Pain in my side - possible lymphedema?

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ender
ender Member Posts: 167
in Breast Cancer #1
Hi everyone,

I am tender in my side on the side of my body where I had a lumpectomy. My surgeon could not see anything bad, but referred me to a physical therapist for an evaluation and to learn "lymphedema massage". What do you girls think? Did anyone have their lymphedema start this way? I only had a sentinal node biopsy and was told before surgery that my risk of lymphedema is low.

Any links on good youtube videos for this lymphedema massage welcome! I have an appointment for next week, but now I am worried and impatient.

All comments are much appreciated!

Eva

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  • cinnamonsmile
    cinnamonsmile Member Posts: 1,187 Member
    #2
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    I have a severe case of post
    I have a severe case of post mastectomy pain syndrome.It is a misleading term because it can happen with a lumpectomy (which can also be called a partial mastectomy). It can happen when the surgeon knicks or damages nerves while removing nodes. I have seen mixed opinions here and at breastcancer.org on percentages of women who get it. Some have said it's rare, some say more frequent. Often times it is overlooked and poo-pooed by drs. Mine was poo-pooed and minimized while I went along for five months until a medical internist gave me a referral to the pain clinic (which I am still receving treatments and seeing seeing a pain psychologist next week) and a referral to occupational therapists who had experience in treating this (ot I saw last spring was useless because she had very little experience with PMPS neuropathy). I am not saying you have it, but offering it as another possible cause. My ot gals (I have two, they job share) treat LE and PMPS so they were able to rule out any LE in my case, so I got lucky there, that they knew signs and symptoms of both. Hope they can diagnose you correctly and working on you to start healing quickly!!
  • pinkpalette
    pinkpalette Member Posts: 112
    #3
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    I've got a pain in the neck...
    Good morning Eva, I had a lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy and I am having pains in the neck and the side of the lumpectomy around my shoulder. Weird but it only bothers me when I lay down. So much for sleep lately. Just started chemo and the pains started just after that. I complained to my onc. and he said it was bursitis. I didn't have any pains like this before the chemo started though. He rx'ed a pain med but it just doesn't help. I'm fast becoming an insomniac. I am wondering too if this may be lymphedema.
  • ender
    ender Member Posts: 167
    #4
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    pinkpalette said:

    I've got a pain in the neck...
    Good morning Eva, I had a lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy and I am having pains in the neck and the side of the lumpectomy around my shoulder. Weird but it only bothers me when I lay down. So much for sleep lately. Just started chemo and the pains started just after that. I complained to my onc. and he said it was bursitis. I didn't have any pains like this before the chemo started though. He rx'ed a pain med but it just doesn't help. I'm fast becoming an insomniac. I am wondering too if this may be lymphedema.

    Thanks for your replies! Im
    Thanks for your replies! Im sorry to hear about the pain and insomnia :( My pain is fortunately not that bad, Im mostly worried that it might be lympedema and that I should treat it. Pinkpalette, I am also bothered when I lay down. I am sore along my side and in my upper arm. Further there is a pulling pain when I move my arm in certain ways. What further symptoms do you have?

    Eva
  • LoveBabyJesus
    LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
    #5
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    ender said:

    Thanks for your replies! Im
    Thanks for your replies! Im sorry to hear about the pain and insomnia :( My pain is fortunately not that bad, Im mostly worried that it might be lympedema and that I should treat it. Pinkpalette, I am also bothered when I lay down. I am sore along my side and in my upper arm. Further there is a pulling pain when I move my arm in certain ways. What further symptoms do you have?

    Eva

    Hi Eva -- I have similar
    Hi Eva -- I have similar pains! Mine come when I pull my arm a certain way too, and when I lay down. Also on my shoulder blade - especially when I touch it. When I pull my arm it hurts there, as well as under my arm.
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #6
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    Eva, Re had a really good
    Eva, Re had a really good link on here for the lumphedema massage. I will try and find it to bump it up for you.


    Hugs, Jan

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