LE and Shoulder Pain?

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tangandchris
tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
edited April 2015 in Lymphedema

Can LE cause shoulder pain?

I've been having shoulder pain for awhile now and MO has ordered a scan for next week. I'm just wondering if this could be related to LE at all? The pain is in the shoulder blade toward the middle of my back.

Thanks :)

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  • aunt_paula
    aunt_paula Member Posts: 271
    edited April 2015

    I have been having similar pain in my shoulder for almost a year, and the OT I saw for LE believed the LE was exacerbating a problem that may have been caused during surgery (being flopped around etc). I hope you get some relief!

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  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 3,567
    edited April 2015

    tangandchris, I get a stabbing pain in that spot too, on my LE side. It happens often when I'm walking, and I do wonder if walking, especially with my sleeve on, nudges the lymph around the back, and it gets stuck there causing the discomfort. It never happens on the other side.  LE affects a full quadrant of the body, front and back, so it's not a crazy notion.  I've seen your posts before, but I don't remember--do you have a lymphedema diagnosis already?

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  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited April 2015

    I was told I had a "mild" form of LE back in October, I was given some home exercises and a sleeve and glove. I went to see the PT as a precaution because I was to travel for business and was worried about the LE due to the that. At that time I was having shoulder pain and the PT said she didn't think it was due to LE. I'm just trying to consider all possibilities and not worry so much that it is cancer again :(

    I've been doing a lot of reading online and it seems that shoulder issues are fairly common after breast cancer tx. *sigh*

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  • Rambo50
    Rambo50 Member Posts: 140
    edited April 2015

    Tangandchris - I have a similar question/concern! I've got mild LE as well, am pretty careful, and wear my sleeve when flying or during lifting types of exercise. My pain is mostly upper arm, but doesn't feel swollen? The pain sometimes shoots to lower arm, elbow, hand, and shoulder. I've had one lymphatic massage session, but it didn't help with pain. I don't know what type of *pain* to worry about..

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  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited April 2015

    Rambo-that is the question that haunts many of us....what type of pain to worry about. I'm going in for scans tomorrow for my shoulder stuff, so we will see.

    The 2 week rule is what I learned here, if you have any pain for more than 2 weeks talk to MO. I've learned more here than from MO about many things.

    ((hugs))

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  • scvmom65
    scvmom65 Member Posts: 88
    edited April 2015

    I do! I was Dxed with mild lyphedema right after my first surgery and it comes and goes. That pain you are describing is my first sign. If I don't do self care, then my second sign is swelling by the elbow, then it gets really bad after that. For me , movement is key. I have been stuck on long car rides (5 + hrs) and I get that feeling you describe, or sometimes it feels like my shoulder blade has locked up in the back. It took me 3 years to find something that finally worked for me so I hope that is all it is for you. I do dry brushing every morning before my shower, do some kind of exercise 6 days a week (even walking helps as long as I swing my arms) and do doorway stretches several times a week. When things get real bad, for me it also helps to get a massage and drink tons of water after. I just go to the local mall and get one of those chair massages for 20 mins, it is cheap and they can hit that area I cant reach. I think sometimes the lymph fluid gets stuck back thereon me. Best of luck to you!


    Anna

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited April 2015

    tangandchris, I was just reminded by a therapist who deals with Axillary Web Syndrome (cording) that undetected AWS can cause shoulder pain like you're describing. If your LE therapist is unfamiliar with AWS you might mention it to her as a possibility. It is often quite obvious, but in some women it is very hard to detect. There is information for LE therapists about AWS on the Stepup-SpeakOut AWS page:

    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Cording_and_Axillar...

    Hoping you get some simple answers soon!
    Binney

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  • Rambo50
    Rambo50 Member Posts: 140
    edited April 2015

    Anna- I've been told to be careful about massage (traditional) with LE, that it can actually cause greater swelling - not that I've had this happen, and haven't had one since I was informed of this. I'm going to call my PT and as to be sure; I certainly could use one!


    Tangandchris - I see my onc next week. He's super reluctant to order scans, and has suggested the pain might be from anastrozole. However, it's gotten MUCH worse since my last visit, a constant throbbing in my upper arm and shooting pain below my elbow (yes, I know mets don't tend to occur there, but I'm still worried). I've had all kinds of strange dermatological symptoms since my January visit too, strange dotted rash, major hives for 6+ weeks, and this aggravating pain. Just wish life post dx, surgery, and chemo was "normal"!!!!


    Thankful for EVERY day :)

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