Bone pain in arm...

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited March 2021 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hi all,

For the past three months, I have had a persistent bone/nerve pain in my right arm near the elbow. At first I thought it was because I had returned to the Y and then because I slept wrong and then thinking it's because I carried something heavy. But, with this disease, it always feels like another shoe could drop at any time.

My question is this, has anyone had mets to bones in your arm? I reached out to my onco, what tests would she do? Feels like I'm back in the waiting room.

Thanks for the listen. <3

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  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited March 2021

    I had persistent hip pain about 6 mos after finishing stage 1 treatment and was sent for an xray. Mine was muscle/ligament & I needed physio but it was fixed in about 8 weeks.

    Xray is a good place to start to rule out things - it can also show if it's degenerative damage. We tend to hear of bone mets more in legs/hips & spine but really they can show up anywhere so it's good to get it ruled out.

    Sometimes bone mets can show in blood work (calcium abnormalities) but imaging is usually a good place to start.

    hope it turns out to be something easily treated!

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  • LivinLife
    LivinLife Member Posts: 1,332
    edited March 2021

    Hi Lizabeth! I have been dealing with elbow issues for about 9 months now though my situation was DCIS so quite different than what you're asking. I agree with moth an xray is a good place to start. I'm glad you reached out to your onc too! Hopefully it's an elbow issue - mine is tennis elbow much improved by P.T. though still not right. Please let us know.....

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  • serendipity09
    serendipity09 Member Posts: 732
    edited March 2021

    Lizabeth - my pain started at the elbow on my right arm and has traveled up through the bicep, my left elbow has the same pain but very faint, but it too traveled up through the bicep, but more painful. My MO sent me to PT, did that for 6 weeks with no relief. I've been referred to an orthopedic doctor who I see in 2 weeks. I'm hoping that he will order an x-ray or MRI. I have strength in both arms but they hurt constantly, to the point of tears. nothing seems to help. This has affected me regaining my range of motion because I'm limited as to how I can move my arms. Since I finished treatment it seems to always be something. It's so frustrating. Hoping you get answers and relief soon. I'll update once I've seen the ortho.

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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited March 2021

    I have (probably, my ex-PCP mentioned it but I haven't been checked further) a rotator cuff issue. I don't have a motion problem, but it aches all over my arm at times and even makes my hand hurt and partially go tingly, then numb. It's uncomfortable enough that it wakes me up at night. When you have surgery, they move your arms all over to get them out of the way, and collateral damage can result.

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  • serendipity09
    serendipity09 Member Posts: 732
    edited March 2021

    Alice - interestingly enough, I saw my PCP on Monday and he told me exactly that it's most likely my rotator cuffs. My hands do hurt and get tingly; the pain in the biceps, however, is almost intolerable. Is it just on one side for you?

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  • LillyIsHere
    LillyIsHere Member Posts: 830
    edited March 2021

    LizabethM, I have right-side elbow, wrist, and neck pain since 6 months after starting letrozole. It comes and goes. A nurse told me not to worry when the pain is on the forearms and legs. Also, tennis elbow seems to be a SE of anti-hormonal medications.

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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited March 2021

    Ivy09, it's mostly on my non-surgical side. I had 3 surgeries in 3 months in 2018, plus the arm-over-the-head for 33 radiation sessions, so it really gave the shoulders a workout. The lumpectomy side gets a little sore, but it's not much compared to the achy one.

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  • serendipity09
    serendipity09 Member Posts: 732
    edited March 2021

    Alice- wow 3 surgeries in 3 months?!

    I was able to see an oncology massage therapist (works only with bc patients) who is also an oncology nurse. She knew exactly where my pain was and explained to me everything going on (cording, scar tissue etc.) plus my stress and anxiety. She did say that rotator cuffs could be part of the issue, especially because I have my TE's still in. She told me that there are a group of nurses & physical therapists really advocating that massage and PT be part of treatment after breast surgery, as many patients, such as myself, are not informed of the after effects. Had I known, I would've been in PT and getting massages sooner. I'll be seeing her once a week for the time being. Hoping and praying that this eases some of this discomfort.

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