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Pure
Pure Member Posts: 1,796
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

So I am at my one year so I think I am a bit more paranoid and scared then usualy but here is my issue.

When I stretch my head to the right shoulder ( I hd a lfet masectomy) and then look up slighyl I feel a pull from my houlder into my surgery area. It also feel really tight in there. I just ended rads in April and all of a sudden I now have feeling all around and across the scar area. I am wondering if the nerve endings are repairing so I am feeling th emuscles more.  Yes, I work out like a manic and carry a baby around on my opposite side which I guess could be pulling on those muscles. When I return my head to the normail postiion I don't feel anything. Also, no lumps or bumps.

I feel great-better then I have ever felt physically in my life but my left side , neck, shoulder and masectomy area just seem tigher and need more stretching etc, Myu husband thinks its form the surgery and carrying my baby on the other hip.

Does anyone else have this?

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  • chrishat
    chrishat Member Posts: 89
    edited September 2010

    i was told that the muscles and tissue that were radiated would continue to change and tighten for 6 months, and that i would need to keep stretching. i finished radiation a month ago and the whole area feels suddenly way tighter to me, just in the last few days....so maybe you're just feeling changes from radiation? pretty cool that you're getting feeling back! i'm still numb as a post.

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  • SpunkyGirl
    SpunkyGirl Member Posts: 1,568
    edited September 2010

    Jen,

    Off and on, I have pains behind and around the implant on the mastectomy side.  It's been going on for months, but I can tell you that I haven't had it for the last few weeks, and it's not a consistent pain.  So, I do believe in my case, and in yours, that our pains/tightness are caused by rads and surgery, and that it is scar tissue.  All that surgery and rads has to leave some long-term pain and discomfort behind.  In your case, it's compounded by the daily tasks of mommyhood, which is very physically demanding.  I think the best thing to do in these instances is to keep a log for a few weeks.  Write down when you feel the tightness and what you were doing at the time, and keep track of it  to see if there is any pattern to it.  You also have notes if you eventually do feel it's necessary to go see someone.  I'm no doctor, but it sounds to me like you have some scar tissue and that seeing a physical therapist (if it does get too uncomfortable) will fix you right up.

    You are doing great, Pure.  You're juggling this stuff and still being a great mom, worker and taking care of yourself.  Good for you!

    Love

    Bobbie

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  • SpunkyGirl
    SpunkyGirl Member Posts: 1,568
    edited September 2010

    Jen,

    Off and on, I have pains behind and around the implant on the mastectomy side.  It's been going on for months, but I can tell you that I haven't had it for the last few weeks, and it's not a consistent pain.  So, I do believe in my case, and in yours, that our pains/tightness are caused by rads and surgery, and that it is scar tissue.  All that surgery and rads has to leave some long-term pain and discomfort behind.  In your case, it's compounded by the daily tasks of mommyhood, which is very physically demanding.  I think the best thing to do in these instances is to keep a log for a few weeks.  Write down when you feel the tightness and what you were doing at the time, and keep track of it  to see if there is any pattern to it.  You also have notes if you eventually do feel it's necessary to go see someone.  I'm no doctor, but it sounds to me like you have some scar tissue and that seeing a physical therapist (if it does get too uncomfortable) will fix you right up.

    You are doing great, Pure.  You're juggling this stuff and still being a great mom, worker and taking care of yourself.  Good for you!

    Love

    Bobbie

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited September 2010

    hello sweetie, I had breast cancer physical therapy for that pulling, tight  feeling, I also had a Left mastectomy, for awhile I couldn,t lift my arm until the therapy did the trick for me, I had to take my fingers and walk them up the wall on that left side and slowly streach that arm up. So just try some streching, it helped me alot.msphil

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

    Hey Pure,

    I haven't been posting or visiting much lately, for whatever reason I've needed a little time away but I think about all you ladies often.  My 1 year is coming up soon too, although my surgery was not until November 9 and I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with it yet.

    Anywhoo, seems to me what you are experiencing sounds pretty normal for where you are.  My right side definitely seems tighter lately and I was starting to get concerned there was an issue too.  But I had clean scans not long ago, and no lumps or bumps that I can find, so I try to push "those thoughts" out of my mind.  I agree with Bobbie though.  You should probably start keeping track of your symptoms in writing and see if they go away or get worse with time.  If they get worse or your anxiety kicks up, go see the doc!

