Ribs rubbing against under arm + extreme chest wall tightness!

dpms
dpms Member Posts: 26
edited June 2014 in Pain

My mom had a modified radical mastectomy on her right breast on December 10, 2012. She had stage 3A breast cancer.

She has completed her Chemotherapy which consisted of the ACT regiment, and finished her radiation on July 18, 2013

Since even before her radiation she had started to experience EXTREME tightness on her chestwall which of course only got much much worse during radiation. She said it feels like she is wearing an iron bra that is 3 sizes too small and just pulling at her chest. She also feels her ribs poking into her underarm (it seems the skin and tissue have thinned out significantly and the arm/shoulder is being pulled down by the scars onto her ribs). She is in excruciating discomfort 24/7!

It is now 6 months after her radiation has been over, and the pulling on her shoulder (from what we think are the scar bands and muscle contracture) and the rubbing of her ribs and poking into her under arm area + chest wall tightness has just become worse. A lot of the doctors we have met with, have said they do see that the alignment on her shoulders has become messed up (as it is visible that one has been pulled down)

We have consulted with many breast reconstructive plastic surgeons, from Stanford, UCSF, and MD Anderson, but have yet to meet one who can give us a solution to the symptoms and pain she is experiencing. Some have recommended fat grafting to try, others say they can do reconstruction but cant guarantee anything and will only focus on creating a good breast and not the problem issues. She also had intercostal nerve blocks but that did not do anything either. So the pain doctors now say it is not a main nerve issue. The pain doctors have also recommended we see an orthopedic (shoulder) surgeon. We are consulting with one this week.

Has anyone experienced the above symptoms? Any suggestions on what we can do? is it similar at all to radiation fibrosis?

Would sincerely appreciate any insight anyone can offer on any of these symptoms! 

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  • cinnamonsmiles
    cinnamonsmiles Member Posts: 779
    edited January 2014

    I answered on your other thread but will post here,too.

    I had such severe scar tissue adhesions in just a few months after my BMX.

    I spent about 5 1/2 - 6 months in occupational therapy getting Myofascial Release done before I was discharged.

    I had two wonderfully trained, experienced OT's who each had different ways of treating my scar tissue adhesions. One, was more of a literally hands on me approach, the other not so much but taught me some awesome stretches and modified yoga that I could do.

    At first they had to be very gentle (at that time I was also in excruciating pain from nerve being damaged and nicked during the BMX w/node removal as well). 

    I went two days a week. Usually Mondays & Thursdays. After a couple weeks, I could tell by Saturday or Sunday that I was tightening up again.

    I can't really help out with the skin and tissues thinning out or the radiation damage. I only have experience with the scar tissue adhesions.

    Has your mother gotten a referral to a Pain Clinic? I have an awesome one here.

    I had gotten something similar to an intercostal nerve block. It is called a stellate ganglion nerve block in the neck. It was extremely painful and only provided me about two weeks of pain relief. One of my pain doctors told me that every patient is different, reacts differently to pain treatments differently. He said to be patient, because we would need to find out what works for me by trial & error.

    So, in addition to a few medications that I take, I also get Lidocaine IV Infusions. They take a small bag of Lidocaine, hook it up to my IV & monitor me the entire time. I have been getting them since 2011 and they work good for me.

    Usual symptoms of nerve damage  pain include:

    Damage to motor nerves may produce the following symptoms:

    • weakness
    • muscle atrophy
    • twitching, also known as fasciculation
    • paralysis

    Sensory nerve damage may produce the following symptoms:

    • pain
    • sensitivity
    • numbness
    • tingling or prickling
    • burning
    • problems with positional awareness

    (http://www.webmd.com/brain/nerve-pain-and-nerve-damage-symptoms-and-causes}

    Here is a link to some information at Mayo Clinic

    http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mastect...

    In addition, I personally feel like I have been beat with a baseball bat,  like there is a tight rubber band against me, electrical zaps & feeling like I was just stung by bee (the last two listed  have become more infrequent).

    I hope  your mother finds some relief soon.

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  • beatrice00
    beatrice00 Member Posts: 103
    edited January 2014

    I have severe shoulders and upper back pain with chest tightness. I have occupational therapy two times a week and the therapist stretches and massages the scar tissue to break it down. It has helped a bit. Also I have a wonderful pain doctor who gave me 8 shots in the painful spots of my back and shoulder to specifically address the shoulder and back scarring pain and it helped a bit as well. My scar tissue not only hurts, but it compresses the nerves going down my arms and makes some of my fingers numb. So basically she needs occupational therapy and a pain doctor, at least. I wish her good luck. 

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  • annaharry
    annaharry Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2014

    cinnamonsmiles  thanks for the reply. I was looking for and answer. I really appriciate it


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  • Bren58
    Bren58 Member Posts: 1,048
    edited February 2014

    I am very sorry for your mom's problems. It is not easy to see our parents in so much pain.

    I had a BMX in 2000 and ALND in 2013. Both surgeries caused chest wall and arm tightness, and I do have some shoulder issues also. After both surgeries I had to do PT to help release the banding of the scar tissue. Try to find a PT that does most of their work on cancer patients, as they are more familiar with the various problems and treatments. I have had myofascial release done several times, and it is very helpful. I just saw my PT last week and she said I will probably be one of the ones that will have to go a couple/several times a year forever to keep the tightness loosened up.

    I hope you can help your mom find a solution and relief from her pain.

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  • jenjenl
    jenjenl Member Posts: 948
    edited February 2014

    I had the same experience as cinnamon smiles.  I thought I was screwed and going to live in pain forever but the therapy work, I was amazed!   Im about to go back again since my last surgery.  

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