Trigger Finger/Thumb exercises
I've found a Youtube presentation that explains how Trigger Finger/Thumb occurs & some rubbing & exercises that may help it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0FfMzemLnU The info from the 2min 20sec mark is more about locating the nodule at the base of the thumb/finger that is restricting the tendon from working smoothly - and how deep tissue massage may help to help break down the scar tissue. This is very similar to what my husband has done in the past when he gets a running injury - he will give deep massage to the muscle, to 'free it up'. I found that I have quite a BIG nodule at the base of my left thumb - it is much smaller on my right thumb. I started the rubbing of the nodule quite aggressively yesterday & I am surprised to say that it already feels 'freer' today! I still can't bend the thumb tho the pain is less (the magic oil may also be helping here too!) - so I am stretching it & forcing it to bend as well, to try & free it up more. Good luck - it is definitely worth a try!Victoria is doing an Inquiry into women & pain - feel free to participate!
If you live in Victoria you may like to take part in this survey if you have/do experience pain of any sort - whether from your BC or anything else. .... The survey is open until 31st July 2024 ... The government wants to know what your experiences are with pain and accessing care for your pain condition. Understanding your experiences and concerns will help to inform the Inquiry into Women’s Pain and make recommendations to improve care that meets the needs of Victorian girls and women over 12 years of age. We want to hear about: the experiences of Victorian girls and women with pain. This includes all pain and is not limited to pelvic pain. the experiences Victorian girls and women have in accessing Victorian health services to manage their pain, including strengths, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. the experience of healthcare workers who work with women and girls with pain. You can fill out the survey on this page. The survey will close at 5:00pm, Wednesday 31 July 2024. If you would like to write a longer contribution to the Inquiry into Women’s Pain, please see the submissions page: Inquiry into Women's Pain submissions (health.vic.gov.au) For more information about the program of work the Department of Health is leading to change the way women's health issues are treated, please see: Women's Health and Wellbeing Program To do the actual survey - click on this link below: https://engage.vic.gov.au/project/inquiry-into-womens-pain-survey/participate
Diagnosed on 1 May 2017
I am 58 and have a lifetime habit of healthy living. Therefore,when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, like everyone else I'm sure, I couldn't believe it. It never occurred to me I would get cancer. After I competed treatment I did everything I could think of to ensure I would be healthy and cancer free. Early this year I started to experience inexplicable back pain. I also didn't feel myself - hard to explain. After many visits to the doctor trying to figure out what was wrong, I ended up in Emergency at 4am with unbearable pain. I was diagnosed later that morning with metastatic breast cancer - Monday 1 May. Within a week I was receiving chemo and had my first radiotherapy treatment. I am blessed to have a highly skilled, caring and compassionate medical team that I have complete faith in. The resources on this site have been informative & helped me a lot, especially during the first few terrible weeks after I was diagnosed - I'm sure I took advantage of every scan and test available at North Coast Radiology during those weeks. The scans show I have extensive metastasis in my spine, hips and a few areas on my scull; and spots in my liver. The liver is already showing a lot of improvement. Fortunately my brain and other organs are clear. The scans of my spine and hips are VERY scary and the associated pain is no fun. Mindfulness meditation, eating healthily and exercise certainly help. I'd love any advice or suggestions you have in helping to live with bone pain. I read messages of hope and inspiration on this site during that first scary week. I can't find words to express how much those stories helped - I latched onto the hope and advice to live every day well and to set goals. Kitty's message that, "in a strange way, those of us with advanced disease are lucky – we know that the important thing is to enjoy today and to live as well as we can" is forefront in my mind. So ... thanks to Kitty, one week to the day after I was diagnosed I ordered my dream campervan (over the phone on my way to Lismore for more scanning). Since I was a child I have always wanted to own a two tone Kombi campervan (my god parents, who I adored, had one) My partner and I are had saved and planned to buy a modern version in a couple of years but we brought our plans forward. We do have a basic 20 years old campervan we love but is doesn't have aircon. Not so comfortable driving in summer since we moved north! Thank you all for being here. I look forward to 'meeting' at least some of you.
