mets? LE? post mast. pain syndrome? or something else?

minxie

I am right handed and have worked over 20 years as a computer artist, which means right hand is constantly using a mouse or Wacom pen. For most of my career I've had off and on pain between my spine and shoulder blade on the right. But since my double mast. with lat flap recon. in July 2009, my entire upper torso is a painful wreck.

I went to a pain management clinic after living with the pain for 4 months, and they got me hooked on Fentanyl, which was horrible. I quit it cold turkey and the pain was manageable afterwards. But now, one and a half years after the mastectomy, the pain is ramping up bad again.

I have constant pain in my right shoulder. The right trapezius and rhomboid muscles hurt a lot after time on the computer, as well as the left trapezius. On the right, the pain extends from shoulder blade  down to the ribs on the side and to the ribs in front, right under the breast. What worries me the most - the right breast (cancerous one) even hurts sometimes. I've felt all over for lumps around the implant and scar but found none. I also have occasional pain on the left ribs, also on the sides and under the left breast, but 85% of the time pain is on the right.I also have pain radiating up to the right side of my head, behind the ear.

Right around the lat flap scars on my back is constantly burning/sore and what I am assuming is the track they tunneled the muscles through,  up through the underarm and over the breast, is very sensitive to touch. I also have some ugly swollen areas both sides where breast goes into armpit that I didn't have before reconstruction - not sure if this is just the way the reconstruction came out or if it's LE?

I find my shoulders constantly hunched up - I am unconsciously doing this - maybe from pain? I am constantly turning my head because sometimes I can get this wonderful CRACK in my neck and upper spine that momentarily alleviates it all.

I had normal tumor markers and liver enzymes this summer, as well as a brian MRI which was fine. My last bone scan was almost 2 years ago. I really, really DON'T want another scan, I completely emotionally break down when faced with medical equipment. So I am afraid to bring this up with my onc, because I know he'll say let's do a scan to be sure. But - based on all this (sorry so long winded!) what does it sound like is going on here? I'm scared of mets, of course - but this pain really sucks.