Shoulder pain on radiated side

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Taralynn
Taralynn Member Posts: 99

hi all! I completed 28 doses of radiation last Wednesday, yay! The last few days I have a pain in my shoulder blade on my radiated side. It hurts when I’m at rest and hurts (in a good way! Lol) when I massage it. The pain also can radiate down my arm. It comes and goesFeels like nerve pain I think. Has anyone experienced this?

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  • LW422
    LW422 Member Posts: 1,312
    edited October 2021

    Congrats on completing your radiation, Taralynn. I'm not sure about the shoulder pain but I know we get all kinds of annoying SEs with the treatments. Radiating down the arm does sound like nerve pain, so hopefully it will resolve soon. Wish I had some words of wisdom for you and I hope you feel better soon.

  • kathabus
    kathabus Member Posts: 205
    edited October 2021

    Hi--I developed lymphedema in my breast and arm. I'll never know if it was because of the radiation or because of the lymph node removal. But when I don't wear my sleeve my arm feels heavy and I feel tingling down my arm.

    What you have might just go away. But if it lingers on for weeks, you might want to make sure this isn't mild lymphedema. I never thought I would get it with only having 1 lymph node removed, but my breast surgeon thought mine developed more from the radiation. Radiation can damage your lymph nodes and cause it. I hope in your case it goes away with time!

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

    The positioning for radiation can be murder on the shoulders. My Mom had shoulder problems for years after her radiation, and having gone through it myself three years ago, my shoulders are a mess, hurting so much they wake me up. That pain can radiate down the back or arms. But it's always good to have any new pain checked out if it lasts longer than two weeks.

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