, about almost 3years on Tamox, and now 3 months on Aromasin. Thanks- Anne |
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swinn Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 369 |
Oct 3, 2008 12:30 pm
swinn wrote:
I took Femara for 2 yrs. Developed CTS and an orthopedic doc said it wasn't the AI . He did the nerve conduction test which he said showed I had it. Well, I had the surgery in my right hand with the correction of 2 trigger fingers too. My onc said I could take a break from the Femara to see how I felt. The pain went away in both hands but it took about 2 months. Now I have been on Aromasin for about 6 weeks and the pain is back in both hands, even the one that was operated on. So I am convinced the AI's cause it. I don't care what my nerve conduction test showed, sure it would show something because of all the inflammation. My doc doesn't want me taking the anti-inflammatory meds, thinks I will get an ulcer so I just take tylenol for arthritis. It helps a little but not that much. It's very hard for me to use my hands too. Sally |
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sharalou Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 33 |
Oct 3, 2008 01:55 pm
sharalou wrote:
I had carpal tunnel surgery, and I say it's from the Arimidex...... |
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Aug242007 Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 117 |
Oct 5, 2008 06:29 pm
Aug242007 wrote:
I had severe numbness in both hands which started after being on Arimidex for 4-5 months. I take Neurontin which has really helped. Arimidex side effects are listed on the packaging and one is CTS. Oncotype 11, Melissa, Lumpectomy 9/2007, Proph. Bilateral Mast 7/2008
Dx 8/24/2007, IDC, 2cm, Stage II, Grade 1, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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lindasa Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 102 |
Oct 5, 2008 07:49 pm
lindasa wrote:
Hi Everyone; According to my surgeon (a hand replantation specialist) CTS causes numbness in all BUT the little finger of your hand -- seems it's just the way the nerve pathways are designed. It's also much more common in women, and may have something to do with the fact that women's wrists are traditionally narrower than men's and the carpal "tunnel" through which the major nerve traverses, becomes compressed. I had surgery on both wrists about 5 years ago. The numbness went away completely, but the pain did return intermittently. Since I started femara 6 weeks ago, the pain occurs every day, but mostly in my left hand (and I am left-handed). Fortunately, it's usually not severe enough to take medication, but once or twice I've had really severe pain which seemed to start immediately. Fortunately, a couple of ibuprophen took the pain away. Linda Dx 1/10/2008, LCIS, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/4 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2- |
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