Shoulder/Back Pain

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blackbandana
blackbandana Member Posts: 64
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi, I sometimes experience a pain that takes my breath away behind my shoulder blade on my mastectomy side. It feels like a muscle cramp, but it last for a long time. I have to twist and turn to get rid of the pain, it feels like someone has a hold of the muscle and is squeezing it. Tonight I have a pain in what feels like my rib cage and it only hurts when I move. I had a PET and bone scan done last May, so I don't think it has spread to my bones. Does anyone else have pains like this? If so, do you know why it happens? I'm due to visit my oncologist next month and will ask her, but thought I'd ask the experts. My best wishes to you all and thanks.

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  • ktinkey
    ktinkey Member Posts: 170
    #2
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    Hi,

    I like to err on the side of caution and when a pain takes your breath away, you may want to call your oncologist and see if you can get in earlier. I know I don't like to see the doctor anymore than you, but take it from one who now knows when to call and when to wait. It may be nothing at all, but how is your health overall? Have you lost any weight, feeling more tired than usual?

    Just call and talk with the nurse and tell her all your symptoms and see what she has to say. Stay positive and I wish you the best of health.

    God Bless,
    Kathy
  • Idalia
    Idalia Member Posts: 76
    #3
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    Dear bandana, I don't know how long it has been since your surgery, but I had pains like that for several months after my lumpectomy on 2/03. It did feel like a fierce muscle cramp on the side where I had my operation, though the actual scar was numb. It would happen unexpectedly several times a day, then once a day and finally, never. I did mention it to my oncologist, but he seemed to think it was normal. Just my experience. Definitely talk to your doc about it. Good luck!
  • martyzl
    martyzl Member Posts: 196
    #4
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    Hi,
    This is *exactly* what I was asking about recently! It's been 2.5 yrs since my mastectomy and it just started during my pregnancy, went away for a bit and has come back with a vengeance. Occasionally I have sharp pains in the Tram muscle as well.
    My Onc. didn't seem overly concerned about it, chalking it up to physiological changes after the Tram reconstruction, nerves changing, etc.
    Had a mammogram and tram'o'gram last week- seems clear. Am supposed to do a bone scan soon as well, trying to figure out the logistics of the scan & nursing the baby...
    Is your pain worse when you lay down or does it happen at any discernable time?
    How long has it been since your mastectomy? Did you do any reconstruction?
    If I stretch and get someone to massage it fairly hard, it goes away.. have had to take up to 800mg of ibuprofen to sleep at night.
    Now going to a chiropractor to see if that might help a bit. First visit left me sore but pain is different. Chiro. told me the chest pain could also be the pulling of muscles...
    Do check with the Onc. right away, just in case. Better safe than sorry and all that!

    Really stinks that we get all this extra worry after we've dealt with cancer, doesn't it??

    Keep us up to date on how you are doing.
    Be well!
    Marty

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