Nerve damage from radiation

[Cayden123]

I had a huge tumor on the right side of my neck that was treated with radiation. I now have nerve damage that radiates up into my head....hurts everyday....anyone else have anything like that....my onc is working on finding me a doc that can help me

[daf10]

Nerve pain

In about 25 percent of women, the nerves in the surrounding tissues are injured during breast surgery [172].

This can lead to persistent burning or shooting pain in the area of the surgical scar and/or the underarm area on the affected side.

Women who have a port-a-cath or a Hickman catheter inserted for chemotherapy may develop a similar pain around the insertion site.

Blocking the nerves with a local anesthetic injection, with a lidocaine (Lidoderm) patch or by taking pain medication can often ease this pain.

Let your health care provider know if you have burning or stabbing pain or skin sensitivity that lasts for more than a month after surgery.

Palliative care or pain specialists

Some health care providers are more experienced at treating pain than others.

Palliative care and pain specialists (physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses) treat pain from cancer or other causes.

They can treat people with early breast cancer as well as those with advanced breast cancer.

Palliative care specialists help people maintain the best quality of life possible. They have special training in pain management and symptom management.

Palliative care specialists can discuss the burdens versus the benefits of different treatments for your symptoms as well as for medications or other therapies to treat the cancer.

Palliative medicine is a medical specialty, just like oncology.

Anesthesia pain experts are anesthesiologists with special training in pain management. They are experts in procedures (such as injections) to relieve pain.

Sometimes a palliative care or an anesthesia pain specialist is part of your treatment team. If not, be sure to ask your oncologist for a referral to a specialist if:

Your pain is not controlled

You have side effects from the pain medications

You would like to discuss more options to manage your pain

Your oncologist can usually follow the specialist’s recommendations.

If the treatment is effective, you won’t need to see the specialist again.

For a list of palliative care and pain management centers and palliative care programs in your area, call the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or the American Cancer Society toll-free at 1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345).

For more information on palliative care, visit the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine website or the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) website.

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Questions your health care provider may ask you about pain

Where is the pain?

When did the pain start?

How long has the pain lasted?

Has the pain changed in any way?

Is there anything that makes the pain worse or better?

How intense is the pain (mild, moderate, severe, etc. or, on a scale from 0-10)?

What is your pain level now? Most of the time?

Describe the pain (throbbing, burning, tingling, pressure, etc.).

Does the pain affect your ability to perform or enjoy daily activities?

Does the pain interfere with your sleep? Your appetite? Does it affect your mood?

What do you think is causing the pain?

How do you feel about pain control?

Questions to ask your provider about your pain

What can be done to relieve my pain?

What can we do if the pain medications do not work?

What are the side effects of the pain medications?

What can be done to prevent or manage these side effects?

What side effects do I need to report to you (the health care provider)?

What other options do I have for pain control?

(Adapted from National Comprehensive Cancer Network, American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute materials [175-177].)

Updated 05/15/17

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Managing neuropathy

If you suspect you have neuropathy, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor might be able to switch your medication to ease your nerve problems. Your doctor also may prescribe medicines, pain patches, or topical creams that can help. If neuropathy isn't treated, it can become a long-term problem.

Depending on what symptoms you’re experiencing, you may find the following tips helpful in managing the effects of neuropathy:

Handle sharp objects carefully to avoid cutting yourself accidentally.

Be careful when moving. Walk slowly and use handrails if they're available.

Put no-slip bath mats in your tub or shower to avoid falling.

Clear areas where you frequently walk of objects such area rugs, cords, toys, and other clutter, to reduce your risk of tripping and falling.

Consider using a cane to steady yourself.

Protect your feet from injury by wearing shoes or slippers as often as possible.

Check water temperature with a thermometer or wear gloves to avoid burning yourself when you're bathing or cleaning.

Get plenty of rest.

Find a physical therapy or exercise program designed for people with neuropathic pain.

Consider complementary medicine techniques such as acupuncture and massage to help stimulate and restore feeling in your nerves.

Ask your doctor about seeing a pain specialist if your symptoms are severe and/or long-lasting.

Advanced breast cancer can cause peripheral neuropathy if it grows into, on, or along the nerves — such as the nerves around lymph nodes, or nerves connected to the brain or spinal cord — where it can interfere with signals going out to the peripheral nervous system. Symptoms would depend on which nerves are affected.

[PJBinMI]

I don't have personal experience with this, but wanted to tell you how sorry I am to hear about this. And a thought I had was that perhaps the rad onc who you saw would have ideas for you about this if you haven't already talked with that doc about it. Your onc should be able to find a pain specialist for you rather quickly--push if you have to. For this kind of pain, I wouldn't wait more than 2 or 3 days before I'd start calling my onc's office every day!

[Hidden]

Hello Cayden,

I see that this post was from 8 months ago, so I hope that by now you are feeling much better and that the nerve pain is gone. I experienced severe nerve pain after my recent radiotherapy appointment. It took 5 days for the pain to completely go away. I was advised to keep taking painkillers at regular intervals throughout the day (Ibuprofen, paracetamol and codeine as a last resort). If those had not worked, the doctor said I could be given a muscle relaxant to deal with the pain. There is no reason why anyone should suffer from pain without some way to treat it, as it interferes with a person's quality of life.

Take care,

Sophie x