Are you able to give me a better understanding?

I was diagnosed with a Grade 3 O+ Stage 2 B.C. Eight years ago.  I have a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.  I then went on to have a TRAM flap reconstruction.  I have past my prognosis time and things were going wonderfully well, up until recently.  Pain in my chest (mastectomy/recon. site) started about 6 months ago and has progressively been getting worse.  Somedays it is sereve.  After appointment last year, I was told that radiotheraphy had started to take its toll on my rib cage.  But the pain still persists.  Recently I went back to the hospital, as my right arm became extremely painful and swollen, I couldn't even touch it with the slightest of hand, this lasted about 2 weeks and has subsided.  But the pain in my chest continues and my arm aches and is occassionally painful.  The hospital have tested for clots which are all ok, but what else can this be?  And, is there something that can be done to improve my quality of life, without all these pain killers?

[Cleveland Clinic]

Dear Cilowe:  Without evalution, it is impossible to speculate on what might be causing you so much pain.  You might see a pain specialist or even a palliative medicine specialist who could review the situation and hopefully come up with some solutions.