Tugging, Sore Pain Under LN Arm

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

Hi ladies,

So my latest issue is this almost pulling, tugging pain under my right arm where the lymph nodes were removed which radiates somewhat into the BC breast as well.  I might just chalk this up to a delayed reaction to the surgery, but I am TERRIFIED it's more cancer.  It feels almost identical as to how it did right before surgery (which was back on Nov 9).  That's what has me freaked out.  I also just finished chemo on 3/23 and am wondering if "it" was lingering waiting for the chemo to go away then jump back on me.  I start rads later this week and my husband is telling me if there's anything there, hopefully the radiation will zap it.  But it feels longer under my arm than where they are going to radiate.  I don't feel any large lumps, but maybe some small bumps.  I just don't know what to think anymore.  AND I am in a big time funk right now.  All I want to do is sleep.  I am physically and mentally exhausted.  I WANT to exercise, but can't seem to drag my butt out to do it!  Everyone thinks, oh your'e out of chemo now you must want to celebrate, when in reality all I want to do is to go to bed.

Any thoughts on the arm pain---no swelling so I don't think it's lymphodema. 

Thanks ladies,

Sharon

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  • 116
    116 Member Posts: 108
    edited December 2012

    I have this exact sensation, It is really, really scary, I also get it under my non BC side and started to worry that it had spread to that side too. I also wonder if it is just a normal tugging sensation that I always had before BC, never noticed it before, and now I am just paranoid. I mentioned it to my oncologist and he did not say much other than to feel under my arm and not really notice anything unusual. Anyway I just wanted to assure you that I also have this tugging pain, and I once spoke to an 89 year old women that had BC, Chemo and Rads, years before and she mentioned how still freaked out she gets when she felt this same tugging sensation. I guess it is always best to talk to the docor about it, however I never have really got much security from these kind of conversations from them :) I am interested in hearing what other say about this too! It was just worrying me the other day. It comes and goes, which I thnk is why the doctor seemed unconcerned too. Also I just wanted to say congratulations on finishing chemo and not to worry or stress about not feeling like getting out of bed. It took almost a year for me to stop feeling like this even though I got up to go to work everyday. It took two years before I even felt kind of normal energy level.

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  • Hope_M
    Hope_M Member Posts: 261
    edited April 2010

    Hi, Sharon-

    This is most likely scar tissue formation under your arm where the surgery took place.  Another possibility is a type of cording associated with lymphatic channels damaged by the lymph node removal.  I am 7 years out and still have occasional therapy to stretch and release scar tissue and adhesions under my arm.  A good physical therapist or occupational therapist will probably be able to help you.  Also, lymphedema can be present without noticeable swelling.  My affected arm runs 2 - 3 cms larger at the top than the normal arm, and without my being able to notice that without actually measuring.

    Good luck!

    Hope M.

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  • jeffrine
    jeffrine Member Posts: 24
    edited April 2010

    I had my db mast a little over a year ago, finished chemo 9/09 and rads 12/09, still on herceptin.  My lymph node side is the left.  I have the pulling tugging pain under my arm and across my scar also, plus my skin physically hurts for anything to lay against it on either side.  My onc checked it out 2 weeks ago and my surgeon last week.  They both agree that it is from the nerves being cut during surgery, regeneration of the nerves and scar tissue.  My mom who has had BC twice has this on both sides and has been told to live with it!  Nice, huh.  What I have found is if I don't stretch my lymph node arm regularly the pain is worse.  You may try either every morning or night stretching that arm over your head and trying the "wall crawl".  You may be favoring that side and not realizing it, so when you do use that arm a lot, it pulls under your arm and across the scar.  The exercises hurt, but in a day or two, the pain has lessoned quite a bit.

