Shoulder pain

Kazzie61

I am 10 months out from treatment for triple neg & had BMX with diep 7 months ago. For the past 4 days I've been getting pain in my shoulder - or just below - it's on the left side (cancer side) & it alternates from the back to the front, close to my arm pit. It's getting very painful & kept me awake last night...also hurts each time I breath in! I have my check up with the onc in 11 days & have tried to see my GP for some pain killers to get me through but can't get an appointment. It's quite painful & getting me down...It also hurts to move my arm..

Anyway, can't get bad thoughts out of my mind so was wondering if anyone else has had anything similar??

Thanks.....Karen

voraciousreader

I'm sorry to hear that you have shoulder pain.  There are a couple of threads here at bco.org devoted to shoulder pain.  If you do a search for the word "shoulder" (in the upper right hand corner...below the "Log Out,"  you will see that MANY of us had shoulder "issues" months after our surgery.  I don't think the doctors prepare us well for that possibility.  I know what you're thinking now, because I had VERY DARK thoughts too and worried.  I guess that's part of the "new normal."

In the meantime, I would call your surgeon's office and speak to the nurse.  Shoulder pain needs to be addressed quickly or it will linger and possibly get worse.  Also want to mention, if you feel pain in your armpit and it it feels like a "cord" running down your arm, you might have "axillary web syndrome."  If you do a search at bco.org for the words "axillary web syndrome" or "cording" you will also find some great threads.  It's treatable too!

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

Good luck and I sincerely hope you will be feeling better soon.

Moderators

There's also some great information right here at the main Breastcancer.org site on Axillary Web Syndrome.

Hope this helps!

--The Mods