Hi everyone. I had my final chemo in May this year and had my PICC line removed the same day and it’ll be exactly 24 weeks ago tomorrow. Since having the line removed, I have a shooting pain in the top of my arm every time I put my arm behind my back, ie grabbing a towel to wrap around me after a shower, fastening my bra and just pulling my jeans up! I’ve seen both my oncologist and breast consultant about this and they’re both of the opinion that it’s damaged veins or scar tissue from the chemo/PICC line and weren’t really much help with suggestions on ways to make it better myself. I swim five times a week and doing that doesn’t hurt at all and both suggested I just carry on swimming and it’ll go eventually. Has anyone else experienced this kind of pain or have any suggestions about how I can help myself to get rid of it? I’ve tried stretching and massage but it’s still really painful just doing everyday tasks. Also, if it’s going to eventually go by itself, how long does it take? It’s honestly driving me nuts!!!
@ allibot, I’m feeling for you, unfortunately I had a bad fall and caught my arm on the way down it turn out to be a tear in the cuff and sounds very much like what you are experiencing . Maybe a scan or MRI to confirm if you have any other damage in the shoulder.
I do hope you will be feel better very soon, wishing you well.
Hugs Tili 
Hi Tili. Thanks for responding. Your fall sounds horrendous and that’s one thing that scares me to be honest since I had surgery on one side - falling, sticking my arms out and really hurting myself (especially when I’ve had a few beers 
)! I’m honestly not sure what’s wrong with my arm but I did have an X-ray on my shoulder a couple of months ago and that showed nothing, apart from a bit of wear and tear, apparently normal for my age (I’m 62). My breast consultant told me last week that scans won’t show anything yet but if it gets any worse or it’s still painful in 6 months to go back and there’s all sorts of scans they can do to ‘see if it’s cancer related’. I feel like I’ve been fobbed off to be honest cos I know it’s PICC line related. It was never there before and doesn’t hurt when I swim so who knows. Thankfully my daughter’s a nurse at my breast clinic so she’s going to see what she can do going forward. Putting this on here was just desperation really to see if anyone had any advice. Hope your injury’s all cleared up now and you’re feeling better - cos it all really is a pain in the ar…m! 
My picc line was removed mid october, the arm joint can be painful and upper arm stiff, i’ve sent a self referral to my local hospital at physio.
Hi Allibobs, have things resolved? I know your post is dated November 2025.
I had my PICC out in January 2026 and started the following month with pain in the upper arm (outer aspect). My oncologist thought it was muscular, so I’ve been given some shoulder exercises from the GP. It’ s still painful, so perhaps need some more specific exercises?
Looking back, I think I guarded my arm too much while the PICC line was in, but I certainly didn’t expect any problems after removal! Maybe being in my mid-sixties doesn’t help?
I hope things are better for you now.
I’ve been left with a big swelling below where my line was & I was told it may never go away as it’s vein damage from the picc line. I’m 50 & was very fit beforehand & had good veins but a needle phobia so it’s very frustrating to be left with long term damage. It’s tender and swollen and hurts when I use my arm.
Hi whataloadof..how annoying for you. Is there no massage or physio suggested for your swelling?
I had a PICC line to try to prevent vein damage (and avoid needles!), but wasn’t given any information about potential problems after removal, so was not expecting any!
I’m continuing with shoulder exercises for now and will talk again with the oncologist. Hope there’s something that can be done for you. I wonder if these problems are common?
@sparkle7 Like you I wanted to avoid the needles & the vein damage & that’s exactly what I have now. Cautioned against more than very gentle massage, no weights/anything heavy & even yoga as the blood is struggling to move up the arm. My ring fingers swell up daily. Like you I don’t feel there was any real discussion on this risk. I’m hoping lots of arm shaking every day loosens everything up?!
I hope things improve for you. It sounds like you received very definite advice. I was just told it’s a muscular problem, so the GP prescribed some exercises, but I feel I need a bit more. He said there is a long waiting list to see a physio.
As I mentioned before, I didnt expect any problems after the PICC was removed, so it’s good to talk to people on here.
Good luck with your recovery.
@sparkle7 Worth asking your onc for a hospital physio referral as well as the GP path is a very long wait-as this is a side effect of your cancer treatment you may have better luck at the hospital (as I have).
& thank you so much for your kind words-hope we both feel better with smooth working arms asap! Xx
Thanks yes, the oncologist referred me to hospital physio but the GP offered me a physio appointment in June!
My arm is very painful, the oncologist thinks it is a frozen shoulder and said it is not common following PICC removal. I still relate it to excessive guarding of my arm while the PICC was in, as every time I moved my arm the entry site jolted.
Anyway, I hope you’re making progress and the physio helps us both!
@sparkle7 I’ve joined you with the frozen shoulder. That’s on my mastectomy side so basically both arms are not having a good time! The “pendulum” is the big relief & a lot of ouchy acupuncture needles yesterday seems to have eased things today. Picc arm vein damage still persisting & just hoping I’ll have a day soon when I wake up with my first thought being something other than ow! I have just finished radiotherapy too which of course won’t help a frozen shoulder. Do let me know how you get on xx
Ooh poor you.. both arms!!
I also wake up with “ouch’“ and “ow” on my former PICC side, but not on the operated side.. yet!
Yes, please let me know how you get on. It’s good to know we’re not alone.
Good luck!
Hi everyone. Goodness, what a lot of responses and I’m sorry I’ve not seen them until today. My oncologist was right back in November last year when he told me the pain would go away on its own because that exactly what’s happened. I swim 5 times a week though with a combination of breast stroke and backstroke so my arm does get exercised regularly and I think that’s helped massively. It was very painful for 6 months after having the PICC line out and then seemed to recover all at once, so there’s hope for you all 
Thanks for the encouragement. I’m still suffering with arm/ shoulder pain after nearly 2 months since PICC removal, but have some physio starting in June.
I’m glad that you have recovered fully.
All the very best x
Thank you. Hope the same happens for you too.