Burning Pain in Armpit and Tingling under Shoulder Blade

mye

Hi, 6 weeks ago I started feeling a slight but distinct tingling under my shoulder blade (opposite cancer side) that was intermittent. I was convinced it was shingles but it wasn't. A week later I started feeling a burning, achy sensation under my non cancer arm. The burning feeling and tingling continue to this day, the burning becoming more severe to the point that it wakes me up at night. Advil does not help. During the day it's always better but still there. It seems to feel better when my arm at a 90 angle. It's always agitated when I'm on my back.

I am in the process of scheduling a Pet/CT and brain CT. Could this be nerve issues from the TE's? I am worried that it is bone mets. I don't think it's muscular because I can't make it worse by pressing on it, however it dos hurt more when I flex my pectoralis muscle.

Thanks!

dlb823

mye, it's good you're getting things checked out, but my first thought was, I wonder if you've developed some truncal lymphedema? While it would more often happen on the same side as your surgery, it certainly can happen on the opposite side. I've had it at times, and it can be extremely painful -- kind of the burning pain you described. It's also something that can be exacerbated by heat from a hot tub or hot baths or even just getting overheated while being outdoors. One way to tell if that's possibly what's going on is to push (or have someone else push if you can't see it) gently on the area that hurts and see if it leaves a brief indentation or mark due to fluid build up. It should be fairly obvious if there's fluid in the area, and if there is, that's very likely what's causing the pain.

Keep us posted on what you find out! Hopefully, it's not mets but something like truncal LE. Deanna

dtad

mye....Hi there. Hopefully it's nothing. Many times that is the case. However I would also like to say it could be neuropathy. Burning pain is a sx of it. Get it checked out. Good luck and keep us posted.

KBeee

Keep us posted!

mye

Thank you for your responses.

Deanna, I tried your suggestion to see if it's fluid built up, but I don't think it is. No indentation...

Tdat, if it's neuropathy, is that a symptom of something else that is underlying, or the source itself?

I have my first scan on Tuesday. My anxiety level is very high at the moment. I will keep you posted.

ChiSandy

You should check your cervical spine as well--a nerve impingement by an arthritic disk or spur can refer pain to the shoulder, axilla, all the way down the arm.

mye

Thanks Sandy, I do have a pretty stiff neck at the moment, but the first symptom inf it was the tingling. Actually I also have some pain radiating down my arm to my pinkie. But the axillary pain is debilitating.

dtad

mye...neuropathy is a SE from chemo. Hope you find an answer. Good luck and keep us posted.

Denise-G

I'm 4.5 years out and still get ALOT of weird feelings, tingles, pain, phantom pain all over my chest area - MX side and opposite side. Plus, I do have Lymphedema on the "bad" side.

It all used to scare me like crazy, but I've gotten used to it. Let's hope that is what is happening to you!!

mye

Thank you for reaching out, Denise. It's just that the pain is becoming persistent and worse with time, and I'm getting so focused on it.