Can truncal lymphedema cause pain in the lower ribs?

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cfdr
cfdr Member Posts: 549
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

I am 14 months out from surgery (lumpectomy, axillary node biopsy, re-excision), about a year from radiation and 9 months from the end of chemo. I was in PT for mild truncal lymphedema for a while during and after the end of chemo. I also so my onc a couple of months later for pain in lower ribs, below where I had my lumpectomy. Had rib xrays, but they didn't show any problems...the onc sort of shrugged and said maybe it is costochondritis, but that is more specific to where the ribs meet the sternum.

Recently the pain has become much worse: I can't lie on my back, roll over, bend forward, or carrying anything heavy. It feels almost like a pulled muscle, but it is also very sore to the touch, like a bruise, but it does not appear swollen or bruised or discolored. Everything I read about truncal lymphedema seems to indicate that it is prevalent in the breast, armpit, back, and above the breast...not below. Does this sound like truncal lymphedema?

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  • djls
    djls Member Posts: 65
    edited September 2012

    I just happen to be going through a flare of my costochondritis.  Mine is at the bottom of the breast bone on my mast. side.  I get pain that starts at the breast bone, but continues along a rib, around my side and down my back a little (it doesn't go this far all the time).  It's referred pain from nerves getting impinged on from the swollen cartilage.  I feels like a combination of out right pain and tingling pain.  When I press the rib that the pain is running along, it doesn't really hurt.   It only hurts to the touch near the breast bone.

    Unfortunately, most doctors don't seem to understand much about lymphedema.

    djls

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  • cfdr
    cfdr Member Posts: 549
    edited September 2012

    I do get some pain on the outer ribs when I press close to the breast bone, which is one reason why I had the xray to rule out a fracture. I don't get any tingling. The worst of the pain when I press on it is right under the breast and another spot on the ribs on my side.

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  • lrr4993
    lrr4993 Member Posts: 937
    edited September 2012

    It causes rib pain for me. Never as bad as you are describing, but there were a few times where my whole rib cage felt bruised and it was uncomfortable to lay on ribs. I recently lost 15 pounds and have controlled my sodium intake and it is completely gone. Before that I found the spanx camisoles really helped. I wear them instead of bras now.

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  • Connie07
    Connie07 Member Posts: 636
    edited October 2012

    Cfdr, as every dr. You meet will say, "everybody's different". but they treat us much the same.

    I had and still do have pain below the breast on almost my side but closer to breast and the rib just under there. Kinda like a sharp muscle cramp that l cant hold but can't work out. I have to lie down and take deep breaths. Fortunately, they are fewer now.



    My LANAtrained LE therapist said, "it starts in the back, LE does..". Damn, I thought that was an itchy spot for at least a year. (I just reread that & it makes her sound like Yoda, it does.)



    Also, everything Ive read says its not cureable and never goes away, so if they treated you for it early, why didnt they keep on? Logic overrides protocol. If it were me, l would go back to PT and get an evaluation. Hopefully compared to the original measurements.

    Please, GO.

    And let us know.



    Connie

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  • cfdr
    cfdr Member Posts: 549
    edited October 2012

    Spent a lovely 4 hours at the cancer clinic today: saw the NP on the surgery team, had an ultrasound and a PT consult. The diagnosis at this point is costochondritis...which surprised me because everything I've read says that the inflammation from costo is specifically where the ribs meet the sternum, whereas I have pain all the way from my sternum to my side. The PT who evaluated me said it can be anywhere in the ribs, not just by the sternum. She said there was a small bit of swelling but didn't think lymphedema was a big factor in the pain (although it could be contributing). More likely, it is a late side effect of surgery & radiation, probably compounded by the fact that I've had problems with my shoulders and therefore haven't been able to do my usual yoga/stretching. She said the entire rib cage is "tight" on that side, not expanding as much as it should when I breathe.

    She gave me some exercises to do, and I'll see a PT the next 4 Mondays to try and work on breaking up some of that stiffened tissue. Ironically, I *just* finished PT for my shoulder this week. Just when I thought I might get to go a whole week without seeing a medical professional!

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  • ahdjdbcjdjdbkf
    ahdjdbcjdjdbkf Member Posts: 645
    edited February 2014

    I'm going through something like this. I've had lymphedema for about 11 months (it sucks) and now I have a lot of swelling around my right rib cage and it's sore to the touch. But I'm also a bit sore on the left so then I thought kidney infection. But only the right is really swollen and it's more sore. I've been worrying about liver mets and my Oncologist is sending me for a CAT scan next week. I hate being exposed to radiation if my issue is lymphedema. But not one knows. 

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  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 3,567
    edited February 2014

    Aww, Maria, that truly stinks.  Next week cannot come soon enough, I'll bet. Best wishes for hanging onto your sanity in the meantime, and I'll hold a good thought that there's something annoying but not sinister that's causing these symptoms.

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  • ahdjdbcjdjdbkf
    ahdjdbcjdjdbkf Member Posts: 645
    edited June 2014

    I've been being followed but had a CAT and bone scan and both showed clear. Thank God!!! I still get pain in my sternum that totally terrifies me. 

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