Up until about a year ago I exercised 3 or 4 times a week - both for
endurance and strength.  I didn't take any medicine, but, I had had
some tendonitis (elbow, shoulder) which I dealt with by limiting the
stress on those tendons.
My ldl's were around 140, and my internists was satisfied and had told
me to "keep doing whatever you're doing".

Then they published new cholesterol guidelines requiring the ldl's to
be 70, and I was put on lipitor (10 mg/day).  I was also put on toprol
and altace (for blood pressure and random racing heart).  Right away I
began to feel tired, then, I started getting pains in my joints all
over.  My cardialogist cut the toprol in half, which helped a little
bit with the fatigue, but, these painful tendons got worse.  I
experienced one episode where I couldn't evacuate for several days,
and I noticed one night during this time that I had hot pain in my
back area (near my kidneys), and I could only ease the pain somewhat
by turning from one side to the other (then the pain would go to the
side I was leaning towards).  I fasted and used strong laxatives to
loose 5 pounds in a few days, but, the tendon pains stayed, so, I just
quit taking lipitor.

The pain was eased somewhat and I tried slowly to start endurance
exercising again but the pain would return.  By the time I went to my
internist, my ldl's were 134 and he insisted that I go back to taking
lipitor.  He was very angry that I had just up and quit taking the
lipitor.  I felt like I would have to find another doctor if I didn't
start back taking lipitor (he didn't say that, but, he didn't want to
discuss my options - he acted like he was ready for me to leave if I
didn't agree to start back on lipitor).  I started taking a half
dosage (5mg/day instead of 10mg), and now my knee and thigh tendons
and muslces hurt so badly that I feel the need for a wheel chair and
walking cane (I am 65 and used to be able to squat with 150 lbs on my
shoulders as late as three years ago - I weigh 140-150).

I am going to stop taking lipitor and I am reluctant to take ANY kind
of cholesterol medicine.  I wonder if I injured my tendons beyond
repair, and whether or not I will ever be able to walk on my treadmil
and spin my dual arm and leg cylce machine ever again.  It even hurts
when I try to do leg presses (from sitting on a high bench and
straightening our my legs with about 25 lbs attached to my feet).  I
have noticed atrophy in my thighs, upper arms, and calfs.  The only
exercise I can do without suffering is situps and legups.

What I can't seem to find out is what risks are involved with ldl's of
130-150 for the rest of my life?  Even with the strictist diet (ala
Jack Lalaine), I can't get my ldl's less than 130, so, I am wondering
why my doctor was happy with that 2 years ago but now insists that I
must take enough lipitor to reduce it to 70.

I don't want to practice medicine on myself, but, then, I am the one
that has to live with these miserable tendon pains - it takes the joy
out of living.

If anyone has any evidence about lipitor and damage to tendons and
muscles (including bowl and urinary difficulties), please share your
experiences.