Any suggestions about rads

Hi Jenny...no suggestions...just want to wish you well...I too am having issues with both my arms, especially the shoulder joints...the cancer side is actually doing better than the other one...sigh...I blame chemopause and tamox...take care...

Do you have TE's?  If so, that will contribute to the pain.  

I am still numb (1 1/2 yrs out from Mx).  I know they always tell you there may be more pain etc. after radiation, but I didn't have any more problems after rads than before.   So far, I haven't had LE (knocking wood!!!!!) 

Hi Jennyboog,

I also had BMX with no recon back in July 2010 and then rads starting in Sept. I would suggest gentle stretching at least once if not twice a day. I still do them and expect to continue to do so. My rad onc said that the MX scars want to pull tighter and you do the stretches to keep range of motion. I just lie on my back in bed with my knees bent and stretch my arms straight over my head so my fingers touch the mattress above my head. I also let my arms open to the side. Go slowly and don't bounce your arms. I hope this will help with the actual time you spend at radiation. BTW, if you start to feel pain from radiation, ask the doctor or nurse for help. I needed pain meds by the final week or two. Also special topical silvadene cream if you get burns. Luckily, although I got burns, they healed quickly (in two weeks). While I was doing rads I was told not to lift heavy weights with arm on rad side. But as soon as I was done and healed I was told to start using it and not favoring it. Also, like you I was very worried about lymphedema after all the chemo, surgeries and rads. But I've had nothing. I've flown 4 times since rads were over and had no problem. I hope you will also be fortunate not to get lymphedema. Good luck!

jenny - PT is a great suggestion.  After my bmx I did everything they told me and some days were tough.   During rads there was an older lady that told me for whatever reason the position she was in during the treatment was so painful that she started taking prescription pain meds about an hour before the treatment.  I don't remember the exact particulars, but she said otherwise she didn't have too much pain.  Could you get some good pain med through your system before you go?  Maybe the combination of a good pain medication along with PT and/or exercises would help relieve the pain.

Good luck and I hope that your pain is relieved soon.

I had terrible arm pain with rads, during the set up appt, I thought I was going to have to move & screw up the whole thing.  I ended up taking pain meds before each rads session.  But long after rads I was still having pain, but was put on anti inflammatories for something else & voila! my arm pain that I'd had for a year was gone.  It's been gone for more than a year now.  Maybe this will help you too.  Good luck! Dee