Extreme Arm/Breast Pain/Scared AGAIN!

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pupfoster1
pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

So ladies I am in need of your wisdom once again.  Last week I posted about my arm pain (lymph node side) and although I've tried the wall crawl, etc. it has gotten progressively worse, now radiating into the right side of my "breast" (mx) wall and some rib pain.  The worst pain is in the under side of my arm and under the incision side with some puffiness just under the breast side of the incision.  My arm does not seem swollen.  Narcotic pain killers barely cut the edge.

So of course now I'm freaking myself out thinking it's a recurrence---already---just 3 weeks out of chemo.  I just started rads last Thursday and will see my radiology onc tommorrow.  I am hoping he may be able to figure out what the heck it is.  It just doesn't seem to fit the "classic" lymphedema symptoms.

I am so tired of being scared.  I woke about 3 times last night, once with a minor anxiety attack.  I do plan on seeing a therapist again soon as I know I can't keep doing this to myself, but the physical pain is what's scaring me right now.  Does it ever get easier?  I just don't know what's normal for my body anymore.

Thanks for listening,

Sharon

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  • Hope_M
    Hope_M Member Posts: 261
    edited April 2010

    Dear Sharon,

    One day at a time-- hang in there!  This pain doesn't sound like mets pain at all to me.  I think it is related to the lymphatic changes or the nerve that runs from the breast area.  You definitely need to call the doctor to discuss it during office hours tomorrow. I have heard of a pain syndrome involving the breast nerve, and you may want to ask about that.

    I hear your anxiety, too.  Yes, it does get easier, but in the meantime you may want to think about a short course of anti-anxiety medications, if you need them.

    Good luck!

    Hope M.

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  • somanywomen
    somanywomen Member Posts: 872
    edited April 2010

    pupfoster..I do not know if this could be source of your pain, but thought I would copy/paste my post from my painful/irritating sn area concerns...

     Since lump/sn surgery last Oct., I have been having irrritating hard rock sandspur/burr feeling under the skin at sentinel node scar area, I am still sore and it feels like I have to hold that area when I get up out of bed (feels heavy). I have complained to everyone of my docs on follow-up visits...The rad doc said it's a hematoma..not!!!!!...The onco said it is a fibrous band..not!!!..The surgeon said it just needs more healing time.....Well, low and behold, I just had my 6 month follow-up mammo/us and asked the tech to check out that area, there on the mammo is a clump of surgical clips!!..at least 6 of them bundled together, all in that area of concern...When I saw my surgeon a few days ago he said that these clips are left in all the time and that is not the cause of my irritation and that he did not advise removing them, I am telling you that I know that it is, it feels exactly like it looks on the mammo....He told me to ignore it, I wish I could.. When I told him that I had tightness around and down my arm, he also said that could not be the cause...I believe it is the cause because this clump of tissue and clips probably are hindering blood flow in that area, it only makes sense!!..I found a website of over 150 comments of people having problems with areas where clips were placed and thier doctors trying to tell them that the clips are not the cause of thier concerns just like mine!!!

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited April 2010

    Sharon - for what it is worth, it doesn't sound like mets pain to me either. I would bet it is something related to Surgery and regrowing nerves. Maybe even it is getting worse because of the position you have to hold your arm at during Rads.

    Whatever the cause though, if it is causing you this much pain, you need to get a Dr to look at it. I know how scary it is, but I often think we imagine things to be far worse that they really are. 

    I would try to see a therapist too. I did and it helped a lot. 

    Let us know what the Dr says today. 

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited April 2010

    probably not mets..

    hang in there while you wait to get it checked.  We all freak at the slightest twinge.. just a new reality.

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited April 2010

    Thanks girls,

    Will let you know what the doc says.

    Cancer Sucks.......................

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited April 2010

    I agree with the others...this does not sounds like mets pain.  See the dr and get some pain relief that works.  Wouldn't  hurt to post this over on the lymphedema forum if you haven't already.  Beesie is a wealth of knowledge on lymphedema and it's symptoms.   {{hugs!!}}

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2010

    I really can't chime in much on this, as I haven't experienced it, but wanted to send (((hugs))) your way and suggest calling the dr ASAP so that they can look at it and also help you with pain relief. 

