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Pain in neck/shoulder
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Pain in neck/shoulder

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Pain in neck/shoulder

  • Post
    • August 5, 2011 at 5:10 am
    DeniseK
    Participant

      Hi all!!  I had a horrible night last night with pain in my neck, collarbone area, and shoulder.  You know the area right where you neck meets your shoulder.  Anyway, I was real close to  packing up and going to the ER.  I put some ice on it and it helped and took some pain relievers.  I woke up with what appeared to be a bruise in this area and tenderness but the deep pain was gone.  I think it may have been a muscle spasm but I've had this pain for a long time.  I've told my surgeon and Dr.

      Hi all!!  I had a horrible night last night with pain in my neck, collarbone area, and shoulder.  You know the area right where you neck meets your shoulder.  Anyway, I was real close to  packing up and going to the ER.  I put some ice on it and it helped and took some pain relievers.  I woke up with what appeared to be a bruise in this area and tenderness but the deep pain was gone.  I think it may have been a muscle spasm but I've had this pain for a long time.  I've told my surgeon and Dr. Weber in San Fran but no one thinks it's related to the Melanoma due to the scans coming back clear. 

      I go next week to the onco so I will definately tell him about the pain.

      The pain is on the same side that my tumor was about 6 inches above.  I honestly don't think it's a coincidence.  What kind of scan is better than a PET?  Or is that the best? 

      Has anyone else had this kind of pain/spasm in the area of their excision? 

      Thanks everyone!!  Denise

       

    Viewing 3 reply threads
    • Replies
        • August 5, 2011 at 6:12 am
        StevenK
        Participant

          I've had pains and aches in the muscles near my incision, Denise, but not as bad as what you describe. Yeah, you should get your doctor to look into it. I suppose it could be connected to the wound healing process if it is near your incision.

          Best regards, Steve

          • August 5, 2011 at 6:12 am
          StevenK
          Participant

            I've had pains and aches in the muscles near my incision, Denise, but not as bad as what you describe. Yeah, you should get your doctor to look into it. I suppose it could be connected to the wound healing process if it is near your incision.

            Best regards, Steve

              • August 5, 2011 at 12:03 pm
              Lisa13
              Participant

                Hi Denise,

                I had a groin dissection in February and get all kinds of pains in and around the incision. Dr. told me it's a result of nerve damage and scar tissue building. Since it sounds like you're in alot of pain, I'd ask your Dr. to look into it. Your scans were clear, so it doesn't sound to be melanoma related.

                Any ache or pain I feel, I immediately jump to the conclusion that it's cancer – it's hard not to get paranoid sometimes. 

                Best of luck,

                Lisa

                • August 5, 2011 at 12:03 pm
                Lisa13
                Participant

                  Hi Denise,

                  I had a groin dissection in February and get all kinds of pains in and around the incision. Dr. told me it's a result of nerve damage and scar tissue building. Since it sounds like you're in alot of pain, I'd ask your Dr. to look into it. Your scans were clear, so it doesn't sound to be melanoma related.

                  Any ache or pain I feel, I immediately jump to the conclusion that it's cancer – it's hard not to get paranoid sometimes. 

                  Best of luck,

                  Lisa

                • August 5, 2011 at 2:25 pm
                FormerCaregiver
                Participant

                  Denise, it sounds like you are struggling with postoperative pain in the area near where you had surgery. Here is some info about it: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/pain_management/hic_pain_control_after_surgery.aspx

                  A PET scan is especially designed to detect anything that could be melanoma or other types of cancer. It is generally the best type of scan for doing this, and is usually done in conjunction with a CT scan. As your recent scan was clear, it is very unlikely that the pain has anything to do with melanoma.

                  The pain could also be caused by an infection, so it would be wise to look out for any symptoms such as tenderness, inflammation and fever.

                  Hope this helps.

                  Frank from Australia

                  • August 5, 2011 at 2:25 pm
                  FormerCaregiver
                  Participant

                    Denise, it sounds like you are struggling with postoperative pain in the area near where you had surgery. Here is some info about it: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/pain_management/hic_pain_control_after_surgery.aspx

                    A PET scan is especially designed to detect anything that could be melanoma or other types of cancer. It is generally the best type of scan for doing this, and is usually done in conjunction with a CT scan. As your recent scan was clear, it is very unlikely that the pain has anything to do with melanoma.

                    The pain could also be caused by an infection, so it would be wise to look out for any symptoms such as tenderness, inflammation and fever.

                    Hope this helps.

                    Frank from Australia

                      • August 5, 2011 at 5:44 pm
                      DeniseK
                      Participant

                        Thanks guys!  The PET scan indicated activity around the incision area but the docs say it's due to the healing of that area.  Makes sense.  No fever.  I've been checking because I've had this cough as well for the last week.  I've been coughing so hard it makes me pee my pants!!  LOL!!  🙂  TMI??  Anyway no other symptoms except a cough with phelgm, yuck I know.   I've been having shoulder pain for about a year.  I thought I hurt it riding my dirt bike after a small crash but it never healed.  Then when I found out I had Melanoma growing on me for 2 years I thought it might have something to do with it.  The pain was never as bad as it was the other night.  I'm 4 days away from seeing the doctor so it's on my list of questions and concerns!!  But yeah, for sure it's hard to not attribute any ache or pain to melanoma. 

                        Denise 🙂 

                        Thanks again.  It feels better today. 

                        • August 5, 2011 at 5:44 pm
                        DeniseK
                        Participant

                          Thanks guys!  The PET scan indicated activity around the incision area but the docs say it's due to the healing of that area.  Makes sense.  No fever.  I've been checking because I've had this cough as well for the last week.  I've been coughing so hard it makes me pee my pants!!  LOL!!  🙂  TMI??  Anyway no other symptoms except a cough with phelgm, yuck I know.   I've been having shoulder pain for about a year.  I thought I hurt it riding my dirt bike after a small crash but it never healed.  Then when I found out I had Melanoma growing on me for 2 years I thought it might have something to do with it.  The pain was never as bad as it was the other night.  I'm 4 days away from seeing the doctor so it's on my list of questions and concerns!!  But yeah, for sure it's hard to not attribute any ache or pain to melanoma. 

                          Denise 🙂 

                          Thanks again.  It feels better today. 

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