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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
lymphedema and a frozen shoulder s/p surgery and radiation
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
lymphedema and a frozen shoulder s/p surgery and radiation
by mrs c, Nov 08, 2005 12:00AM
I was dg with breast ca in 2/01 at age 35. Tx with AC x 4 cycles and Taxol X 4 followed by radiation. Developped lymphedema almost immediately and was treated with manual le tx x 3 months with moderate response. Wore a sleeve and glove since and did massage, but slowly worsened until 10 mo ago. Started developping a frozen shoulder at that time and started physical therapy. After 3mo of pt underwent a mobilization under anesthesia which was only semisuccessful at best. was diagonsed with recurrence in a femur and low back and was treated with radiation tx and feel fine in those places. testing was all ok for the shoulder and arm. Continued pt for 2-3 mo but range of motion has remained poor and the pain just gets worse. finally got into manual le and Reid sleeve therapy again and was told that my arm is 5" bigger this time than 4 years ago. In addition I have lost most of the use of my arm and hand. I am seeing a pain specialist no who has gotten my pain under better control with meds and trigger point injections. My pain doesn't seem to be related to my cancer and I am responding well to the new tx. Is there anything else I can do for the lymphedema (which has only come down 1" in 2 months of tx) or the frozen shoulder? My orthopedist doesn't want to do anything more for fear of complications related to the lymphedema.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, Nov 09, 2005 12:00AM
Dear mrs c: Lymphedema is a very complex problem and the frozen shoulder only makes the situation more difficult. Without examining you and reviewing your x-rays and other tests, we could not make any specific recommendations. Physical and occupational therapies have been the mainstays of therapy but these do not work consistently. It may not hurt to see if there is a lymphedema clinic in your area to get a second opinion, if for no other reason than your mental health.
