Topic: Arimidex pains?

You have asked a very good question.  Wish I had the answer for you.  I have asked this question over and over again over the course of my almost 2 years on AI's.  I am petrified of scans so I am probably not the best person to respond as I do not tell my oncologist about every little ache and pain.  I also play down some of my pains when I go in for my follow-up appts for fear they will want to do scans.  However, with that said, my oncologist has told me that bone mets would probably be pain that is felt deep and is constant and normally won't come and go.  Most of the pain I feel from the AI's seems to be more related to the muscles and joints then to the bones and it is not constant but I don't know how to tell that for sure because I don't really know what bone pain feels like.  I have pain in my upper arms, shoulders and neck the most but sometimes it is in my hips, wrists, hands and feet.  I seem to go through spells where pain in one area is worse than the other.  Sometimes I wish I could just have a bone scan for peace of mind but I don't really want that either.  It's tough to live with this pain because it is a constant reminder of having breast cancer and a constant worry that it has returned.  Usually my posts are more optomistic but I didn't take my aleve today.  

I also have pain that moves all over my body. I have been on Arimidex for 3 years. now my legs are getting worse. sonetimes I am afraid they will just plain give out while I am shopping and I then just fall down. I know how you feel about not trusting your body. It is a shame we need a drug that does that. I too don't want breast cancer back. I also had lung cancer at the same time. Not giving up though. You are all in my prayers. Pat

I started Arimidex about 6 months ago and within the last month have developed substantial pain in wrist and knees. I now struggle to walk or climb stairs these days. Onco took me off Arimidex 3 weeks ago but pain has not let up. Had also been on Simvastatin, which PCP increased in early April. PCP just took me off statin. Taking Vicodin at bedtime and Tylenol during day. Finding it hard to be in so much pain when I'm supposed to be healthy and cancer-free! Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks.

I started Arimidex Feb 2004, after 2 months of tamoxifen. I have had hip pain for most of that time, and it really affects my sleep. I wake almost every 2 hours with excruciating pain in my left hip, turn over, pain stops, then cycle begins again.

I went to my GP 5 weeks ago about the pain in hips, feet and hands and he sent me for an x-ray - normal. Went back 3 weeks ago and we decided to stop the Arimidex for 3-4 weeks to see if the pain diminished - which it has thankfully. Seeing him next week to discuss the situation and ask for a referral to a new female Onc at my hospital - mine retired last year.

Lexi - wish I had the answer! I was dx with osteopenia last year after a DEXA scan - thought to be the result of 30+ yrs of steroids for Crohn's, but exacerbated by Arimidex. I am on weekly Fosamax for that, with daily Calcichew/Vit.D3.   Also dx with osteo arthritis of hips, hands and feet after a bone scan. 

As my bc had spread to my lymph nodes, I am concerned about stopping Arimidex and having no protection against bc recurrence. Does anyone know if you can go back onto tamoxifen after 4 yrs of Arimidex?  Any advice much appreciated.

Liz.