Musculoskeletal Pain
Managing Musculoskeletal Pain
Musculoskeletal pain—affecting your bones, joints, or muscles—is common during and after breast cancer treatment. While this kind of pain isn’t life-threatening, it can be distressing and interfere with daily life. For some, the pain is mild and comes and goes. For others, it may be more constant or severe, requiring medical attention.
Common causes include chemotherapy (such as Taxol/paclitaxel and Taxotere/docetaxel) and hormonal treatment, especially aromatase inhibitors like letrozole, anastrozole, and exemestane. However, joint or muscle pain may also be due to arthritis, infection, autoimmune conditions, or the spread of cancer to the bones.
The good news is that there are ways to reduce pain and improve your comfort at home. In the below video, an oncology nurse navigator shares information and tips for managing joint pain that stems from breast cancer and breast cancer treatments.
Lifestyle Strategies for Relief
Complementary Approaches
Some patients find added relief from integrative or mind-body therapies:
- Acupuncture (read more here)
- Healing touch, an energy-based therapy (read more here)
- Hypnosis
- Massage therapy – especially helpful for muscle tension or soreness. (read more here)
Medication Options
Over-the-Counter Relief
Anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen can help but check with your doctor first.
Prescription Options
Some patients find relief from duloxetine, particularly if joint pain is linked to aromatase inhibitors.
Adjusting Your Treatment
If your pain is tied to a specific medication, talk to your doctor about possibly switching drugs.
When to Call Your Doctor
Reach out to your care team if you experience any of the following:
- New or worsening bone pain
- Pain that comes with numbness or tingling in your arms or legs
- Pain accompanied by loss of bladder or bowel control
- Joints that look red, hot, or swollen
