Tamoxifen and bone/joint pain

Hi Wilma
I would go with ringing Oncology as they ordered it.
Dane

Hi Wilma

I am having more or less the same issue as you. Have been crippled with back pain since before Christmas . My GP sent a letter to my oncologist about it suggesting that a bone scan or MRI might be appropriate. I have been waiting weeks and have just been notified that I have an appointment to see him next Wed. I will be demanding a scan cos you just cant help but worry about what is causing it. I would ring your oncologists secretary and get the results of the scan or get your GP to do it for you.I suspect you have yourself in knots about it cos thats how I feel at the moment.
Ring first thing in the morning and keep ringing til you get through and get an answer.
Let us know how you get on

Sinéad

Hi wilmaone, glad your taste buds are returning, and I hope you get some answers regarding your back pain soon!!! I started my tamoxifen today, not so happy about it, but hopefully it will go well. I may be asking for your advice soon

Hi ladies,
I too had these awful symptoms since early December and replied to Sinead's previous post on this topic.[qI was told to stop taking the tamoxifen for a month to see if symptoms settled down. Not only did I have the lower back pain but I also had awful headaches, felt dizzy and awful menstrual type cramps which bothered me the most because of the increased risk of getting uterine cancer. Anyway ladies as I get scanned every 6 months I really wasn't that concerned about anything sinister but at the same time you do wonder what every ache and pain is!!! I was told that it would take about 4 weeks for the tamoxifen to come out of my system but just to let you know that I felt so much better even a week after stopping it!!! The aches and pains are almost non existant!!! I have no headaches at all and I really feel my body is my own again!! I do have to consider an alternative which I am not really happy about as anything I have read about aromatase inhibitors are even worse with the joint pains!!! I am not rushing into anything so will continue to research well before I make any decisions and of course will discuss all of this with my oncologist. I just wanted to let you all know that I am certain the aches and pains you are experiencing are as a result of tamoxifen, it seems to build up in your system and then all hell can break loose. It's not an easy drug to tolerate and their are women all over the world going through the same side affects. I just wanted to help put your minds at ease, I feeling so much better off it and I was in bits!!!
Take care x x x xuote="Ania"]Hi wilmaone, glad your taste buds are returning, and I hope you get some answers regarding your back pain soon!!! I started my tamoxifen today, not so happy about it, but hopefully it will go well. I may be asking for your advice soon [/quote]

Hi Spadge
Thanks a mil for taking the time to respond to our comments re tamox. I feel much better knowing that I am not the only one who is crippled with joint and back pain. It is a dreadful state of affairs that having gone through hell in a hand cart to get rid of cancer you are now left in bits from the medication. Am getting very frustrated as I return to work next week and I am on my feet allot so scared I wont be able to tolerate it. Have an appt to see oncologist next Wed so will see what they say. You dont want to start playing russian roulette by not taking any hormone therapy but you also have to be be able to live!!! Does it ever end????? Sorry for the rant - having a bad day!!!!

Sx

Hi girls
Well still have no answers!!rang oncologists office no answer,left on hold with MRI dept,then rang bc nurse and answering service there too which asked to only leave message if it was urgent!!!so am still in bits can't cough or sneeze without pain,and getting up in morning is a joke.i know it's not all down to tamoxifen but its certainly not helping.ive come to the conclusion that having cancer was the easy part and the after effects and all the side effects are the hard part.sooo hard to get answers now ,and the silly thing is I feel really guilty even complaining about anything,as I'm 'cured'.ah well rant over time to get up shake it off and get going.Onwards and upwards.

Have a nice weekend girls
Thanks for all the replies

Xx w

Hope you get answers soon Monday will be better more people around to take your call. They should well have the results of your MRI by now its over a week and a half.

Hope you feel better soon at least the sun is shining for a change

xx Dee

Guys

How long before the bone and joint pain kicks in? Couple of weeks, month, several months?
D

hi Dane

For me its only in the last few months with the bone/joints playing up so that was 5 months in.the back unfotunately from start,but thats not down to tamox its just not helping it.

xx w