Pain in chest and trapezius muscles

Options
cowgal
cowgal Member Posts: 833
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I ended my radiation treatments last week and have been having pain in my sternum area and I think it is the trapezius muscles (connecting the neck to the shoulders) for about a little over 3 weeks.  I always feel it but it gets worse if I sit up, cough, laugh, etc.  I asked my raidiation oncologist about it as soon as it started and he said it wasn't caused by radiation and that I must have overdone it and to take some ibuprophen.  I tried that for a while and never got any relief.  Has anyone else experienced this? 

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • AlohaGirl
    AlohaGirl Member Posts: 213
    edited July 2010

    I haven't had exactly the same experience but I did notice that the muscle under my breast area and extending to the sternum was tender after rads on the irradiated side, and also that the muscle in my armpit was very tight for a while.  Neither was a huge deal in my case but both were noticeable, especially when working out.  All is back to normal now though (I finished rads just over a year ago).  Hope this helps.  Hang in there!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cowgal
    cowgal Member Posts: 833
    edited July 2010

    Thanks AlohaGirl.  Mine also goes up my throat but it doesn't hurt to swallow so I assume it the outside muscles and it does go from my underarm across the mastectomy area over to the middle of my chest.  The neck, shoulder and throat bother me more than the other areas because they impact my normal activities quite a bit.  I bet it has to do with the muscles tightening during radiation just like you said.  How long after rads did it take for your pain to go away?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • linker12
    linker12 Member Posts: 16
    edited July 2010

    I finished radiation in April & have started having pain in the rad area muscles, to the point I can't extend my arm flat (like for sit-ups). Also having pain in my back where the trapezius muscle inserts, I think is related to the pectoral muscle tightness. I've been stretching it out, very painful/burning, but the range of motion seems to be improving. My pain/tightness didn't start for about 5 weeks after radiation (or it was so gradual I didn't notice?), but I think things keep adjusting/healing.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AlohaGirl
    AlohaGirl Member Posts: 213
    edited July 2010

    I'm not sure when my soreness went away, it was gradual and one day I realized it was gone (and might have been gone for a while without me knowing).  It was a few months but it improved over that time.  The tightness also improved.  At first I had the same problem as linkert12 with extending my arm flat but I kept stretching and trying and it is definitely fine now.  Sending good thoughts your way!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • linker12
    linker12 Member Posts: 16
    edited July 2010

    Glad to hear you are fine now, AlohaGirl. Gives me hope! Yoga stretches help too.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Shirlann
    Shirlann Member Posts: 3,302
    edited July 2010

    Well, in many cases, especially if you are a few weeks out, you have Costochondritis, or, inflammation of the meat between the ribs.  This will pass.  Funny, they never tell you any of this and if you get it, it scares you silly.  Oh, breast cancer, the gift that keeps on giving!

    Gentle hugs, Shirlann

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cowgal
    cowgal Member Posts: 833
    edited July 2010

    Thanks ladies! 

     Shirlann, I looked up Costochondritis on this site and I bet that is probably it.  I go to see my PS in a few days and will ask him about it. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories