pain and tightness in chest and armpit

Options
bbbooots
bbbooots Member Posts: 5
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hello everyone.  I am IDC, multifocal, triple neg, stage 2, grade 3, one node positive.  My treatment was mastectomy (10/11), chemo (11/11 - 03/12) and rads (03/12 - 05/12).  I declined reconstruction.  My problem is severe tightness over my chest and in my armpit.  My tumor was almost on my chest wall so I have nothing left where my breast was (it is a big dent).  I had severe burns following rads.  I try to do my exercises but if I do them too often or too vigorously I have severe pain.  I am losing motion in my shoulder.  I have been to a plastic surgeion (a complete waste) and have just started myofacial release therapy.  I love to swim and can't now - has anyone else had this happen?  What did you do?  Will I eventually be able to swim?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • cj81842
    cj81842 Member Posts: 31
    edited November 2012

    I had chemo, mastectomy and radiation due to my cancer being in my chest wall and had already invaded the Pectoral muscle. After the mastectomy, I had gotten my arm motion back and really felt good about the range of motion I had and so were my doctors. Then, I had 30 radiation treatments and like you, I have no skin (in fact my chest feels like a brick wall) so the radiation treatments gave me severe burns (2nd & 3rd degree burns with blisters from my shoulder down). After the very long healing process, I am having the same pain/motion problems you are having and I'm also begining to wonder if it is going to get worse instead of improving. The pain and not being able to move my shoulder/arm without pain is very frustrating. I have had to take pain medication to be able to do many things I just took for granted. Does your doctor give you any pain medication to help with this type of pain? I go back to the doctor this month and hope the doctor can tell me what to do. I just pray it isn't going to get any tighter. I will also keep you in my prayers...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bbbooots
    bbbooots Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2012

    Carole -

    Thank you so much for your reply.  Although I would not wish this on any living creature, it was good to hear that some one else is dealing with this.  May be we can help each other.  My doctor has given me pain meds (mostly tramadol) but I can take them only at night as I work full time. I can't work wacked out on narcotics (especially as I sometimes work with narcotic addicts!).  If the pain keeps me awake I will take the pain med.  If i hurts during the day I just use tylenol.  But, good news.  The myofacial release PT seems to be helping.  It is pretty ouchy but not so much it is unbearable.  The PT doing it has worked with others who have this problem, and she said it can sometimes take up to a year to treat. I got so sick of people (my nurses, doctors etc.) telling me I must have a frozen shoulder and I must have not done my exercises.  I kept telling them it was not a frozen shoulder as I know what that is, and I DID do my exercises after mastectomy faithfully.  This problem did not start until 3 months following rads, and then did not get bad until 6 months after rads.  I felt soooo good when the PT said I was right, it was not a frozen shoulder.  HAH.  Anyway, I hope I will be able to swim again as I love the water.  Have you tried PT?  Thanks again for taking the time to post.  Hope you soon find something that gives you relief.  The pain can be awful.

    bbbbooots

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Justsayyes
    Justsayyes Member Posts: 34
    edited November 2012

    I have been experiencing a new painful tightness of my pectoral muscle, and started looking for what I can do.  Glad to hear the massage is helping.  I was reading the following which is long, but has some good info.  If this gets worse I will be calling my radiation doc and asking for help.

    http://jpkc.smu.edu.cn/fszlx/3-6/13Late%20radiation-related%20fibrosis%20pathogenesis,%20manifestations%20and%20current%20management.pdf

    I was interested in the combination of the one medication and vitamin E.  So exhausted right now can't think of the name.  Right now I am stretching every night, taking Aleve works OK for me. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited November 2012

    Boots, I am almost a year past rads, and still have a lot of tightness as you describe. The key is to stretch, gently, and several times a day. It sound like you found a PT and that is the second key, in my opinion.

    About 3-4 months ago, I started getting problems with my shoulders. It was clearly because I had started slacking on the stretching. 

    I have a 5-minute stretching routine and make sure to do it at least 2X a day, but try to do it whenever I remember.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories