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Topic: Shoulder/Leg Pain

Forum: Pain —

Share important questions and provide support to others experiencing breast cancer and treatment-related pain.

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Posted on: Feb 18, 2021 05:05AM - edited Feb 18, 2021 11:47PM by Aram

Aram wrote:

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.

Dx 2/5/2021, IDC, Left, 1cm, Grade 3, ER-/PR-, HER2+ (IHC) Dx 2/5/2021, IDC, Left, 3cm, Grade 3, ER-/PR-, HER2+ (IHC)
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Feb 18, 2021 06:54AM Moderators wrote:

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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Feb 18, 2021 06:54AM 2019whatayear wrote:

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.

5/6/2019 IDC 2cm, micromet 1/9 nodes, BRCA2+, ER+, PR+, HER- BMX 6/2019, A/C & Taxol 2019, Radiation, BSO - preventative 2/2020, Letrozole 3/1/2020
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Feb 18, 2021 07:08AM Aram wrote:

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.

Dx 2/5/2021, IDC, Left, 1cm, Grade 3, ER-/PR-, HER2+ (IHC) Dx 2/5/2021, IDC, Left, 3cm, Grade 3, ER-/PR-, HER2+ (IHC)
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Feb 18, 2021 12:11PM - edited Feb 18, 2021 12:15PM by flashlight

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.

Dx 11/15/2018, IDC, Left, 1cm, Stage IA, Grade 2, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2- Dx DCIS, Left, <1cm, Stage 0, Grade 1, 0/1 nodes Hormonal Therapy Tamoxifen pills (Nolvadex, Apo-Tamox, Tamofen, Tamone) Radiation Therapy Surgery Lumpectomy: Left
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Feb 18, 2021 12:45PM 2019whatayear wrote:

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?

5/6/2019 IDC 2cm, micromet 1/9 nodes, BRCA2+, ER+, PR+, HER- BMX 6/2019, A/C & Taxol 2019, Radiation, BSO - preventative 2/2020, Letrozole 3/1/2020
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Feb 18, 2021 03:21PM AliceBastable wrote:

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.

Endometrial cancer 2010, basal cell multiples, breast cancer 2018, kidney cancer 2018. Boring. Dx 5/2018, ILC/IDC, Left, 2cm, Stage IA, Grade 2, 1/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- Surgery 7/10/2018 Lumpectomy: Left; Lymph node removal: Sentinel Surgery 8/7/2018 Radiation Therapy 10/29/2018 Whole-breast: Breast, Lymph nodes
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Feb 18, 2021 11:50PM Aram wrote:

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.

Dx 2/5/2021, IDC, Left, 1cm, Grade 3, ER-/PR-, HER2+ (IHC) Dx 2/5/2021, IDC, Left, 3cm, Grade 3, ER-/PR-, HER2+ (IHC)
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Feb 19, 2021 01:04AM PAKNC wrote:

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.

Diagnosed at 56. Atypical hyperplasia in right breast. In clinical trial for active surveillance but planning surgery because Tamoxifen made me pre-diabetic quickly and I show signs of being a non-responder. Tamoxifen: Jul - Dec 2020. Dx 3/23/2020, DCIS, Left, Stage 0, Grade 2, ER+/PR+ Dx 5/29/2020, DCIS, Left, Stage 0, Grade 2, ER+/PR+
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Feb 20, 2021 08:25AM Aram wrote:

@paknc thank you. I hope so. For now it seems I need to wait and see my oncologist for more tests

Dx 2/5/2021, IDC, Left, 1cm, Grade 3, ER-/PR-, HER2+ (IHC) Dx 2/5/2021, IDC, Left, 3cm, Grade 3, ER-/PR-, HER2+ (IHC)
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Feb 20, 2021 10:15AM - edited Feb 21, 2021 04:12AM by LillyIsHere

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.

Dx 7/31/2019, ILC, Left, <1cm, Stage IIA, 2/5 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2- Surgery 9/19/2019 Lymph node removal: Sentinel, Underarm/Axillary; Mastectomy: Left, Right; Prophylactic ovary removal; Reconstruction (left): Silicone implant; Reconstruction (right): Silicone implant Hormonal Therapy 11/30/2019 Femara (letrozole)
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Feb 21, 2021 01:10AM Aram wrote:

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....

Dx 2/5/2021, IDC, Left, 1cm, Grade 3, ER-/PR-, HER2+ (IHC) Dx 2/5/2021, IDC, Left, 3cm, Grade 3, ER-/PR-, HER2+ (IHC)
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Feb 21, 2021 04:02AM Nurse082820 wrote:

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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Feb 22, 2021 05:38AM Aram wrote:

Hi nurse082820, thank you. I will talk to my oncologist this week when I see him. I need to learn to advocate for myself...

Dx 2/5/2021, IDC, Left, 1cm, Grade 3, ER-/PR-, HER2+ (IHC) Dx 2/5/2021, IDC, Left, 3cm, Grade 3, ER-/PR-, HER2+ (IHC)
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Feb 23, 2021 11:49AM Sunshine99 wrote:

Nurse082820, did you mean "don't" stop complaining, rather than "do"? Just checking.

Happy

Cancer has progressed to my bones. I pray that it never enters my soul. Dx 11/2/2007, IDC, 3cm, Stage IIA, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- Dx 3/26/2020, ILC/IDC, Stage IV, metastasized to bone, ER+/PR-, HER2- (FISH) Hormonal Therapy 4/22/2020 Arimidex (anastrozole) Radiation Therapy 5/5/2020 External: Bone Radiation Therapy 5/12/2020 External: Bone Targeted Therapy 6/10/2020 Ibrance (palbociclib)

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