shoulder pain.: Hello everyone,I... - My Breast Cancer ...

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shoulder pain.

Celia2055 profile image
9 Replies

Hello everyone,I finished my radiotherapy in may after a lumpectomy and radiotherapy,a few week later I developed shoulder pain on the same side as my breast surgery,I have been diagnosed with frozen shoulder and recently had a steriod injection that doesnt seem to have worked,I was also referred to musculor skeleton doctor but not untill the end of this month,does anyone know what he will do?can he give me another injection ?The pain is so unbearable at times especially in bed at night.I was told this is common after breast surgery and radiotherapy.Has anyone else had this.Replies welcome.

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Celia2055 profile image
Celia2055
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9 Replies
Jennymary profile image
Jennymary

Hi Celia, well done on completing your treatment, I had lumpectomies October 2013 and 3 weeks radiotherapy January 2014, I had complete node clearance in my right arm, and during my radiotherapy that arm got incredibly stiff, I had problems putting a top on over my head and was unable to raise it up in the air, when treatment finished I visited my BCN who said I could end up with a frozen shoulder and she referred me for physio, I had 2 sessions and over time got full movement back and averted the frozen shoulder, I wish you well with your forthcoming appts x

Debster2016 profile image
Debster2016

Hi Celia I am sorry but I have not experienced this but I do hope this gets sorted out for you soon. I am sure it will in fact! As frozen shoulder is not unheard of following our treatments so take courage! Take some pain relief and maybe ask for strong/er pain relief? Until your next appointment. My 'normal' post surgery exercise were a huge (to me) challenge and I still felt like my scar is going to tear sometimes and I'm 9 months postbsurgery but I still do the exercises and they have proved effective over time.

Wishing you well xx

paulam1 profile image
paulam1

Hi. I developed a frozen shoulder last october.it has been the most painful experience ever.after months on pain killers which were not helping with pain i al§o had steroid injection which for couple of days seemed to have worked but came back with force.I was then offered an injection done under xray where saline fluid is injected in shoulder to loosen it.It worked finally shoulder pain free it was amazing to be pain free,i am also having hydratherapy which i§ great at time,for me its one thing after another im now suffering with elbow and muscle pain.waiting for yet another appointment.i really hope you get the help you need.I understand it is the most painfull condition ever,i got to point many times when i couldnt see an end to pain.after second treatment cant remember what procedure is called but the relief was amazing until the elbow pain started.good luck i really hope you get the right treatment and are pain free asap.Take care.

Pauĺa

josiemarie profile image
josiemarie

Hi, l too had frozen shoulder.. a course of anti inflamatories cured it and lve had no trouble since.

Josie x

mrsorangecat profile image
mrsorangecat

Hello, im sorry to hear you're in pain, no fun is it in bed at night, i also had trouble getting a coat or a cardy on that side. I had similar symptoms but a frozen shoulder was ruled out as i could lift my arm, i just couldn't rotate outwards at all. They thought it was nerve pain, possibly thoracic outlet syndrome? In the end my fab GP prescribed me Amitriptyline. It has been amazing. I have no pain now and sleep well on 20 mg each night. I do hope you get some relief soon. H xxx

Candybabe profile image
Candybabe

I had to return to physiotherapy and I made more improvement, but they also referred me onto hydrotherapy, which has had a terrific, longer term effect. Good luck

NickAl profile image
NickAl

Hi. Sorry you are in a lot of pain and discomfort. I had wide excision lumpectomy and ANC followed by radiotherapy which finished last September. The pain in my ribs has been awful and has now spread to my shoulder and collar bone. I have been referred to physio and an orthopaedic surgeon. I do my exercises religiously and not sure if I should have physio before I have seen the orthos. Apparently all these feelings are normal but no, they are not nice and I wish you well and hope that soon you will get a good nights sleep. It is a horrible journey that we are all on so it is good to share experiences. Take care.

Alison x

louise007 profile image
louise007

Didn't realize it was so common with us girls 😺 I finished radiotherapy in May 2015 twenty sessions and now developed a frozen shoulder and impingement syndrome after breast care nurses arranged X-Ray ..awful pain especially at night ..co codamol not ensue went on tramadol now on a morphine patch .I have a high pain threshold but this has brought me to my knees . Radiotherapy the gift that keeps giving 😺. I would go for X-Ray before physio as it made mine worse due to the extra problem .talk to go about correct pain relief .the steroid injection didn't work for me .but they have to try now waiting for keyhole surgery ..finally feel validated ..people don't understand the pain ..I found putting a pillow under arm helped sometimes .good luck and it will get better but it's hard to cope with I know .had it since May . To take my mind off plain at night I listened to my ipod it helped to focus on something else ..I cried so much at night with it ..couldn't bear it and paid to see orthopaedic consultant who took a sharp in take of breath when saw X-Ray ..tell gp how poorly you feel hopefully they will listen.take care

Tbott profile image
Tbott

Wow! I had my lumpectomy on left breast in November 2016 and finished 43 radiation treatments in late February 2017. I have been seeing a lymphadema therapy since before my surgery. She came as part of my breast cancer team. I had no idea how valuable she was going to be. She had me moving my shoulder and working on cording 3 weeks after surgery. A month ago my left shoulder began having severe pain. I have limited motion. I talked to my lymphadema therapist and she said she believes it's from radiation and Tamoxifen. I have not had any injections yet but I am looking for some relief. I sure hope that anyone who is experiencing this shoulder pain finds relief soon.

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