problems with arm after rads

susieQ610

problems with arm after rads

susieQ610

I just started rads last week and noticed my upper arm felt sore after about the 5th treatment. I am only having rads to the chest wall not supraclavicular or axilla. I spoke to the rad Dr about it and she said it just the nerves getting irritated. I also have a hematoma in my armpit from surgery 2 moths ago After session 9 today I expereinced more soreness in upper arm and also some tingling and numbness in the fingers on that hand. I,m starting to get concerned. So far no lymphadema in the arm but i don't like the feeling in my hand and fingers and am worried it might get worse.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this with rads. 

regards, susie

Binney4

Susie, soreness and tingling can be early signs of lymphedema, even before any swelling is visible. With 10 nodes removed and lingering hematoma (both of which increase your lymphedema risk, as does radiation), you might want to get a referral from any doctor on your team for an evaluation by a well-qualified lymphedema therapist. Here's how to find one near you:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified_Lymphedema_Therapist.htm

Lymphedema is staged, just like bc is, and the earlier you get it evaluated the easier it is to control. Pre-clinical lymphedema, where no swelling has happened yet, is easiest of all, and well worth a visit to a lymphedema therapist to get on top of. S/he can do baseline arm measurements, give you personalized risk reduction tips, and fit you for a compression sleeve and glove or gauntlet to use while finishing rads, for travel, and for exercise.

Hope you soon have some real answers and help with this.

Be well,
Binney

Julie50

Same thing happend to me and my arm still hurts.  I don't have Lymphedema.  But I do see a therapist twice a week that works on my arm.  She said its from Rad's frying the nerves etc. and the way to have to put the arms over the head.  She is a lymphedma specialist has been doing this for voer 15 years and said NO to the lymphedma, thank you god.

My hand and in fingers also hurt like mad, all the nerves play a hugh part in the upper part of the arm all the way done to the fingers.

I would find a therapist, it has done me wonders.

susieQ610

Thanks Ladies

It's always very helpful to get responses to concerns. I saw my breast surgeon and he said I have a hematoma from the axillary clearance plus the radiation causing nerve irritation. Thankfully no lymphadema at this stage. The pins and needles have settled down but arm still feels stiff and stabbing pains sometimes. Thankfully will be finished rads next week. I have a good physio therapist but haven't seen for a while. Definately going back to her soon for more exercises before having lat dorsi reconstruction in new year. 

All the best to you both for a wonderful xmas and a happy and healthy 2011.

best wishes, Susie

MaryNY

Susie: I noticed soreness in my shoulders and upper arms three or four days into my radiation treatment. It continued to get worse and the pain would wake me up at night. After a week or so, the soreness in the shoulders eased but my lower arms started to hurt. Then my hands too. It became very painful to clench my hands. It was always worse first thing in the morning. Initially I thought it was from holding my hands over my head during rads. But when it didn't go away after a few days as one would expect with a muscular ache and was getting worse, I became concerned. Even though the onset coincided with radiation, that appeared to be just a coincidence. I just had radiation on the left breast but the arm pain was on both sides.

When I told my medical oncologist, she insisted that I go for a neck MRI. Nothing showed up. Then she had me follow up with a neurologist. By that time, I'd done some research online and found that some chemo drugs can trigger a form of arthritis. The neurologist thought that what I had was post-chemo rheumatism. He said he has seen it in other cancer patients and it usually goes away after a couple of months. He was right. It started to ease off over the summer and by October it was completely gone.

I see your chemo was TC. Since you are experiencing tingling and numbness, is it possible that it could be some neuropathy from the Taxol you received? Some of the SEs of chemo only appear after treatment is finished. At least that was my experience.

sespebadger

I started to get very sore thumbs two weeks into radiation and I've had them ever since, so about 3 months now. I think, however, they could have been caused by the chemo (AC and T) and/or the fact that chemo put me into immediate menopause and sore joints are common during meopause. My thumbs seem  to be getting a bit better finally and it's a good thing because they are pretty vital. I'm hoping this irritating side effect will go away soon!

I also felt the sore nerves at the edges of my radiation area. Those areas started to feel better right after rads and feel MUCH better now.

MissTW

I mentioned the same thing to my radiation oncologist and he said it was due to raising my arms over my head during treatment.

pauljackson

i had the same problem and i would suggest you a chiropractor it is relatively safe consult an expert.

 Chiropractor Lawrenceville GA

Azz

Hi Susie

You have almost the same DX as me... I wonder if you had axillary dissection of nodes... my sentinel node biopsy was positive so they removed 9 more nodes. Now I'm scheduled to start radiation and was shocked that they would radiate the axilla area as well as my breast. Doesn't make sense if all removed nodes were negative. Would appreciate knowing how much radiation you had and where. Thanks.

Azz

I'm reading all of the above posts and wonder whether all of you had radiation to the axillary nodes and whether you had any negative nodes removed first.

MaryNY

Hi Azz: I was kind of surprised that my radiation onc didn't suggest radiating my axilla since I had two positive nodes. When I asked, she said they usually only radiate that area if there are more than three positive nodes. I had chemo prior to rads, so maybe it would be different in a patient who did not have chemo. I presume that they hope the chemo will kill any stray malignant cells in that area.

InTwoPlaces

I have been told that I will have radiation of my axilla and all the way to my collar bone,  there were never any discussion about it.

charmainejensenvoisine

Hello Ladies

About 5 months after radiation therapy, I discovered my right arm the side that I had the lumpectomies on - that I cannot raise my right arm straight up and back in a normal motion as I can the left arm (in otherwords motion with the right arm is limited). When I try to raise my right arm straight up, I feel a tightness down my upper arm and also often I get pain in the ball of my shoulder. Also when I try to raise my arm I feel some sort of swelling appear in the pec area of the chest..

Charmaine

charmainejensenvoisine

Hello Ladies

About 5 months after radiation therapy, I discovered my right arm the side that I had the lumpectomies on - that I cannot raise my right arm straight up and back in a normal motion as I can the left arm (in otherwords motion with the right arm is limited). When I try to raise my right arm straight up, I feel a tightness down my upper arm and also often I get pain in the ball of my shoulder. Also when I try to raise my arm I feel some sort of swelling appear in the pec area of the chest..

Charmaine

sespebadger

Hi Charmaine,

On my 4 week post rads follow-up visit with my rad onc he said that many women favor the radiated side and don't use that arm, and that they can loose motion and strength that way. He recommended exercising and gradually stretching that arm. I had been stretching since the day of my BMX (before radiation), so that helped me. I am now about 3 months out from radiation and I stretch my arms above my head and to both sides while lying on my bed at least once a day. I hope you can stretch your arms gradually so the pain you are describing goes away. If you have swelling, you should probably talk to your doctor about that.

charmainejensenvoisine

Sespebadger:

Thank you so much for replying to my message.  I am now 10 months post radiation therapy.  Yes every single day in the shower and out of the shower I make attempts to raise my right arm up and I do this while lying on my side in bed too.  I am going to some time soon try and make an appt with my doctor and see if I can get an xray done of my right shoulder as well - see if the possibility might exist that during radiation therapy I might had gotten what they call a rotator cuff injury from repitive motion (putting my arm up above head and in the stirups like every day for 30 days just about.

Will let you know..

Charmaine