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Lumpy elbow and other ???

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Posted 7/29/2005 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
Ladies this may be a strange question.2 days ago I developed a strange lump on my elbow.It really hurts! I did'nt bump it any where I can remember. Should I be worried about this?Also, I have never had scans of any kind.I have had x-rays.Last week I had one of my spine. The last two vertebrae in my back are dead from an injury in my 20's.According to my onc the xray looks really good except for some arthritis in the lower back.

I admit I have not exercised as  usual when first diagnosed. I have just begun to really exercise again within the last month or so.Anyway, I have been no stranger to back pain since my early 20's.Of course, I now believe every ache and pain is something.I have pretty much had back pain since my lumpectomy, but it gets worse after chemo, and then better.Should I have an MRI?I don't want my onc. to think Im a hypocaundriac, but I can't help myself sometimes.What do you think ladies?

Michelle

Posted 7/29/2005 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
I understand about worrying about aches and pains....I do that too. I would ask your doc what he thinks and trust his opinion about getting tests. But get that elbow checked!

I get backaches after chemo too and then they go away but i have no idea what causes it. I think it can be part of the side effects of the chemo, maybe? Like getting flu-like symptoms or something?

Beth
Posted 7/29/2005 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
Skky, I too got pain in the elbow after my lumphectomy and occasionally get it now.. it feels like I bruised my elbow and it feels like a lump too... I asked my wonderful nurse prac a few weeks after surgery what it was and why I had that... she said with in the armpit area is a major nerve that travels down the arm  and with the swelling and irritation of the lymphnode area and during the surgery the doc moved the nerve around it can get irritated and cause the pain I was feeling but will get better ... I think if you never exercised much after your surgery and your doing it now that the nerve is being maniputated again now and moving back to where it belongs and that is what your feeling... but never assume always ask.. so call your surgeons office and talk with the nurse or doc and see if they think it could be the nerve now since you have started to exercise now and never did much before ok.. always better to be safe then sorry... occasionally when I have exercised my arm alot I feel it again... but it goes away in a day now... I am doing exercise in the gym at my hospital now and use the wt machines with little weight  to stretch my arm more now and get it back in shape going very slow with it... but it seems to be helping and my arm is getting close to feeling normal now... I really can't say enough about early exercise and what it does for the muscles and surgery site later on...just never do it on your own without asking your doc first cause everyone surgery is different k... you don't want to strain your muscles too soon .... skeeter1
Posted 7/29/2005 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
Well you learn something every day! Thanks skeeter for the information. I have never had this problem but it surely sounds reasonable and helpful to many current and future board members. See, you never know when some special information you have can be so valuable. And Michelle, I think we all have tendancies of being hypochondriacs but so many times when you feel something is wrong it really is. I know I feel like a fool asking questions, but many times I am on track, too. Hugs MK
Posted 7/29/2005 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you ladies. I guess I should have mentioned this is the opposite elbow.Skeeter, that is good information to know as I already have bad cording on the lumpectomy side.I called the nurse she said she doubts the lump has anything to do with my breast cancer,but will do an MRI next week.For those of you a little farther out from treatment- will I ever get a little less phobic?
Michelle
Posted 7/29/2005 5:02 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Michelle-

I tried to post last night but got locked up and it did not save. I too had the cording, my surgeon said it is called Mondor's syndrome. I had it twice, first time was in my side/ abdomen. My PCP had no idea what it was and I was going to see a vascular doc, when my surgeon told me what it was.  Luckily i cancelled the vascular appt though. The second time I had it you could see it run down my arm and I could feel the pulling down my hand, but the vein was visible in my armpit and part way down.  I have not had it since.

As for the phobia, welcome to life after cancer! Yes, you will get a little less phobic, but you will also better learn how to handle the anxiety and manage the concerns.  In my opinion, this is just about the hardest part, is learning to live comfortably after cancer. Only those of us here can relate, not our families or friends. They just think we should be happy it is over, not getting that it is never really over. 

Be careful not to use the onc in place of a PCP, but I would keep him apprised of new symptoms or concerns.  Mention the back and elbow to him and ask if you should take those concerns to your PCP instead. If he thinks it is cancer related, he can intervene.  At U of M, they tend to not scan unless there are symptoms that sound like they could be cancer-related. In over 5 years, I had a bone scan once and a chest CT only because I was having a pain in my sternum that was chronic, and it needed to be evaluated (turned out to be arthritic changes from radiation).

Hang in there...it will get better, slowly but surely!

Lori

Posted 7/29/2005 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, it's me. Please describe and explain cording to me. I have never heard of this.

JUJU
Posted 7/29/2005 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
Juju, I had not heard of it as cording, but I knew what she meant because I had it too. Some of the books describe a side effect from surgery to the breast as "a cord-like vein" that can run down your arm. It is called Mondor's syndrome, and from what I read, it can happen after trauma to the breast. It is not related to cancer, but to surgery. It is like a kind of phlebitis. Mine was tender to the touch and my arm was achy for a couple days. The cord-like vein lasted for several weeks but the pain was shorter-lasting. I only needed Advil, if that. I took baby aspirin to help keep my blood thinner, as I was also on Tamoxifen.

In the 5+ years that I have been posting, I have not heard of too many people reporting this side effect. But when it does come up, usually others chime in that they had it too.

You can go to google and put in Mondor's syndrome, or if you have Susan Love's breast book, she mentions it too.

Lori
Posted 7/29/2005 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Lori,

 

You are so right about learning to live comfortably after cancer.  My husband just doesn't understand that I am a changed person.  But, I'm not a phobic person, either.  I just feel differently than I used to.  Soon I will be telling you ladies about a decision I've made!

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