Pain in neck and back shoulder 7 months after surgery

dgsmith
dgsmith Member Posts: 15
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Wondering if anyone else has experienced neck and shoulder pain several months after surgery. I had esophageal surgery this past July with 2 good CT scans since. The last one was done in early February. Lately, however I am experiencing back shoulder and neck pain, the pain even shoots down my arm (from time to time). I am on 50 mg of Demerol every 4 hrs, I also take an Advil, helps a little but I am in constant pain most of the time. It seems to have started almost 3 weeks ago and I linked it to the way I had slept one night. I woke up in a very awkward position and have been experiencing severe pain (started in my neck)ever since. I was hoping that by now if it were just a regular pulled muscle I would see some improvement by now. I have had an x-ray last Tuesday, but I will not get any results until next week. My next CT scan is in 2 weeks.
I would appreciate your views and comments.

Comments

  • BMGky
    BMGky Member Posts: 621
    #2
    Hope your x-ray gives you
    Hope your x-ray gives you needed information. My husband from time to time had pains here and there but lasted a day or so and moved on to another part of the body. Still gets stomach pain if eats wrong food selection. Sorry, not any help, but just wanted to let you know we hope you get good news. Please let us know what you find out.
  • bingbing2009
    bingbing2009 Member Posts: 177
    #3
    Shoulder Pain
    I was diagnosed with Stage 111 (T3N1) EC in October 2009 and had my surgery in February 2010. I had the Ivor Lewis surgery, and the area around my thoracotemy has hurt off and on since the surgery. It has improved tremendously over time, but coninued to hurt over the months. In Decemeber, 2010, my shoulders began to hurt, especially the right shoulder. Over time it has worsened and the pain runs into my neck and down through my arm. I blamed everything--I slept wrong on it, I lifted weights incorrectly while working out, etc. Nothing improved the situation. Finally in February, the doctor x-rayed my shoulder, but there was no sign of arthritis, so he thought it was bursitis. I was put on a pack of cortisone pills, which helped somewhat, but only temporarily. I also started physical therapy, which didn't help at all. Finally I was given a cortisone shot in my shoulder and told that would probably do the trick, but it didn't. I still have the pain. Now I am scheduled for an MRI this Friday. Hopefully, I will finally know what the problem is.
    By the way, so far, so good, as far as the cancer goes. I have my next CT scan in 3 weeks and am praying that it, too, is okay.
  • dgsmith
    dgsmith Member Posts: 15
    #4
    bingbing2009 said:

    Shoulder Pain
    I was diagnosed with Stage 111 (T3N1) EC in October 2009 and had my surgery in February 2010. I had the Ivor Lewis surgery, and the area around my thoracotemy has hurt off and on since the surgery. It has improved tremendously over time, but coninued to hurt over the months. In Decemeber, 2010, my shoulders began to hurt, especially the right shoulder. Over time it has worsened and the pain runs into my neck and down through my arm. I blamed everything--I slept wrong on it, I lifted weights incorrectly while working out, etc. Nothing improved the situation. Finally in February, the doctor x-rayed my shoulder, but there was no sign of arthritis, so he thought it was bursitis. I was put on a pack of cortisone pills, which helped somewhat, but only temporarily. I also started physical therapy, which didn't help at all. Finally I was given a cortisone shot in my shoulder and told that would probably do the trick, but it didn't. I still have the pain. Now I am scheduled for an MRI this Friday. Hopefully, I will finally know what the problem is.
    By the way, so far, so good, as far as the cancer goes. I have my next CT scan in 3 weeks and am praying that it, too, is okay.

    shoulder pain
    WOW, that sounds to be so much what I am experiencing, please keep me informed as to any results you come up with and I will do the same. Wishing you well with yr scans.
    you can contact me directly dgsmith@nf.sympatico.ca
    Thanks
  • bingbing2009
    bingbing2009 Member Posts: 177
    #5
    dgsmith said:

    shoulder pain
    WOW, that sounds to be so much what I am experiencing, please keep me informed as to any results you come up with and I will do the same. Wishing you well with yr scans.
    you can contact me directly dgsmith@nf.sympatico.ca
    Thanks

    shoulder pain
    I will definitely keep you informed and let you know what the MRI shows Friday. Meanwhile, I'll be thinking of you and hoping things improve for you.

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