Topic: Tamoxifen & Stiff Neck??

Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 79

Posted on: Apr 25, 2008 02:32 pm

Seashell49 wrote:

Hello,

I started Tamoxifen last week, have taken 9 doses. Has anyone experienced a stiff neck from it? I am not in pain, just when I turn left or right, it hurts...is tight!? I've heard of joint pain with Tamox??

Thanks

Sue
Dx 12/4/2007, IDC, <1cm, Stage Ia, Grade 1, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-

Posts 1 - 15 (15 total)
bluebell Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 11	Log in to post a reply Apr 25, 2008 04:28 pm bluebell wrote: hello raleigh, im on tamoxifen since january and have still neck and stiff everywhere!! joints in particuar are stiff, im 38years old and had a partial mastectomy last june, hope your feeling better soon, hang in there, leonie
bluesky Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 333	Log in to post a reply Apr 25, 2008 04:33 pm bluesky wrote: slbooch-i have been taking tamoxifen for one year and am stiff all over, i was in great shape prior to this ordeal, i'm 43, but now feel like an 80 year old, i do alot of yoga and that helps, it is the tamoxifen, it does get better. take care, hope you feel better soon. Dx 10/25/2006, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIIa, Grade 3, 4/18 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
LizM Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 1647	Log in to post a reply Apr 25, 2008 04:35 pm LizM wrote: I had a stiff neck while on Tamoxifen. I am on Femara now and it is even worse. I also had reconstruction with implants and rads so my left pectoral muscles, my left shoulder and the left side of my neck are very tight which could be contributing to the problem.
Seashell49 Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 79	Log in to post a reply Apr 25, 2008 05:54 pm Seashell49 wrote: Thanks All! This is discouraging. So, did this stiff neck begin shortly after you started Tamox? But... it may let up some? I don't know if I can live with this? I am really active, like to exercise etc. but I can barely turn my head to the left or right!!?? EEK! Well.... at least it may be the Tamox then... I was worried it was SOMETHING else. I just finished rads end of March. I am ready to get my energy back and feel GD!! Thanks for the feedback!! Hugs!! Sue Sue Dx 12/4/2007, IDC, <1cm, Stage Ia, Grade 1, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Harley44 Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 2979	Log in to post a reply Apr 28, 2008 09:26 am Harley44 wrote: Yes, I also have a stiff neck!! I started Tamoxifen on Nov. 18th, but only started having really bad se's since the end of Feb., or beginning of March. I agree...this SUCKS!! Hang in there, we'll get through it! At least, we have an option available, to help prevent bc recurrence! Harley
seacat Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 24	Log in to post a reply Apr 29, 2008 08:16 pm seacat wrote: I had the stiff neck too, really badly and then all over, it was really painful. It can have this effect on some and not others. It did ease off with me, I still have it but nothing like as bad now. I started it at the end of January and the pains started about a month later. When I mentioned it at my 8 weeks check up I was sent for blood tests and will have a Bone Density Scan and I can't remember what else right now, sorry. Cath.
seacat Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 24	Log in to post a reply Apr 29, 2008 08:16 pm seacat wrote: I had the stiff neck too, really badly and then all over, it was really painful. It can have this effect on some and not others. It did ease off with me, I still have it but nothing like as bad now. I started it at the end of January and the pains started about a month later. When I mentioned it at my 8 weeks check up I was sent for blood tests and will have a Bone Density Scan and I can't remember what else right now, sorry. Cath.
