Forearm pain?

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Arayasunshine69
Arayasunshine69 Member Posts: 50
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hello!  I haven't been around much, I recently moved from Alberta to British Colombia.  I meet my new oncologist in a few weeks.  And I don't have a family doctor in this town yet.  For the past few days, I have been experiencing pain in my right forearm, starting in my hand by my thumb, and to my elbow.  It seems to be moving up my arm, and the pain is sharp, It hurts to extend my arm, or put pressure on it.  This is the side my breast was removed, and I had lymphnodes removed from.  I've had Chemo (TCH) and Radiation, Herceptin, and currently am on Tamoxifen.  Should I be concerned about this pain, or could it be just a pulled muscle from my recent move? 

Thanks!

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  • nowords
    nowords Member Posts: 423
    edited August 2011

    Could be a pulled muscle or could be signs of a lymphedema issue.  Repost on the Lymphedema Thread and I am sure others with more knowledge will chime in...

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  • Arayasunshine69
    Arayasunshine69 Member Posts: 50
    edited August 2011

    Thanks nowords!

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  • kathleen1966
    kathleen1966 Member Posts: 793
    edited August 2011

    Hello Kellie!



    I have lymphedema. I don't think it presents with sharp pain. It feels more like the skin hurts, not a deep muscle type of pain or a pinched nerve kind of pain. It sounds like you may have pinched a nerve when you moved. I have also done this when gardening and have pain that sounds like what you are experiencing. It took some time for it to go away. I also think that mets are more likely to show up in the upper half of the arm more than the lower portion. If the pain radiates to your neck or jaw, then I would want to rule out having a heart attack as these can be symptoms of a heart attack for women (not trying to scare you). It sounds like you have pulled a muscle or pinched a nerve in the move though. This actually makes sense.

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited August 2011

    I have aches and pains every where but especially in my left arm (bc side).  I would guess you aggrevated it with your move, a strain or something.   I hope it gets better soon.

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited August 2011

    Could be cording.  Mine hurt like that. 

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited August 2011
    I concur with omaz - my cording was inner bicep to forearm, ending on top of my hand just above my thumb.  If you look at an axillary web syndrome diagram that is just what it shows.  Mine was exacerbated by the swelling coming from Taxotere, now that I am 8 weeks PFC the pain has subsided for the most part.  I still have the cording but it is not as painful and I am receiving PT from an LE certified therapist.  I am wondering if the moving triggered some cording or caused a flare-up for you?
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  • chrishat
    chrishat Member Posts: 89
    edited August 2011

    i had cording which extended down my entire arm as well. my surgery was in february and the cording and pain peaked in may and june...3-ish months later. for me, i stretched and stretched even though it really hurt, and one day i heard a little popping sound! and then the pain stopped. pretty strange, i know. anyway it sounds like cording to me too. and it really does hurt a lot. i remember i could see little tendons that were really tight on my arm, when i would extend my arm....do you see anything like that?

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited August 2011

    I'm thinking tendon or nerve irritation from the moving.  If it just goes to your elbow and not any higher than I would suspect a tendon.  But I didn't get a sharp pain from my cording - it just stopped me from extending my arm and it felt very tight.  I still have nerve issues, though.  Even though my shoulder movement is fairly good there are certain movements that cause a very sharp pain that start right above my elbow and down through my forearm.  It causes my elbow to immediately be weak and I want to say nasty words from the pain.  My PT believes that there is still some scaring around the nerve that isn't allowing it to move freely so when it get compressed I feel the stab. 

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited August 2011

    I immediately thought lymphodema too like the other girls when I saw your post.  I've had similar pain in my right arm, especially when I overdo it (hmmm, moving???:)).  Can you still check in with your old doc via phone to get their spin on it on Monday???

    Take care,
    Sharon

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited August 2011

    I guess mine might be LE or cording too...I've never had swelling so I thought it wasn't LE.  Mine is more like an ache never a sharp pain but boy when it hurts it hurts.  I still don't have the rotation in that shoulder like I use too but never went to PT either.  And I have problems with it going to sleep very easy in certain positions....between that and hot flashes at night I don't sleep very well.  I find out so much from you guys, thanks!

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  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited August 2011

    An impingement causes sharp pain.

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited August 2011

    Sure does sound like cording (also called Axillary Web Syndrome, or AWS), Kellie. Here's information that might help:
    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Cording_and_Axillary_Web_Syndrome.htm

    Hope you have answers and real relief soon!

    Be well,
    Binney

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