Ok, here I am again. It seems like every thing is going wrong with me this month. I have the muscle twitching and pain in the shoulder. I can't even raise my arm completely up. Yes, I have made a doctor's appt for next week. Now, I have this aggravating pulsing in my ears.It has been going on for sometime now but tonight it seems worse. I can't lay down for this annoying noise. Any ideas on how to get rid of it?
Thanks, Mary

Hi Mary,
My RO mentioned a permanent "texturing" of the neck muscles due to radiation and I have occasional neck spasms.

Could the "annoying noise" be tinnitus? I would ask your ENT. That can be caused by a variety of things, even if you used to hang out in loud clubs. Chemo can cause it as well but I noticed you had RT only.

Mary, if indeed you do have tinnitus [which I have lived with for about 10 yrs now] having some soft music or other distracting, but soothing, sound going on in the room will help deflect your attention. It's most irritating for me at bedtime because the room is quiet. During the day and at work, I don't notice it too much. Hopefull you can find a way to gently exercise your arm. Without exercise, it could get much worse [it's that "use it or lose it" principle]. Considering what you went through, it sounds like you have done very well so far. I'm guessing you are a very strong lady. Amy

Mary,
You need to get to a PT for that arm because the problem will only get worse without proper exercise. Mine devleoped into a winged scapula resulting in major back pain. Meanwhile hang from door frames or lie flat on your back with arms over head to help stretch it. Use a theraband if you have one. But get a script and call the PT ASAP.

Take care,
Eileen

I went to the primary physican yesterday for my shoulder. While I was there I mentioned the ringing and the heartbeat in my ear. Her response was, "that's not totally abnormal." She was not concerned with it at all. I will mention it to my ENT when I visit him next month. Anyway, she sent me to an orthopaedic today. He did not see anything on xrays that would have been caused by injury and is thinking it is tendonitis or rotator cuff tear. He did see a spot on my bone below the shoulder. I have a mri Monday evening and back to his office on Thursday. It will definitely be a long wait. If the mri shows up fine for my shoulder I will start physical therapy. Please keep me in your prayers that the spot is not cancerous. He was not too concerned with it but stated given my history everything needs to be checked out. Thanks mary

Hi, Mary, It sounds like you are getting good care to address the shoulder problem. The ear ringing is something you just may have to live with. I actually had one Ear Specialist tell me that there is a theory that the noise is actually produced in the brain- not the ear itself. Boy, mine seems to come directly from my ear :rolleyes: [ i.e. I didnot buy what he was saying] Anyway, that noise is disturbing but manageable. Good luck with the shoulder. Amy