Post Radiation Muscle Tightness

Hi Moj, I didn't have that, but it would seem that physical therapy sure might help.  Talk to your rad onc, they are pretty good about what does and does not work.

Hugs, Shirlann

Hi Bliz:

I finished 25 treatments nearly a month ago. I feel as drained as I did from chemo, ugh! I sooooo wish it would at least partially go away. Sick of feeling sick.

Hugs,

erika

Bliz...I don't know about actually feeling sick post-rads, but I was advised that since the radiation continues to be effective and be operating in your body for 4-6 weeks following treatments, I shouldn't take antioxidants or in any way change the routine I had throughout treatment. To me, that says that our bodies are still reacting to the rads, etc. It is also my understanding that radiation treatment is so effective because it is cumulative, so it makes sense that your greatest sense of fatigue should come at the end.

~Marin

Bliz - I only had the five day radation, and ended July 28. So its two months and I am still tired and out of sorts, with a persistent ache on that side. My radiation oncologist shrugged this off as an expected effect. Hope you feel better sooner than that!

Hi Moj,



I finished radiation in February and still have a muscle tightness problem.



The physio people at the hospital and my lymph massage therapists told me that radiation can shrink the fascia that surrounds the muscle, giving an incredibly tight feeling.



In my case, my whole shoulder and clavicle area has shrunk, but I'm feeling the effect in my wrist. Like you, I've got muscle tightness under the breast too (in my case where the breast would have been).



I'm told that fascia doesn't really respond to stretching and straining, but requires a gentler approach. I've had some success with swedish massage to that whole quadrant of the body, and also with rolfing.

Rolfing is a technique that concentrates on fascia. I went to a rolfer who is known to be excellent and intuitive and it helped a lot. I used to feel the need to stretch every 10 minutes or so, but she managed to get rid of that feeling in my chest. Also, my chest was incredibly hard to the touch, but is now softer and feels more like a human body. Rolfers normally want to do this whole series of 10 treatments on you, but I explained my situation and asked her to try to apply her knowledge to it.



I also find it has helped to keep my upper body moving with exercise. I do both Tae Bo (because it has a lot of arm and torso movement) and yoga.



That being said, I've had no success with the shoulder/clavicle tightness causing my wrist problem. Unfortunately, this is one side effect of radiation that nobody seems to have any awareness of, not to mention solutions for. Basically you've got to explore on your own, and it's very hit and miss. The chest seems to be more amenable to treatment though.



Good luck and I'd love to hear if anything works for you.



Darya

Yoga has made a huge difference for me.  I was never 'into' youga before,b ut thought it a gentle way to re-enter the world of exercise.  I go twice a week and find it very beneficial....

I have had severe tightening post radiation. I have found that a deep massage on the area helps quite a bit. It is something that I have to have done weekly to keep the relief. I spoke to my radiologist oncologist and he wrote a prescription for massage along with prescribing flexeril if it gets too tight. I also recently found that the rightness continued to get tighter on Arimidex. They just changed my medications and it is loosening???

Hi, I had that IRON bra feeling which was pain and TIGHT,TIGHT,TIGHTNEESS in my arm and shoulder which was avful after rads. Was diagnosed with radiation fibrosis, had 120 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy treatments? My skin was also stiff and woody, like boot leather. After the HBOT treatments my skin went back to 95% of normal and the tightness finally is much better. Before HBOT I did three or four months of Physical therapy, twice a week. Made absolutely no difference to the tightness in my arm and shoulder. I would stretch and stretch because the tightness was driving me around the bend. The RO burned me to horrible crisp, she never told me about HBOT. I wish she had, would have saved me a year of misery. Radiation Fibrosis is an accepted diagnosis by Medicare, but they call it soft tissue radio necrosis. Also I am using Pentoxifylline and Vitamin E. Had some fat grafting as part of reconstruction as well which probably helped too.

I asked my RO about Pentoxifilne and she said the SEs were bad, however I had not read anything about terrible SEs. I'm sure she thought I was crazy. I do take Vitamin E. At least I can get my hands on it and it is proven to help. What strength E do you take?

I'm also going to get fat grafting in August as part of my lumpectomy reconstruction. The doctor I am considering places some in the muscle as well. I'm hoping this will help.

I would love to have HBOT along with my fat grafting recovery

macb04,

My RO actually prescribed the Pentoxifilne and vitamin E! I was pleasantly surprised at my visit with her yesterday. I checked with my plastic surgeon and he was ok with it too. I getting fat grafting in August Recovery here I come!

1957-2057, My RO had me do PT/OT before she prescribed the Pentoxifylline and Vit. E. It seem like we have to jump through hoops before we can get the treatment we need. I recently found out the muscle tightness caused by radiation occurs at the 3-6 month mark after finishing radiation treatment. ASCO guidelines for suvivorship mentions letting patients have Pentoxifylline and Vit E. Your shoulder is probably sore from the muscle tightness. All the stretching in the world is not going to heal your radiation damaged muscles.

I'm already on high blood pressure meds and mine has gone down since I've been on the Pentoxifylline. I do not have any swelling due to Anastrozole. I do work out several times a week. I get a few mild hot flashes and a small amount of joint pain, but not enough to take anything for. Exercise is my drug of choice!

I hope the information you find on Breastcancer.org will help you be prepared for your next doctor visit.

Good Luck!

ASCO suvivorship guidelines. http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/early/2015/12/07/JCO.2015.64.3809.full

Can pentoxifylline help after the damage has been done

My rad onc suggested a trip to the rehab doc who wants to do botox injections into my shrunken right pec muscle to relax it. I have lost the range of motion in my right arm after radiation. It was ok before. Anybody had any experience with this type of treatment? Suz-Q doesn't seem to think a radiation damaged muscle can be restored.

My Chest muscle is so tight and stuck to chest wall. I've tried everything. Physical therapy , Myofacial therapy. The plastic surgeon had to remove my temporary extenders as the left side became completely capsulated. I have nerve damage and the pain is miserable! Not one doctor can help me in the Orlando Area. Getting out of bed in the morning is so hard as I hurt and stiff. I'm 55 and not ever going to be a candidate for reconstruction. All I want is this chest tightness and burning, stinging, deep muscle pain to go away. Is there not a surgery or procedure that could loosen this tightness across my chest. It's been 15 months since surgery masectomy. Chemo and 36 rounds of radiation. Removal of extenders and Alloderm. I'm miserable and all the doctors except my pain doctor have released me and basically told me there is nothing we can do. I've been deserted and I'm distraught Cancer sucks and pain every day sucks so bad!!!