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

    Sharon  First,  I know the feeling of that pain and tugging feeling.  It's terrified me too, but I discussed it with each of the docs on my team, and all agree it's scar tissue tightening up after the surgery and especially following the rads, and the nerves are also sensitive around the armpit area where they had to cut to remove nodes, and these nerves, especially following taxol, are all sensitive down the arm. BC is the gift that just keeps on givingFrown

    Second,  Of course you're friggin tired!!!  You just finished chemo and not even started rads yet!!  WTF, don't worry about not feeling that you WANT to exercise. Eventually you will!  I was the same way and still am and I finished rads in November. Still so friggin tired and still weak, especially when I push my ass to exercise.  I had gotten so down on myself about this that I couldn't even feel comfortable about sharing my efforts to exercise on the fitness threads.  I just quietly go at my own pace now and am happy for any little improvement I make.  To be honest, I get so frustrated at myself when I read how a lot of the other girls are doing these amazing things with their workouts, and I'm not physically up to it yet.

    Third, try some stretching of your arm while your laying around and watching TV.  I'm glad I did while I was recovering because it get's worse after rads as far as the tightness and tugging feeling. 

    Fourth,  reading everything you said so reminds me of how I am feeling physically tooUndecided

    Hugs,

    Barb

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  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 580
    edited April 2010

    Sorry all of you are having this problem but thank you for posting that you are, as I have freaked out more times than not because of the pain all the way from under my arm across my mastectomy site. I had a followup exam by my oncologist in January. I will be seeing a lymphedema specialist listed on the lymphedema site in my area next week. I wanted to wait until my yearly followup MRI and mammogram.

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

    WOW!  You ladies never cease to amaze me.  I ALWAYS feel better after I post something.  I am going to try the wall crawl the next few days to see if that will help aleviate some of it.  I just freaks me out when these things just seem to pop out out of nowhere. 

    Still gotta snap out of this funk, but you all have definitely helped.

    Thanks again.  Love you all!
    Sharon

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

    you have to keep up with 'stretching'.

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  • jpsgirl96
    jpsgirl96 Member Posts: 240
    edited April 2010

    I had lumpectomy and sentinel node dissection, then axillary node dissection, FOUR years ago.  I am NED, doing well, BUT...I get these little sensations, tugs, pains, whatever, in the area of the ex-lymph nodes from time to time.  Docs (onc and breast surgeon) assure me this is normal, my mammograms and MRI's and ultrasounds and exams all agree.  It's weird, but I'm told with all the nerves and other things she cut, having these sensations is expected.  Hope that helps...thinking good thoughts.  Leigh

    PS I have the vague idea that when I am otherwise stressed, I am more likely to have these "pains", but I really can't pinpoint the pattern with assurance.

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  • celtic
    celtic Member Posts: 59
    edited April 2010

    I am about 4 years out of left side mastc. with 10 lymph nodes removed on my left side. I have had that terrible painful pulling under my arm pit for the last few years and have been worried that the cancer was still there or had spread. It also started on the right side but not as bad  ( had reduction on the right side breast ) My breast surgeon finally did surgery last November to do a bioposy and it was scar tissue that had been creating the pain... best remedy has been pilates !!! it has help my pain and I no longer have that pulling and tightening feeling that makes you cringe.

    I was not sure that I could handle the movements and length of upper body exercises, but I was able to use the modified versions when needed. Hope this helps... if you can't join a group, just get a DVD.

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  • Beverly11
    Beverly11 Member Posts: 443
    edited April 2010

    Sharon - Of course you are tired.  I finished rads the end of August/09 and I am still tired.  But, feeling better than I did in August & worlds better than when I finished chemo June/09.  I had a pretty rough case of neuropathy pain with taxotere which can contribute to long term fatigue apparantly.  That and difficulty sleeping!!!  Anyway my suggestion would be to try to go outside everyday for a walk.  If you are exhausted just go to the end of the block or something.  I did that during chemo and  often surprised myself by continuing on.  Just don't set an overwhelming goal and then you just think you are too tired so you don't do anything.  The fresh air will help.  Or, try 3 - 10 minute walks daily instead of 1 - 30 minute walk.

    Take Care,

    Bev

    (aka Denise Austin)

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