Seashell49 Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 79	Log in to post a reply May 1, 2008 10:29 am Seashell49 wrote: Hi Cath & Harley, Thanks for your notes back. I am not as worried about the stiff neck then...maybe it is a side effect of Tamox. I will talk with my Dr. about it when I go. Oh gosh... not more medical tests!!?? It has let up compared to last Fri., it's 75% better, thank God!! Hope you are having a good week!! Sue xo Sue Dx 12/4/2007, IDC, <1cm, Stage Ia, Grade 1, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Kimber Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 213	Log in to post a reply May 5, 2008 08:33 pm Kimber wrote: I have a stiff neck, too! I have been on tamoxifen since 2/20/08. Some days are worse than others. My gyno said it is not a side effect? He also said it is OK to take 4 advil every 4 hours - which I think is excessive. It is not like me to have neck problems, and it has only started since I have been on tamoxifen. I guess it could be a coincidence, but my trainer told me she sees a lot of stiff necks as a side effect of a lot of different meds....... slbooch, what did your doctor say?? Kimber Dx 1/15/2008, LCIS, 6cm+, Stage 0, / nodes, ER+/PR+
Seashell49 Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 79	Log in to post a reply May 5, 2008 10:08 pm Seashell49 wrote: Hi Kimber, Welcome to the Tamox/stiff neck club!? No one thinks it's a side effect, but I think it is. I started the neck pain after I started taking Tamox!? Mine has let up some, but then some days it's worse. My Dr. appt. is 5/13 so I will ask about it then. I'll post here and let you know what I find out. Ok... this is wierd, I sometimes feel like I can hear the blood pumping in the lower back of head too?? Do you have that?? ~Sue Sue Dx 12/4/2007, IDC, <1cm, Stage Ia, Grade 1, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Kimber Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 213	Log in to post a reply May 5, 2008 10:38 pm Kimber wrote: Sue, No, my pain is right in the base of my head on both sides, usually worse on the right. It's hard to look over either shoulder. This afternoon it was really bad and seemed like it was starting to involve my spine. Advil does definitely help. I don't know what else it could be..... Please PM me and let me know what your doctor says. I may end up at my dr before that if this keeps up! The gyno I talked to is actually a neighbor and not my actual gyno, so who knows... Hope you are feeling better, Kimber Dx 1/15/2008, LCIS, 6cm+, Stage 0, / nodes, ER+/PR+
Seashell49 Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 79	Log in to post a reply May 5, 2008 10:52 pm Seashell49 wrote: Hi Kimber, Mine is actually tightness in the base of my head and into my neck also. I had 2 days where I could not turn my head to the right or left!? I cannot figure out why it is better or worse on certain days!? Are you having any other stiffness? I definitely get more stiff after sitting/sleeping! It seems better if I am moving around! Let me know if you end up at the Dr. and what they say... I'll let you know after I go next Tues. I would go sooner but my daughter is graduating from college this Sun. ~ too much to do with company coming!! Hope you are feeling a bit better also!! :) Sue Sue Dx 12/4/2007, IDC, <1cm, Stage Ia, Grade 1, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Seashell49 Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 79	Log in to post a reply May 15, 2008 04:25 pm Seashell49 wrote: Hello Kimber and All, I had my 6 week follow up with my Rad Onc last Thurs. I talked with her about my stiff neck and she did say that it could possibly be coming from the Tamoxifen. She said Tamox can cause some stiffness. My stiffness is worse some days than others? How is everyone else doing? Kimber, did you ever go to your Dr.? Hope all are well!! :) Hugs, Sue Sue Dx 12/4/2007, IDC, <1cm, Stage Ia, Grade 1, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Kimber Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 213	Log in to post a reply May 15, 2008 05:59 pm Kimber wrote: Hey Sue! Thanks so much for checking back in! Yes, my stiffness is worse some days than others. I can only attribute it to the tamoxifen, as it started shortly after I started taking it. I also notice my hands are more swollen and a few of those joints ache. So far so good, though, if it protects me like they tell me it will, then I will continue on! Thanks again for keeping in touch! Kimber Dx 1/15/2008, LCIS, 6cm+, Stage 0, / nodes, ER+/PR+
LizM Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 1647	Log in to post a reply May 15, 2008 07:22 pm LizM wrote: My neck has been better recently. I started having muscle spasms and neck stiffness 2 months after I started Femara. I attributed my neck getting better to stretching and strengthening exercises, working on my posture and using Traumeel gel/cream which is a homeopathic arthritis/sports injury type gel.

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