Apologies in advance for asking what might be a particularly dim question. I had a mastectomy and full lymph node clearance in December 2007. Since that time I have really suffered with pain in my neck and a bone scan just before Christmas has indicated an abnormality in this area and I have now been referred for an MRI scan. I know that this could be and probably is arthritis ( I am 47 -but not sure when arthritis usually starts) but apart from secondary bone cancer, is there anything else that it could be?
I had - and still have occasionally - pain in my neck and the back of my head which started a few months after my WLE and ANC. It was quite bad when it first started. The pain turned out to be because I was trying to use my non lymph node arm to lift heavy things - in my case my left, non dominant arm. I wasn’t used to using that arm for heavy things and as a result was doing something to cause pain in my neck and head. I was also incredibly stressed at the time with my elderly mother and was having to move lots of her stuff around.
This was sorted out with an ordinary x-ray to confirm that nothing was wrong and then by several physio sessions which helped the pain. I was also told that the amount of stress my Mother was causing me was making it worse. I still get the pain if I carry too much heavy stuff.
Easy to say - but try not to worry about your pain. As you say - it probably is arthritis. I hope you get the MRI appointment quickly. Let us know what happens.
Take care
Anthi x