    Keep us posted!
    Love,

    Sharon

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  • kimber3006
    kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
    edited September 2010

    Pure - I think it was the rads.  I'm having exactly the same issues on my right (mx) side.  I'm having to stretch all throughout the day.  I had been wondering if my mind was playing tricks on me that I seem to have some feeling back in some areas since rads! 

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  • weesa
    weesa Member Posts: 707
    edited September 2010

    Pure--My treatment and diagnosis are very similar to yours, and I STILL have the type of feelings you describe after 8 years. I'm thinking you are now on an AI, if I recall, and the AI's give you strange sensations in tendons, ligaments and bone joints. I noticed the sort of sensations you describe got less noticeable after I stopped AI's--at 6 years out.Also I figured out that one particular type of bra with underwire made these sensations worse.

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  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited September 2010

    Dont be scared Jen.  We're at the same place treatment wise and I'm feeling the similar symptoms on my treatment side.  It's so tight and I'm quickly losing range of motion.  I'm gong to ask for a referral to physical therapy this week.  It definitely became worse after my first attempt at yoga last month, plus overdoing it by dragging around luggage on vacation.

    It does bring up an interesting topic.  We receive so much support from the medical community during surgery and treatment, but as we struggle with the long range complications - not so much,

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  • geewhiz
    geewhiz Member Posts: 1,439
    edited September 2010

    Me too sister!!

    I am just about the same anniversary as you. Just rolling into that year mark. I started crying yesterday driving in the car by myself for no reason...nothing was wrong really. I just have this anxiety that pops its head up now and then. I have been playing tennis and of course every ache and pain I feel I think just might be mets.

    A pt is a great idea. Your onc can refer and your insurance will pay. I started tennis again to keep my rads side moving...it helps a lot!!

    Hang in there!! We will all rock on through this together!! 

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

    Jen - I too still have pains, tenderness and discomfort at times.  I find that it happens when I haven't done enough with my arm and.....when I've done too much.  It seems to flare up then subside. I did talk to the onc about it and he seemed to feel it is normal.  But.....after what we've all been through I think we're all a bit jumpy and worry a little more.  I say better to be safe than sorry.

    Hope you feel better soon and congrats on the weight loss!!!

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  • nowords
    nowords Member Posts: 423
    edited September 2010

    I was told that the changes from radiation can go on for 2 years or longer. I have some of the same symptoms. Yoga was suggested. I know a few women who go to a massage therapist...some are trained to work with breast cancer survivors. At about 8 months out from radiation I would periodically have pulling pain in the chest and recently itching.I finished rads in Sept. 09. I have shoulder, arm and neck issues. I have noticed more feeling returning to my arm.

    Sometimes I think my neck could just be tension knotting me up too. I remind myself that it is all not cancer related. I think that once I get past 2 years I will breath a little easier...

    I too notice doing too little or too much with that arm can bring issues. On bad days my mind goes to the worst case and on good days I take a few tylenol...

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited September 2010

    I went to a PT trained on lymphedema before I started rads.  I had serious cording immediately after surgery.  She did wonders keeping the swelling down in my arm (after the first rad session I had swelling) and then we moved on to range of motion and truncal massage.  I'm finished with the scheduled visits and now I'll make an appointment if I feel I'm having a problem.

    Even after working with her and doing my exercises I still get the tightness in the chest and pains around my incisions.  For three weeks I had painful spots on my left side -- almost to the shoulder blade.  Turns out this was the internal edge of the axilla surgery incision and things were just swollen and tight.  Got the lymph fluid moving and kept up with the arm stretches and it's finally going away.  I'm also being told to expect pains as the nerves heal.

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  • lkc
    lkc Member Posts: 1,203
    edited September 2010

    perfectly normal and expected from rads and surgery . Relax and congrats on your anniversary!!!

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

    Hi Guys-Thanks for all your support and responses. I noticed on the days I don't workout I don't have the issue so I am guessing it's the weight lifting, my breasts bein uneven in weight, and the carrying of the baby. Now I am concerned that on my masectomy side below my collar bone its more boney where the left side indents in under the collar bone. Gosh I hate this crap!

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  • bejuce
    bejuce Member Posts: 97
    edited September 2010

    Hi Jen,

    It's probably nothing to worry about.  I too feel much more bony on the cancerous side (in the breast area, where my breasts used to be) and my doctor and nurse told me the radiated side has a tendency to feel that way because of the damage endured by the skin.  

    This disease sucks so much and I hate that we have to feel this way about every little different thing we notice...

    Try to relax and enjoy your weekend,

     Marcia

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