Radiation and arm pain

That doesn't sound like radiation?  Are you sure it is not lymphedema or something else.  I would let my doctor know asap.  Also, if you have other symptoms, call 911: chest pressure, jaw pain, nausea, shortness of breath, etc. 

I never want to frighten anyone, but I had extreme chest pressure with left sided arm and jaw pain, followed by nausea and vomiting.  I knew (beacuse I am an NP) that I was most likely having a heart attack and told my husband to call 911.  Because I am not overweight and had no history of cardiac problems (or family history), my husband had to google my symptoms...lol.  No healthcare professional thought I could be having a heart attack looking at me.  They didn't even start my IV in the ambulance.  Everyone kept saying esophageal spasm.  When my enzymes came back, they were all rushing around and I was in cath lab in ten seconds where the heart attack was unfortunately confirmed.

My heart attack was cancer-related according to my cardiologist (undiagnosed metastasis which can cause clotting issues).

If anyone has my symptoms (which I hope no one does), call 911 and chew a regular aspirin.  I kept throwing up the aspirin, so I held the aspirin under my tongue where some of it can be absorbed because of the many superficial blood vessels under the tongue.

I am sure you are probably fine , but I just want to make sure that all cancer survivors know that their heart can be at risk from cancer and/or treatments.  More women die of heart disease than of breast cancer each year!

cinnamonsmile said:

If you had lymph nodes

If you had lymph nodes removed, it could be nerve damage as well. There are certain very specific descriptive words to describe the nerve damage pain. Many times nerves are nicked during the removal and causes certain kinds of pain.

I have had it since I awoke from my BMX with node removal on 1/11/11 (and am the proud owner of NEW nerve damage pain from a left side thoractomy from July 2013).

Lymphedema can present as pain as well. IF you have nerve damage pain and LE, the LE pain is most definitely worse.

Radiation can cause pain as well.

I am daily medications for nerve damage pain, breakthrough painmeds, and get IV Lidocain infusions for nerve damage pain about every 9 weeks and it is three years later! I also have bilateral LE in the arms, chest and sides of chest.

Can you describe exactly how your pain feels? If the pain is that bad, you need to see a pain doctor (hopefully you get a good one, not an idiot). Unfortunately, many of our surgeons and doctors are clueless about LE and nerve damage pain following breast cancer surgeries and treatments. 

Finding the right pain treatments is basically trial and error to find what works, what doesn't. It took a few months for my pain drs. and I to find what works best for me and how much medication I can handle.

Please describe in detail what your pain feels like.

hi 

I am sorry for your pain. most likely you are having lymphedema, that has been accelerated by radiation. you need to see physical therapist to confirm or rule out lymphedema diagnosis. if you are having lymphedema you need to see a certified lymphedema therapist, to do manual drainage, massage ( a special suface touch) and wrapping. compression sleve could help too.

please keep us posted

hugs to you

Lymphedema can happen anytime, sometimes years after treatment.  What you describe sound much like lymphedema which I have dealt with since 1998.  There are things that can be done to help you but lymphedema is usually a life time deal...the sooner you get care the better.  In regards to massage, deep massage is a bad idea as it can cause more pain.  I have a you tube video on the correct technique of massage for lymphedema.  If it is infact lymphedema you could wear a pressure sleeve which helps with the pain a bit and aids in protecting the arm from scatches and such thing.  Please do not wait on this, go see your doctor and tell them you suspect lymphedema. I'll attach the link to the you tube page regarding massage, you may have to copy and past it.  Wishing you all the best. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7PPhHqOsUg