Shoulder/neck pain 1 yr post rads anyone?

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JJOntario
JJOntario Member Posts: 356
edited January 2017 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I was 1 year post rads in May. Since then I have a lot of tightening up and for the past 6 wks serious burning like pain in my neck, shoulder and arm. Has anyone else had this? I'm getting really really tired of eating Advil. I've tried pt but it seems to make it worse...

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  • pennsygal
    pennsygal Member Posts: 346
    edited November 2016

    Hi

    Yes! I have had this pain, although mine started sooner than one year post-rads. Mine was also bad a few months after rads, and I developed some mild lymphedema in my trunk, armpit and breast. I went to a LE therapist who really helped, and also did some stretching and yoga as well. You might want to talk to an LE specialist - even if just to rule it out - because I've found it can cause pain in the shoulder. My Rads onc set me up with the LE person.

    Also, using my phone, ipad and computer tend to irritate it, as does knitting, and other repetitive motion. Does the advil help?




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  • JJOntario
    JJOntario Member Posts: 356
    edited December 2016

    Thanks for your reply! The Advil does help but I know it can't be good to be eating 4-8 per day. I've tried Percocet and naproxen but they are too rough on my body. I'm hoping my family dr will take me seriously and find out if this is a pinched nerve or caused by rads...I also worry about LE due to how many nodes I had removefd (13)but I don't think I have swelling (??

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited December 2016

    I've had shoulder pain since rads too

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  • pennsygal
    pennsygal Member Posts: 346
    edited December 2016

    JJ - I didn't have much swelling either - just a kind of heavy ache, and the pain. If you can, it's worth checking out. Node removal + rads is a recipe for LE, unfortunately. I encourage you to bring it up with RO as well - they are very familiar with it.

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  • CherylMk
    CherylMk Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2017

    Hi there , I have a lot of hardening in my chest , it feels like a block of hard tissue and it probably is.

    I too have shoulder restrictions and had 16 nodes removed so I do have some lymphedema as well. I have some cording ( blah) this is worse than anything because it really limits your range of motion and it feels like a nerve is pinched ALWAYS but that may be from a nerve being cut during surgery. I am scheduled to have a LDF in 3 weeks and the PS is going to release the cord.XXX my fingers he is able to and hope it stays that way

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited January 2017
    Cheryl, you might ask your RO or other team member about rx for Trental and Vit. E. It's demonstrated to be effective against radiation fibrosis (which sounds like it is part of your problem). I've been taking the combo for a few months without any side effects and it has definitely helped. My PT, too, has confirmed the improvement. Maybe that would help you, too.
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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited January 2017

    JJOntario - Your LE could be breast & truncal that has not progressed to your arm(s). I have recurrent pain & tightness that was diagnosed as LE. Please do get a referal to an LE certified therapist for an evaluation.

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