Shoulder/Leg Pain
Hi all,
I am not in treatment yet so I am not sure if this is the correct place to ask my question but I don't know what else to do. I have had lots of leg pain the last two weeks, and now I also have stiff shoulder pain/neck pain. When I mentioned it to my breast dr, both time he said it is not related to your breasts. I am not sure if it is or not, but I don't know who else I should ask. I have an oncologist appointment next week, but I am not sure how to bear this pain for another week. I am on Advil, it barely makes a dent in my leg pain, but shoulder pain doesn't go away.
Thanks.
P.S. I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer on Feb 5th, and have not seen my oncologist yet. I have an appointment next week. It is HER2+, so we are first doing chemo, then surgery.
Comments
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Hi Aram,
We're so very sorry you're experiencing this pain! If your breast specialist won't listen to your concerns about the pain, would you consider getting a second opinion? It could be that another doctor would want to do more tests to be sure the pain is unrelated. It may have to do with the stress of your diagnosis, but regardless, you'll want to find out what's going on. And at the very least, get medication that can help with the pain.
We hope you get some answers and relief soon! Please keep us posted.
--The Mods
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What is your question? I don't that anyone can answer with out more information on your situation. It could be something, could be nothing- do you have BC? do you have arthritis? Any past injuries? surgeries? Are you sitting or sleeping differently? Right now my should hurt because of how I am sitting.
I'm sorry you are in pain.
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Hi 2019whatayear, I am sorry if I was not clear. My question is which doctor should I ask this question from? And is it normal that my breast surgeon is just brushing it off? Are these kind of questions for breast surgeons or oncologists? I don't have arthritis, haven't changed anything during last two weeks, and no injuries.
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Have you been diagnosed with breast cancer? If not there are a lot of reasons to have shoulder/neck pain such as virtual work/school, gallbladder issues and many reasons for hip/leg pain . Did you have breast surgery? If you are being seen by a MO then that is the person you need to see if it isn't surgery related, but only if the pain/discomfort is constant. If not see your primary doctor to rule out other issues.
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If you are in a lot of pain now I would say contact your primary care physician asap and then also tell the Oncologist next week at your appointment. I don't know if you are saying you had surgery and now you are waiting to start chemo or radiation or that you have been diagnosed with BC but have not had any surgery?
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It sounds like a question for your primary care doctor. I, like the others who responded, can't tell if you've been diagnosed with breast cancer or where you are in that particular medical exploration, but even if you do have breast cancer, it doesn't preclude other completely unrelated things going on in your body. And if you're in the early phase of finding out if you do have breast cancer, you could be undergoing a lot of stress that can cause pain in strange places for some people.
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I updated the post to mention I have been diagnosed about 2 weeks ago with ER-/PR-/HER2+. I haven't seen my oncologist yet, and that is where my confustion comes from because my breast surgeon just brushes off the pain. So from what I understand this is mostly something I need to discuss with the oncologist.
Thank you.
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It could be sciatica nerve pain and/or a pinched nerve. I had a flare up for the first time last summer, honestly, the PCP tends to diminish it and didn't do anything for me. I ended up going to an urgent care orthopedics center a week later. They recognized the pain immediately, did a few types of tests and said it's nerve pain - sciatica. They also did an x-ray. It was brutal, stabbing pain, deep pain - I could not sleep at night. They gave me a 5-day prescription for prednisone and that did the trick immediately. I also was referred to physical therapy, to learn stretching exercises to alleviate and prevent pain.
It is tricky for a PCP, IMO, because the source of the pain may actually be a disc in your back, but once it starts traveling down the nerve, it manifests in your thigh, calf, shoulder, etc. The orthopedics people know the signs better.
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Aram, I know how scary this is for you as it was for all of us here. Most of the time, leg pain, especially if it is below the knee won't be cancer I am told. Shoulder and neck stiffness, I still have it after surgery. PCP and MO think that my body has shifted, even though you can't see it, and it gets on the protective mode of the side where BC is located. I am a yogi, have been doing yoga for many years, I am flexible and start the morning with stretches and I still get stiff neck and shoulder. Go for a massage if you can and see if it helps.
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Hi LillyIsHere, thank you. I wish there was no Covid for massages. I am trying to limit my interactions outside not to delay the treatment. I am not sure if it matters or not but that is one of the few things in my control at the moment....
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I was diagnosed in 7/2020 with stage 1A right breast IDC ER + HER - no lymph node involvement and I decided to do a double mastectomy immediate reconstruction and I think I made the right choice. I've was lucky enough to not need chemo or radiation. I will have to take a hormone blocker and they started me on Anastrozole. I have a lot of pain in the right should and I believe its related to surgery, but recently I began to have severe pain in both legs and lower back. I reached out to my oncologist immediately and it looks like he maybe changing my blocker to another one due to side effects. My long post is to let you know that you are your biggest advocate so do stop complaining if you feel something is wrong. If your doctor delays you find another one. Good Luck.
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Hi nurse082820, thank you. I will talk to my oncologist this week when I see him. I need to learn to advocate for myself...
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Nurse082820, did you mean "don't" stop complaining, rather than "do"? Just checking.
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I am also on anastrozole with all kinds of joint, hip, back, shoulder pain. My doctor said it is most likely arthritis, I just use heating pad and advil when it acts up... As for upper back and shoulder pain, I work from home and sitting over my laptop all day; therefore, the doc said that is most likely causing that pain..
Oh trust me, when I get any ache or pain my mind goes down that dark path back to "what if" it came back.. but learning to listen to my body and notice when the pain acts up, sometimes I get more pain when I use weights during my exercises... am I sitting in the correct position?? I always had back pain and issues, and is it going to rain.
So the pain can be from something other then where our mind automatically goes...
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justme1964 Thank you. I am really sorry you were in pain. I agree it can be something else as well. But it is hard not to think of the worst. I still have 3 weeks before my bone scan, so I try not to think about it, and just manage the pain. Though the good news is shoulder pain is gone, and it is only in my legs now...
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I was diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer this September and am currently on letrozole and Inrance which does seem to be managing the cancer. I am having increasing trouble with leg and foot cramps at night and recently have had episodes of nerve pain in my thighs during the day. I don’t know if this is related to the hormonal therapy and am waiting to see my PCP. I am feeling discouraged and am scared of the pain. What if happens while I am driving? Any suggestions as to cause or how to deal with it? I also had thyroid cancer during this time; had a semithyroidectomy but my thyroid is nit yet functioning nirmally0 -
Judy - are you stage IV? If so, you may want to check out the Ibrance thread in the Stage IV forum as many of us are on there and someone may have an answer for you.
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Hi judymc1, and welcome! We're so sorry to hear of your recurrence, but we're glad you've found us. You're sure to find our Community an amazing source of advice, information, encouragement, and support -- we're all here for you!
Here's the link to the Ibrance thread SondraF mentioned -- we hope you'll join in the conversation there and share your story!
We look forward to seeing you around the boards. Please let us know if there's anything else we can do to help!
--The Mods
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Thank you for the suggestion!
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I'm sorry you are in pain.
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You are right. Thankyou SM for suggestions.
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