I wonder if anyone can help me.
I had WLE and SNB November 2009 and 15 rads in Feb 2010. For the past 4 weeks I have had pain in my armpit on my operated side and my breast is noticeably swollen and tender. I saw the surgeon 2 weeks ago and he examined me, made me move my arm into various positions, ran the ultrasound over my armpit and then told me that I have injured one of my rotator cuff tendons - one that is deep in the armpit. I know a bit about shoulder injuries as I had a rotator cuff repair on my other shoulder 2 years ago and this doesn’t feel at all the same. I also haven’t done anything that could have caused it as I’ve been very careful about not lifting heavy things with that arm. I was so surprised at his diagnosis, and relieved that he hadn’t found anything else in my armpit, that I didn’t ask him about truncal lymphoedema, but now I’m wondering whether it could be. The thing that worries me most is the swollen breast. I can’t find anything on the internet that lists that as a symptom of a rotator cuff injury.
Has anyone else had a problem like this? Should I go back and ask my GP if it could be lymphoedema? I am a bit wary as I know they don’t like having their judgement questioned and maybe they’re right and I should stop worrying.
Any advice would be much appreciated!
Many thanks
E xx
I would get in contact with your bcn and see if you can get referal to lymphoedema specialist, or you can get it done via the docs. If you are not happy with what you have been told please push for your referal. My bcn was rubbish and told me I had rads damage and when I went to the gp silly old codger told me I had mastitis ! However, I knew that something was up and pushed for the referal and lo and behold got diagnosed with lymphoedema to breast ,trunk and arm !
A lot of "medical " people just don’t take lymphoedema seriously or don’t in fact know anything much about it,the gp actually told me that you only get it in the arm … and that drives me bonkers ! The sooner you get seen by someone who actually knows what they are talking about the better. If it doesn’t turn out to be that then at least you know you have covered all the bases. Good luck.
Sandra x
Thank you Sandra, I will go back to my GP. I think you’re right about the general knowledge around lymphoedema. What I might do is to ask to be referred to the orthopaedic surgeon who fixed my other shoulder. That way, if its not rotator cuff, I won’t be the one questioning it, and if it is, I can get some physio to treat it.
E x
I had mastectomy 12 years ago and dx with secondaries 5 years ago.
Just been dx with lymphoedema and am absolutely gutted.
My arm was very swollen and inflamed and was hospitalised twice.
Since surgery I have had a lot of discomfort across scar and under arm. My surgeon said it was just pulling after surgery. Told him on a number of occasions about this and always the same answer so didn’t take it further - they know best!!! Now think it has been lymphoedema all along. Thought you just got it in arm. Going to see Lymphoedema specialist and hopefully get a bit of relief.
Sheila