pain pain and more pain

jabal

Was not sure where to post these questions but here goes. appreciate any thoughts from others.  I finished my radiation in April.  Got through it like a breeze.  Started arimadex.  Had to start and stop many times because it seemed the side effects were horrible and they mostly stopped when I quit.  For weeks now I have had so much breast pain, armpit pain, tenderness in spots that come and go, chest pain, anxiety.  I had one node taken out that was positve but seemed isolated to that node.  The strange thing is my good breast has the same discomfort.  It is like my entire chest area from armpit to armpit hurts off and on including my ribs, back and on and on.  My oncologist keeps putting me off and just wants to see me for my 6 month checkup in September.  He finally set me up to see a surgeon next week to see if any biopsy needs to be done.  This darn anxiety is through the roof.  Could this be from the rads?  The surgery?  Scar tissue? infection?  Another strange this is that I was told the breast would get smaller due to rads and the fact they took out tissue when they did the lumpectomy.  My breast is actually larger again?  I thought at first it was the hormone therapy but stopped it and it still goes on.  Has anyone experienced this from rads?  I was so good for several months after rads so can it rear it's ugly head later?  The entire upper half of my body hurst like hell...help

BayouBabe

jabel - please see if you can get a referral for physical therapy. I went for several weeks and this greatly helped. I had many of the same issues. It was a life saver for me.

GemStateGirl

You might consider posting your symptoms on the Lymphedema Forum to see what they have to say.  I have lymphedema in my arm but have read of people who get it in their chest and trunk areas.  The symptoms you describe of pain and tenderness that comes and goes in those areas made me think of it.  There are several BCO members in the Lymphedema Forum that are extremely knowledgeable about lymphedema that I'm sure would be helpful. You don't have to have a lot of node involvement to get it and it can appear at any time.  You could also search for breast, chest or truncal lymphedema on this site.  The other site to check out for information is http://www.stepup-speakout.org/.  I believe that the same women who provide advice on BCO's lymphedema forum also are involved in that site.

I hope you get relief soon and it turns out to be an easy fix.

KunikGoel

I would recommend visit a physician first and get checked up again. Whatever be the cause of pain, pain-killers should be avoided at all cost during pregnancy.

Linda-n3

I agree that you need to see someone because this could be any number of things. It could be lymphedema, but it could also be neuropathic pain, infection, axillary cording, etc. I could be from radiation. The main issue is to find someone who will really listen to your pain issues and LOOK to find the answer, and this is sometimes difficult as many of our PCPs, MOs, BSs, PSs, ROs, and others just deny that anything they did or that any part of your treatment may have caused your pain. The NP that I saw a week after surgery told me arm pain was normal, but I KNEW it was NOT the "normal" kind of pain, and it turned out to be axillary cording or axillary web syndrome (which is a risk factor for lymphedema). PT helped greatly with that. I also know that radiation can damage the nerves that run through the axilla and surgery can damage them, so there are lots of possible reasons for your pain (and many of these show up later rather than earlier). You may want to see an interventional pain specialist - they are more into looking for a cause than some of the other pain management folks who just want to give you meds to manage it. Best wishes, and if I can be of any help, please feel free to PM me. I have taught pain management classes for pharmacy students and have a fairly good knowledge base in this area, but I am NOT a pain specialist.



Also, I don't know if you are pregnant, not sure where that comment came from, but "pain killers" do not necessarily need to be avoided at all cost during pregnancy!!!! Just because a woman is pregnant does not mean she has no option for pain control!!!!