Question
2006 i started having some problems of pain and swelling w/wrist, arm, underarm, breast, shoulder, ribs, etc. also had lose of strength in wrist, shoulder, & arm. "i could not reach, grasp, lift, push or pull.  and my arm was constantly fatigued without using it". i am a 14 yr b. cancer surviror,,,so the first thing i think of "is the b. cancer coming back". so to make the story short. I was diagnosed w/left arm and upper truncal Lymphedema. here it is 2008 and i still have a problem with the arm/shoulder. I went thru almost 4 months of Lymphedema therapy in 2006 but noone would look @ the shoulder because of no insurance, @ the time i was covered by the state of maryland breast/cervial cancer program. my lymph therapist knew that something else was going on with my shoulder besides the lymphedema.
so here it is 2 years later to find out that i have a partial thickness tear involving the supraspinatous tendon near its insertion, increased signal & thickening is also seen within distal supraspinatus tendon. also subacromial subdeltoid bursitis, evidende of supraspinatous tendinopathy.
Queston: Shouldn't my shoulder/arm already be healed? after 2 years AND
if i receive a shot in the top of shoulder......it will cause the swelling to get worse in the arm/shoulder due to the lymphedema.
Should i get another orthopedic dr's opinion, OR see a Rheumatologist?  This all flaired up @ the same time n 2006 and I think it is related to the lymphedema. What is the possibility of this?  I know that the answers that i receive will not diagnose my problem. But I need someone that could help me get to the bottom of this.
Thank You in advance!

Answer
Judy,

I am sorry to hear about all that you are going trough. I am a two time survivor of cancer myself.

I am not familiar with the ins and outs of lympoderma so I do not know if a steroid injection would cause more swelling or not. For any other condition I would say it would not because steroids are powerful anti-inflammatories.

It is doubtful that a torn tendion is the result of your lympoderme. The other problems you mentioned all are associated with inflammation and lympoderma causes not only swelling but causes many infammatory problems so yes it could be the cause of the rest the list.

I would think an orthopedic doctor would be your best bet. They specialize in treating tendons and bursa.

I wish I could be more help. This is out of my area of expertise. I wish you the best and hope you find some answers soon.

Rusty
http://arthritis-symptom.com/