Arm pain

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tally
tally Member Posts: 48
in Breast Cancer #1

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2010. I had a lumpectomy, sentinil node biopsy, 4 lymph nodes removed, chemo and radiation. Since then, my hand shakes like someone with Parkinson's Disease. I have pain in my arm also. These last 2 weeks the pain has been really bad. My oncologist has said in the past that it might be nerve damage but I have not had any medical tests to confirm it. Has anyone had this type of problem?

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  • kmenurse
    kmenurse Member Posts: 217
    #2
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    Tally, there is a test that

    Tally, there is a test that you can ask for it is called a EMG (electromyogram).  This site will tell you more.

    http://www.webmd.com/brain/electromyogram-emg-and-nerve-conduction-studies I hope you can get to it from here.  

     

    God Bless! Kathy

  • tally
    tally Member Posts: 48
    #3
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    kmenurse said:

    Tally, there is a test that

    Tally, there is a test that you can ask for it is called a EMG (electromyogram).  This site will tell you more.

    http://www.webmd.com/brain/electromyogram-emg-and-nerve-conduction-studies I hope you can get to it from here.  

     

    God Bless! Kathy

    Thank you for

    responding. This journey is ongoing and if we didn't have each other to share ideas and experiences, it would be a lot tougher. My doctors tell me this is my new normal but sometimes its hard to adjust to all the changes. But at least I am alive and I am so very blessed in many ways. Have a blessed day.

     

     

  • McMarty
    McMarty Member Posts: 212 Member
    #4
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    Hi Tally, 
    I remember having

    Hi Tally, 

    I remember having some awful arm pain (no shaking though) after my mast & reconstruction surgery.  That was 2004 so I don't remember much but I do remember fussing at my surgeon and my plastic surgeon and them just not knowing what to say or do.  It was very sore for maybe a month and then it just went away on its own.  I hope yours goes away on it's own too!

    It seems like I kinda remember thinking I had hyperextended it doing something that shouldn't have hurt it at all but right after surgery, you never know!  Little things that you don't even pay attention to can cause some serious pain and some things take longer to resolve than we think they should.

    It may be 'normal for now' but I sure hope it's not your 'new normal'  and I'd like to pour a slushie on the medical professional that gave you that cheery news!  It could still get better and I'm praying it DOES get better FAST! 

     

     

  • TexasCharlie
    TexasCharlie Member Posts: 76
    #5
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         I just had a modified

         I just had a modified radical mastectomy and I have numbness and pain in the tricep region and a tightness like pain all the way down my arm. I was told by my surgeon that she had to cut a nerve to get to one of the lymph nodes and that is what causes the numbness and neuropathic pain. Be sure to do your wall walks (walking up a wall with your fingers on the wound side) 10 times a day. That will help reduce the pain and help your range of motion.

        The other thing you will get is lymphedema and you will need to see a wound specialist or therapist that specializes in edema (swelling). You need to keep that arm elevated as much as you can, my edema doctor said 30 minutes an hour if I can. My therapist will eventually fit me with a special sleeve that will massage the arm to reduce the edema. I will be measured monday for a compression sleeve..

    You should talk to your oncologist about the edema and see if he (she) will refer you to someone who specializes in lymphedema.

    Forgive me if this is all old news to you. More than likely you have been there, done that but I thought I'd share anyway. 

    I'll keep you in my prayers.

  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #6
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    tally said:

    Thank you for

    responding. This journey is ongoing and if we didn't have each other to share ideas and experiences, it would be a lot tougher. My doctors tell me this is my new normal but sometimes its hard to adjust to all the changes. But at least I am alive and I am so very blessed in many ways. Have a blessed day.

     

     

    I don't have this, but,

    I don't have this, but, wanted you to know that you're in my prayers.

    Hugs, Jan

  • gems
    gems Member Posts: 10
    #7
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    Hi Tally,  I had a left

    Hi Tally,  I had a left mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy and had terrible pain in my arm that went clear down to my wrist. I got a referral for physical therapy and it helped tremendously!  Wishing you the best. 

  • tally
    tally Member Posts: 48
    #8
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    Thanks everybody for your

    Thanks everybody for your advice and good wishes. It really helps to have such great support from everyone. I see my oncologist in a few weeks and I may make an appt with my general practioner before then. When I had my lumpectomy I did all the exercises I was supposed to. I was working for a doctor at the time and I had seen first hand what could happoen if I didn't. I have tried to be patient because I don't want to complain but I'm getting tired of the pain. And the shaking is aggravating and can be embarrassing trying to eat in public. I'll post after I see the doctor just in case anyone else should have this issue.

  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #9
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    tally said:

    Thanks everybody for your

    Thanks everybody for your advice and good wishes. It really helps to have such great support from everyone. I see my oncologist in a few weeks and I may make an appt with my general practioner before then. When I had my lumpectomy I did all the exercises I was supposed to. I was working for a doctor at the time and I had seen first hand what could happoen if I didn't. I have tried to be patient because I don't want to complain but I'm getting tired of the pain. And the shaking is aggravating and can be embarrassing trying to eat in public. I'll post after I see the doctor just in case anyone else should have this issue.

    Good luck with your

    Good luck with your appointment.  Post to update us on what you find out.

    Hugs, Diane

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