Pain and loss of motion 1 1/2 years after surgeries

kaybritches100
kaybritches100 Member Posts: 7
edited June 2014 in Pain

I had a mastectomy of my right breast in August 2012. Then a few weeks later had auxillary nodes removed. The mastectomy has done fine I believe. Sure I had the weird situations for some months after removal of the breast. Shooting pains and the numbness. I know this was mostly caused by nerves rejuvenating. So, I am roughly 1 1/2 years out from these surgeries. The problem remains with my right arm. The side I had these surgeries on. It is very frustrating and limiting me in what I can do as I am right handed. Range of motion is one of the issues. When I raise my arms and compare, there is approximately almost a 5-6 inch difference. So yes, the range of motion is very much effected. I use the right arm just slightly wrong and there is a twisting feeling with pain. Like most of us, I am no stranger to pain and can handle it. When my arm does this though I will yelp out. Feels like someone is twisting it and it takes a bit for it to pass. I am trying to use my left hand and arm more. Yet, I am right handed and that is how my brain is geared. This is happening on a daily basis and multiple times a day. Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem. I am thankful though to currently being a breast cancer survivor!!! Thank you and God bless all my BC sisters. 

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  • corky60
    corky60 Member Posts: 726
    edited March 2014

    Kaybritches, I am so sorry.  Although I haven't experienced this, perhaps you would benefit from physical therapy.  I'm sure that others who've gone through this will chime in.

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  • Solen
    Solen Member Posts: 146
    edited March 2014

    I had a frozen shoulder on my left side, about 11 years after having a lumpectomy, lymph nodes taken and radiation.  It didn't happen until I hurt my shoulder a little when my child jumped out of a tree at me!  LOL!  It wasn't that bad, so I just rested it.

    but what happened was I then "babied" my shoulder and I lost range of motion as the scar tissue built up.  A frozen shoulder can happen to anyone, but is common in ladies in 40's and 50's and breast cancer patients (not sure if lower estrogen contributes!)

    Anyway, I had a lot of PT to fix it, the longer you wait, the more range of motion you can lose.  I would definitely check it out with a doctor first and you will probably end up with some PT, but if it is a frozen shoulder or something like it, the longer you wait, the worse it gets.  You want to proceed under the care of someone who knows what they are doing, if you do too much you can make it worse.

    I just had a bilateral mastectomy, and you better believe I was working on range of motion as soon as possible. 


    Now it could be something entirely different causing your issues, so I would see a doctor as soon as you can.  Let me tell you, it was quite painful!!!  So in a way I hope it is not what you have, but it is a fixable non life threatening problem, so compared to some things, it isn't so bad.  KWIM?

    Wish you the best!

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