Help my arm is killing me

kim0712

Hello Everyone! My name is Kim and I have posted before but I need help. I had a lumpectomy and SNB on May 16, 2011. I am scheduled for an reexcision and axillary dissection and a port to be placed in on Tuesday 5/31/11. They are taking more lymph nodes out because the radiation dr and chemo dr didnt agree with the BS and she didnt want to take any more out. However, my left arm has been hurting so bad since the first surgery. I mean the pain is from under my arm to my thumb and it is mainly the inside of my arm and the elbow. I am a person that can tolerate pain well but not this type of pain. It is hard to move my arm around and hard to sleep at night. I told the chemo dr about the pain and he immediatley asked me if I wanted him to prescribe something and I said yes. He prescribed Percocet every 4 hours for pain. Is this lympedema? My arm is a little swollen all the time and being out in the heat seems to make the pain worse. Any one with any kind of input would help. Thanks

Estel

Hi Kim,

You might want to post over on the lymphedema forum.  It could be LE because for a lot of us, heat is something that makes it worse.

 There is a website that some wonderful ladies from here started called Step up/Speak out that could help you.  I'm new to this whole LE thing so I can't answer your questions but there I'll post a link to that site and it will provide some information for you.

I'm sorry that you're in pain ... LE HURTS and pain meds don't often help.  On the website ... there is a page that you can go to in order to find a certified LE therapist ... that might be your first step ... have someone evaluate you that knows something about LE.

 Much love to you! 

[[[[[hugs]]]]]]

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified_Lymphedema_Therapist.htm

mrsnjband

Kim,

You could be having a couple of different things. It could be lymphedema, it could be nerve damage. I have a nerve pain that goes down the back of my arm to my elbow.  How much it hurts depends on what I do.  I do have LE in that arm but that started about 2 years after my mastectomy.  The nerve pain was from the momemnt I woke up from the mastectomy & node dissection. Ther are people with more knowledge in the in the Grrrrrrrrrr.... I hate LE thread.  Dawne gave you a link to a great site too.  Hope this helps. NJ

Omaz

Kim - You may also possibly have axillary web syndrome and/or cording.  I had pain from my armpit, down the inside of my arm to my wrist. I couldn't see my cords until at least a month or two from when it started hurting.  

ktc28

Hi Kim

I just had a port put in and three nodes out in April and am in chemo.  I developed a cord under my armpit about three weeks ago and my oncologist immediately sent me to physical therapy.  I have since developed another that I can't feel on the inside of my elbow and the PT is now working on both of them and she really helps to drain them but they can continue to fill up again and clog for what ever reason.  I don't have a terrible pain from mine, just can't extend my arm all the way and the chord sites are tender to the touch like I have a fresh bruise on the site.  I feel very fortunate because I have PT who studied about LE for years in Germany and she really helps me.  I am fortunate that I don't need to take any meds for this.  I hope you can get answers soon.

KT

sushanna1

Kim,

I am not an expert but may have what used to be called "cording" and is now called axillary web syndrome.  You may also have lymphedema.  Ask your doctor for a referral to a trained lymphedema specialist.  The sooner, the better.  In the short term, try to keep your arm up (i.e. propped up on pillows while you sleep, on the table while you eat, etc. and don't overuse it.)  As Dawn-Hope suggests there is plenty of good advice in the stepup-stepout web site and in the Lymphedema section of breastcancer.org

Good luck and let us know how you are doing.

Sue