Shoulder Pain and Numbness?

Anonymous

This is driving me crazy!  I can't stand the "pins and needles" feeling in my left shoulder down my arm and in my fingers.  I had the surgeries and rads on that side.  This has been going on for the last week.  I started Arimidex last month and was wondering if this is the SE I have to live with now.  I'm still so sore in my armpit since finishing rads in November, and there is still redness there.  Between this and the fatique, and depression and the really cold weather, I have not been out to even walk or excersise either.  I guess I'm just a freakin physical mess

lkc

Hi Shanagirl. It will get better . I ws pretty much a mess too at 1 yr. The pins and needles feeling is called neuropathy, which is normal ( unfortunately from chemo, rads, surg etc). other wise know as nerve " damage'[. B complex was rec to me , and helped me tremendously.

Please know it will get better with time too. 

Hope you feel better.

Linda ( a former Middlesex County girl )

Gitane

I take Femara, not the same AI, but I have joint pain, muscle achiness, sadness, and fatigue as SEs. I'd say you are experiencing a combo of AI side effect, nerve damage, and post treatment blahs.  Surgery, chemo, meds, etc, etc..... should we be surprised that we feel like physical messes with all this?  I have been adjusting to it all since 2005 and continue to do so.  The Arimidex (Femara for me), in my opinion, makes it harder. 

I don't know if there is an anti "pins and needles" therapy for you that would speed up recovery, but maybe others can help with that.  I have a similar feeling in my shoulder that comes and goes and the only thing that helps is movement.

Maybe an extended vacation on a warm tropical island, daily massage, hot tub, private suite with room service, etc, etc.  Could we get a prescription for that???

apple

movement, stretching, B6, warmth.

Mine always goes away (and can be aggravated by intense, repetitive movement (like a rowing machine)

jenn3

I don't have advice, as I'm just finishing chemo and haven't started rads yet, but wanted to send you cyber (((HUGS))). 

Anonymous

apple ~ That's exactly it. Moving, stretching B6 and warmth are all that is helping, including a little Motrin.  Thanks everyone, I know I have the post treatment blahs also.