    Please let us know what they say and I hope you feel better soon.

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  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 580
    edited April 2010

    I still have the same kind of pain and I just passed my 1 year diagnosis mark. I just had my followup mammo of left and MRI of both. I am fine on the MRI even with all the pain under the arm and in the breast area. I am seeing a lymphedema specialist tomorrow to see if they can help me at all. You should be okay as your pain sounds like mine. I cannot wear a bra very long and it hurts.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2010

    Got exactly the same stuff going on in my armpit.  I'm so tired of the constant pain in this area and into the "new breast".  I was told its from the surgery and the cutting of nerves reacting to all the tightening up during healing.

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited April 2010

    Hi ladies,

    Saw the Rads Onc today and he was very reassuring.  Says he sees this all the time, and no, I am not just being a nervous patient.  He thinks I overdid it at the gym and lifting a heavy box last week.  He reminded me that I have an all new anatomy (sound familiar Shana?) and that I am going to have to build up those muscles SLOWLY.  He also told me to use ice not heat (I had been using a heating pad).  So, after icing the area a couple times today and some pain meds I am feeling a little better. 

    I just need to be able to deal better with all these ups and downs!  It's so frustrating not knowing what is normal and what is not, and trying to keep a happy face on for everyone.  That's why I am so glad I found you all.  No pretenses here, just the truth on how you are feeling.

    For now, doing better.  Love you all for being here. 

    Sharon

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  • kimber3006
    kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
    edited April 2010

    Sharon - So glad you are feeling better and he could ease your mind!

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited April 2010

    Sharon - good to hear you are feeling better. Always good to get a Dr's viewpoint on something, and being told you are normal!

    I do think we will always stress out a bit at any new pain. I get less paniced than I used to, but I still worry.

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited April 2010

    yeah good news... Hang in there.... You should get some xanax:) lol I take one 25 mg a day and it helps me handle my anxiety sooo much....

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2010

    Glad you were able to talk to the rad onc and are feeling better.

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  • DCMom
    DCMom Member Posts: 624
    edited April 2010

    Sharon,

    I know exactly how you are feeling.  I had a number of scares right after chemo and broke down because it was so soon after.  HOWEVER NOT ONE THING WAS A RECURRENCE.  Every ache, bump, rash, zit, freckle, headache, and hunger pain could make me panic.  The ladies here have talked me outf of a multitude of crazinesses and now I have moved on to complain about my masters in elementary education and my professional work choices!  Some switch huh? 

    My surgeon snipped a bunch of nerve endings and so I am numb all under my armpit and down to below my elbow.  She was very unconcerned when I asked her about it and said "yep that feeling will never come back because I had to snip a lot of nerves".   Oh great, but now I guess I'm happy I'm numb because of the comments I have read about people and underarm pain from the surgery.  YES I have read it and I think it is not so terribly uncommon.  My surgeon even commented about that being the case when she waved away my concern about not being able to feel my elbow.  I'm laughing as I type this because it is so easy to say, but try not to think of everything as a recurrence because more than likely it isn't.  Now I'll continue repeating that to myself for the rest of the day Laughing.

    Now Go and Take on the Day....It's bound to be better than yesterday!

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  • roxy42
    roxy42 Member Posts: 495
    edited April 2010

    I'm almost three years out,Have had that sence treatment,I have had scans 6 months ago and showed nothing,still NED.My surgeon told me its the nervs they snipped,and I will never get the feeling back.........My thoughts and prays are with you.......godbless roxy

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2010

    Sharon,  I'm glad your rads  onc reassured you.  Mine did too when I was concerned about reccurance and all the pain.  Isn't it something that we have to deal with all this post mastectomy pain.  I hate it.  I would think that for me, at least it would start subsiding.  But my rad onc says it's normal because of the nerves that were cut during surgery, and tightening up with scar tissue after rads.  So he wants me to increase the Ibuprofen and if it's worse he'll prescribe something stronger.

    image

    Barb

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