femara-side effects

I, too, have joint pain and swelling in hands (and sometimes feet) w/femara.  I have developed a trigger finger and dequervains tendonitis in bilateral wrist w/thumb pain. Had to go off med for a month and also have sites injected w/cortisone.  Never had any of this before.  Oncologist said she had seen trigger finger before no dequervains tendonitis?  Wondering if anyone out there has had any of these side effects?  And what do you think of this?   I am miserable w/all this discomfort.  Today I had to have left wrist injected second time and had only been 5 months since before.


This discussion is related to Joint pain � swelling from Femara.

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

This side effect is really not so common with femara and with similar drugs like arimidex.  However, this do happen and with the proximity of the symptoms to the intake of the drug, you can't help but point this side effects on the drug (especially if the symptoms are relieved upon drug withdrawal).  I suggest you discuss with your doctors regarding other hormonal treatment like tamoxifen which has less effects in the bones and musculoskeletal system, however this may have more vascular side effects such as thrombosis.  I also suggest that you avoid too much stress on the involved hand.

Wishing you all the best.  Regards and God bless.

[deblessor]

I'm having multiple trigger fingers on AIs.  I was on Femara for only few months.  Had bilateral carpal tunnel and shoulder pain.  Oncologist switched me to Aromasin Jan. 2008.  Developed right trigger thumb surgically corrected during carpal tunnel surgery.  Now have left trigger thumb and right DeQuervains tenosynovitis (both treated with injection).  Within last few weeks have a middle trigger finger and symptoms returning on left thumb and right wrist.  Feet are painful; difficult to walk after sittting for few minutes; however, once moving they are fine.

[nanc512]

I have been on Femara since March 08.  I had really bad joint pain in my hips, knees, shoulders at first.  It got better, then I fell and hurt my wrist in early June.  I have had a brace, then a cast, they thought I broke my scaphoid bone.  I have been seeing an OT for 6 weeks.  My other thumb/wrist is now showing tendon problems.  I have bumps on the palm of the affected hand, she said is a collection of lactic acid in either my muscles or tendons.  Today, I showed her a bump at the base of my thumb, palm side, that just showed up.  She said it's the start of a trigger thumb.  I have horrible stiffness, especially when I wake up.  I started researching tonight and found wrist tendon problems aren't unsual with Femara.  I am going to talk to my OT tomorrow and have her call my oncologist.

I am getting frustrated because this isn't getting any better.  Glad to know I am not alone.