Radiation fibrosis pain and treatment

CTLMom

I'm curious if anyone could tell me how long it took them to feel and improvement and or pain relief from taking Pentoxifylline (Trental) and vitamin E for radiation fibrosis. I've been on it for a little over a month and don't notice anything different. My pain and tightness are worse in some ways and I'm so frustrated and tired of being in pain all the time! The only real relief I have is when I'm sleeping. I had the LD flap done 3 years ago and some time after that the fibrosis really started to develop. I think I also have nerve damage or entrapment in several areas in my back and ribs. My poor family is probably tired of hearing me complain and seeing me in pain but I have not been able to find real answers at this point. I think if I wasn't in PT I wouldn't be able to move my arm and body as well as I can.

Any thoughts on this painful mess would be appreciated!

kksmom3

I hope someone else answers, I am 4 months out from radiation. I have pain and tightness which started 3 months ago. They gave me a referral for PT and I've gone twice. She gave me stretches and exercises to do, which help a little bit as far as mobility but nothing touches the pain. It's low level but isn't getting better. I would love to move on, but it's hard to do when you're uncomfortable. I see my MO in 3 weeks, I'm thinking of moving it up, I want to ask about this medicine. It's a real bummer that it hasn't helped. I hope it will soon for you.