Tuesday

Frozen shoulder after mastectomy

A friend of mine had a mastectomy for breast cancer about three months ago and she has now developed a frozen shoulder on that side.

Her surgeon and the physical therapist say that it has developed because of tightness in the chest muscles and the fact that the operation interfered with lymph glands in the armpit.

Not much fun huh? As if having breast cancer and surgery wasn't bad enough .... but a frozen shoulder too. Not fair if you ask me ... !

5 comments:

  1. Hi Kathy,

    I found this blog while googling "frozen shoulder". Up until last week after my visit to the doctor, I had never hear of frozen shoulder. So needless to say I am at the beginning of my journey. This week I am going to see a rheumatoid doctor. Oh joy joy!!!

    I have been managing the pain with taking two Motrin tablets each night before heading to bed. However, now that I have read your blog I am going to try the heat as well.

    Will keep you posted!! Thanks for sharing. You are appreciated.

    Cheryl

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  2. This is my 2nd time to have frozen shoulder. The first time was about 6 years ago. I'm Type 2 diabetic and 51 now. The first time I went to very painful physical therapy. I've been reading on the Internet that early exercise helps so I'm trying that - before it gets so painful. I started taking Advil today. I remember the specialist the 1st time said that he could've had me take some type of medicine if he would've seen me early into it. My dr. can't get me in until the 10th and this has been going on for a while already. If you notice, you can move your arm farther after a warm shower so I think heat helps. The therapist used to put like a heat pad on me for a few min. before he did therapy.

    To give some of you hope, the 1st time I did fully recover - over time.

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  3. In April, of this year,I hurt my right arm missing a few steps leaving my son's room, caught myself on the bannister, but heard a "pop" in my bicep and it hurt like heck.Then in May, I was chasing our little cat that had gotten out (Declawed) fell, (caught the cat) landed on my left side but tried to break the fall with my right wrist which pushed everything up. I am in so much pain from my wrist up to the side of my neck and sometimes in my shoulder blade. I've only been to one PT, but have been doing PT at home. I must be consistant in my sessions. The x-rays shows no damage to my wrist, but their is alot of pain in the space between the little bone at the base of my thumb and the wrist bone. One day I was writing longhand, and had to resort to writing left-handed. That didnt' work. I'm very skeptical of the relief I'm going to get. I have a very good sports medicine Dr. and my PT is good, but what can I say after only 1 actual visit? We were at a BD party today and I was doing my PT in the pool, I was in so much pain and I couldn't get my husband to get home fast enough. I put heat on it but I guess I should put ice after excercising. Heat or ice?

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  4. I too developed a frozen shoulder after breast cancer surgery, but none of my doctors indicated any link. I have now three years later developed a frozen shoulder on the other side - some internet research indicates a link with post breast cancer medication (Arimidex or Aromasin) which I would not be suprised at as the other physical side efffects of this medication have been debilitating. The referred pain down my arm with the current shoulder is intense.

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  5. Thanks Kathy for this wonderful information.My mother-in-law treatment for frozen shoulder is going at A+ Orthopaedic and Sports med Clinic, New Delhi, India.(http://www.sportsmedicineclinicdelhi.com)
    Doctor has suggested for a surgery to her

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