lymphedema and shoulder pain

Options
sloyd66
sloyd66 Member Posts: 202
edited July 2014 in Lymphedema

Hi Ladies,

I stopped doing physical therapy per my OC and Rad Drs until my shoulder heal some. They think the therapist may have agitated it some, as I was able to move my arm with little to no pain. Now my shoulders been hurting, only when I move it a certain way. Have anyone else had problems with shoulder pains? I starting back in the gym, have a trainer. I was doing weights and it actually helped a little, just that some moves I can't do because I have no range in that arm.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited July 2014

    Perhaps you can get an eval from a different physical therapist?  I had to do stretching and get my range of motion back before I started strength training with weights/resistance bands.  And I had to start really slowly. WAY slower and WAY less weight than I was doing pre surgery.  Don't push too hard. If your shoulders hurt only when you move it a certain way, have someone check out if you pulled a muscle or something.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KittyDog
    KittyDog Member Posts: 1,079
    edited July 2014

    It sounds just like my problem.  I have a very small tear in my rotator cuff.  Have you had an scans done to rule anything out?  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • aunt_paula
    aunt_paula Member Posts: 271
    edited July 2014

    I started having shoulder pain around the time I developed LE. My OT has been treating the shoulder as well as arm/hand/etc. and when my swelling is down, my pain is also less (and the other way around--when swelling increases, so does shoulder pain). It feels like the fluid puts pressure on the shoulder itself (not sure if this is how it works, but it feels like it).

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited July 2014

    OK that is exactly what happened to me, pre LE.

    I had a slight loss of range after surgery.

    At that time PT at my cancer center was in the midst of a move, so I kept getting shuffled.

    I went to special exercise class for women with BC.

    And my shoulder froze.

    It is common with BC women, maybe about 25 percent, and it happened to me 6 months out from surgery.

    I could not drive because I could not turn the wheel.

    I have to be honest, it was a slow recovery. Probably a year and a half.

    Swimming did help. I had to slowly increase the driving. Even now I can't do more than 3 hours really.

    I did get relief from a cortisone injection, but that could have also triggered the LE.

    I truly hope you get quicker relief than I did.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories