Shoulder pain

[Ruth S]

Hello everyone - I was wondering if anyone here has had shoulder pain on the same side as surgery? I have been having a problem for months now and swimming certainly helped for a while but now it seems to be freezing up again. I have full mobility although it pulls on the muscles and gives me a hard time when trying to sleep. I hate to go to physical therapy but will if it seems to be the last option. I have a little girl (almost two) that I tote around alot and may have something to do with it. It is so aggrevating! My Onc. is willing to set up physical therapy...just have a hard time getting someone to watch all 3 kids when I go in.

Thanks in advance! Ruth

PS. Your inspirational posts always make me smile
but the negative gals I just want to slug. However, I must remember how a cancer diagnosis can lead some people to depression, anger and fear. People deal with it in such different ways. People may say the most hurtful things here and regret it later. That is a danger of reading posts on any site. Just remember that it is usually pain and fear that makes someone write a hurtful thing. They may not feel like being positive for someone else....please don't take it to heart. I don't believe in statistics and percentages because if it is you that they are talking about it is 100% to you...make sense? This is a wonderful support group even with all the good & bad!

[Lisa]

Ruth, yes, after my mastectomy, my same-side shoulder became frozen. We tend to guard our "injured" side. I think it was because I didn't start physical therapy soon enough. PT can be a slow process, but eventually it helped. Aside...I also got a frozen shoulder on the opposite side a couple of years later. Have no idea why. Had to have it manipulated by a surgeon while under anesthesia. Then, STILL, had to have PT. There just may be no way around it. On the positive note, PT can help prevent lymphadema. Good luck.

Love and healing light,

Lisa

[eleanor]

I get that too and it's been over 4 yrs. I just keep rotating the shoulder and stretching all those muscles. It seems to help and for the most part doesn't prevent me from doing anything.
el

[Jean]

Hi, I get periods when my shoulder completely seizes up. I just try and keep it moving and do gentle stretches each day until it gets back to what resembles normal. I don't know what causes it to come and go - hope your should gets better soon.

[Dee Dee]

I had a frozen shoulder on the side opposite my mastectomy. It happened nine months after surgery. Physiotherapy eventually helped loosen it up and it's now almost normal. This is the first site I've seen that mentions this problem.

[Sheila]

Ruth
I have frozen shoulder on the same side as my mastectomy, it showed up after reconstruction...went to an ortho and am now on Bextra, had 6 weeks of physical therapy and a cortisone shot...needless to say I was feeling so good I went out and dug 2 holes for hydrangeas and am right back where I started...back to PT for a couple weeks. By the way, the shoulder specialist I went to in Chicago said this is VERY common post mastectomy and in menopausal women...do we not get the best things as we age????
Hugs and hope you feel better!
Sheila