Acupuncture in Aromatase Inhibitor-Induced Joint Pain

Introduction:

Aromatase Inhibitors are drugs used for treating breast cancer patients in the progression of the disease. Although the drug is highly effective in handling the cause, it is also often associated with side effects or complications like vaginal dryness, night sweats, joint pain, etc. Joint pain is one of the most commonly seen symptoms seen in almost 50 percent of patients, with a gradual deterioration of health seen in patients around 30 to 60 percent within a year or two. And this acts as the most common reason for the discontinuation of this medicine. Various case studies were performed on factors that help in handling these issues and one among which being acupuncture. Acupuncture is a well-known form of medicine used in treating and improving pain management. The effect of this treatment in reaction to the medicine aromatase inhibitors is discussed below.

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a traditional form of alternative medicine that is used to treat pain by inserting needles into the areas of pain or pressure called acupoints. The needles inserted at these sites provide a therapeutic effect relieving pain.

What Are Aromatase Inhibitors?

Aromatase inhibitors are a group of drugs that are recommended in treating post-menopausal women with breast cancer and men who have undergone gynecomastia. The purpose of using aromatase inhibitors as a drug is to reduce the level of estrogen by inhibiting the conversion of fat cells into estrogen. This process is done to limit the estrogen as an increase in the amount of estrogen can accelerate the cellular multiplication of cancer cells. The most commonly used aromatase inhibitor drugs are Letrozole, Anastrozole, and Exemestane.

How Does Acupuncture Act On Aromatase-Induced Joint Pain?

Acupuncture relieves pressure and pain when acupuncture needles are inserted at a particular site or acupoints near the joints. The evidence of acupuncture on the reduction of joint pain caused due to aromatase inhibitors was studied extensively in various women with breast cancers. The use of aromatase inhibitors is commonly seen in people in the beginning stage of breast cancer as they inhibit the growth of the tissue cells. And almost fifty percent of the women consuming it reported an incidence of stiffness or joint pain. Hence, small groups of women taking this medicine have conducted a trial with the use of acupuncture. At the end of the trial, it was seen that acupuncture was proven to be more efficient than the placebo or palliative treatment. Giving a piece of evidence that acupuncture can be used as a long-term durable, non-medicated therapy for improving the symptoms of pain or inflammation in the musculoskeletal. It was also seen that acupuncture not only reduced joint stiffness but also the level of drug toxicity occurring due to frequent intake of the medications, ultimately improving the outcome of breast cancer treatments.

What Are the Precautions to Take While Undergoing Acupuncture in Patients with Breast Cancer?

Although acupuncture is proven to be effective in patients with aromatase inhibitor-induced joint pain, the procedure is to be done under careful supervision. The acupuncture procedure should be done under an authorized acupuncturist. The therapy is usually done as an adjunct along with the drug therapy for breast cancer and should not be regarded solely as an alternative, as pain relief in the joints may make the patients feel superior and exhilarated. But while performing such treatment, one should not skip the actual medications for breast cancer.

What Are the Benefits of Acupuncture in Aromatase Inhibitor-Induced Joint Pain?

The benefits of acupuncture in patients with aromatase inhibitor-induced joint pain are:

• Pain reduction.

• Management of pain with mild painkillers like Acetaminophen or Paracetamol.

• Improves the confidence of people to manage pain.

• Reduces long-term drug effect of higher dose painkillers.

What Are the Conditions in Which Acupuncture Is Contraindicated?

As the treatment of acupuncture on aromatase-induced joint pain mostly involves cancer patients, care should be taken to handle patients with progressive disorders. However, the treatment is highly efficient in patients with stage one or stage two levels. The practice of acupuncture in patients with higher progressive levels of cancer can lead to easy bruising or delayed wound healing. Hence, it is mostly contraindicated in such patients.

Conclusion:

Acupuncture, on the whole is a very progressive and comfortable treatment method used in treating breast cancer patients with aromatase-induced joint pain. Acupuncture is considered safe and approved by physicians as vast studies have been conducted. The therapy shows high efficacy in pain relief and long-term benefits. However, it is important to get acupuncture therapy done under the proper guidance and supervision of a trained professional therapist.