Hi strangers
Hi ladies long time no speak, I hope you are all well and finding some happiness in one form or another. i have just read some of my own posts from last year, omg things have sure changed since 2017. it was my second year july 4th don't know where the time has gone, my doctor was very happy with me and I disscused the pain I still had constant 24/7 . Not a problem he said we can is that so I went on Endone now I'm on Pregabalin which seems to be helping it blocks the pain. i have stopped lazer and I have a normal massage which I think has helped, still get this cramp grabbing pain that comes across my breast that comes from under my arm pit, sorry to much crap lol. it gas taken a while but I think things are getting better so keep going things will get better over time chow for now xox
Struggling
Hi ladies, away with my family spending some quality time but last 24 hours been so emotional and stressed, was diagnosed with TNBC early Dec, having 4 rounds of chemo, 16 rounds of taxol and then surgery - unsure at this stage what surgery as having genetic testing in a couple of weeks to see if I am a carrier for bracca 1/2. I had my first chemo 31st Dec, all went ok and other than first day where I had severe nausea that night the next 5 days I was just really exhausted - going into my 2nd post treatment i seem to be going ok. The thing is, the last 24 hours there is a burning pain in my tight breast and it’s sore and right arm aches - I had a needle biopsy the day before my chemo as ct showed a lesion in breast node so it is just over a week ago now and the side of my breast got really bruised and where they stuck the anaesthetic to numb the area still feels tingly and swollen, my husband says when he was looking at the ultrasound and needle was going in she was really pushing hard to grab the samples and they stuck 3 needles in to get enough, results came back fine and was benign so was a relief but I am stressing as it’s really sore still- has anyone had similar experiences with biopsies as all I can think is that this terrible diesels has spread even though my Scans mid Dec were clear. also I wonder if chemo is working and I know I am being stupid as I have only had 1 session and everyone is different but reading the side affects like hair falling out before 2nd cycle ( I am having a few strands come out only, more like malting but not much) nails going black, mine are fine at the moment, it’s not like I want these things but physiologically I feel if these things start to happen chemo is working - it’s such a mind f**k. sorry for the long winded post but just needed to release xx
Try this app
I've been using an app called "Insight" for about 2 years now. It's free and available on iTunes and Google Play/android. It's a meditation/relaxation app. It has thousands of recordings covering a wide range of areas. It has new ones added every day. There are topics like sleep, stress, anxiety, relax, pain, mindfulness, motivation and spirituality. There are music only recordings, nature sounds and chanting. I have found the Yoga Nidra for sleep really helpful. There are also podcast type discussions. The recordings can be anywhere from 1 minute awareness of breath to 90 minutes of deep sleep meditation. Just a suggestion. You may find it useful or at least something new to listen to as a distraction.
Are you experiencing pain following treatment?
Register for the Persistent pain, addressing quality of life webcast on Wednesday 7 February, 7pm - 8.15pm AEDT. Register now (and if you miss it, we will email you the recording) This webcast will address types of persistent pain associated with early breast cancer treatments, strategies to manage pain and further resources and support that may be available to you. We will be joined by three experts on the night, Professor Paul Glare, Pain Medicine Specialist, Dr Charlotte Tottman, Clinical Psychologist and Naveena Nekkalapudi, BCNA Consumer Representative. Naveena will be sharing her experiences of persistent body pain and why quality of life is paramount to her. You will have the opportunity to put forward your questions when you register or during the event. For more information about the webcast and speakers, and to register, please visit https://www.bcna.org.au/event-directory/webcasts/persistent-pain-after-breast-cancer/ Please feel free to pop any questions below in the comments or get in touch with the events team via events@bcna.org.au. We look forward to seeing you there!Cannabis therapy : have you tried it? how do you access it? how effective is the treatment for you?
I would like to get an idea of how widespread cannabis therapy use is amongst people living with breast cancer. If there is enough interest, might we consider joining the broader discussion about medical cannabis access and legality. It’s all well and good that legislation has been passed regarding access to medical cannabis but the reality is, few are able to access the scheme. My Oncologist and GP are both supportive of my cannabis use but told me it is difficult to access unless all other treatment options have been exhausted. I started using medical cannabis about four months ago. I was motivated to explore the treatment after talking with another cancer patient who was having outstanding relief from cannabis oil. I hit doc Google hard for a number of months, reading and researching all I could about medical grade cannabis. I learned about the different strains of cannabis, about CBD, THC & CBN and the many different cannabis and hemp products now available I also learned that there are people selling ‘medical cannabis’ that has no active ingredients. So, a reliable supplier is very important. I eventually discussed my thoughts about trying medical cannabis with my oncologist. He was supportive of my using it for pain management and asked where I planned to get it. The place I mentioned has been in the business for a long time and has a good reputation for supplying quality products. A lot of cancer patients in the region go there. I take cbd paste for pain management and cannabis oil in the hope that it will kill off the Mets in my bones (oncologist not as optimistic as me re the oil). I have had outstanding results in terms of pain management. I was taking Palexia SR150 mg twice a day and Panadol osteo three times a day. For those unfamiliar with Palexia, it is a strong opioid used for managing pain - it effectively numbs pain and your brain. I now only take cannabis extract to manage my pain and I feel so much better. My bloods are normal and the disease is stable; I have Mets in my bones but all my organs are now clear :) FYI - I am also taking Femara 2.5mg and Kisqali My health skyrocketed soon after starting this treatment. It seems the ulternative and conventional meds are working like a dream together. I look forward to reading your stories. If it might be useful I will write a summary of our experiencesMedicinal Cannabis Oil & reduction of pain, improvement in well being
Hi guys I've also put this link in the 'Early Days of Letrozole' thread - as so many are having extremely painful side effects and watching this video (shown last Dec) that follows the life & death of Dan Hallam (a young Aussie with Bowel Cancer) may help ..... The use of Cannabis Oil as a pain killer can make the difference in quality of life in MANY cancer sufferers (and other nasty conditions which can otherwise be debilitating to the extreme) ...... as this video shows as it follows the story of many (particularly kids.) Please watch the entire video before commenting ...... it takes a while, but it is well worth the watch, as it is Australian made & relates to our own health system. Share the link with family & friends. We NEED this to be freely available to those in chronic pain - especially those with Mets BC or extreme pain side effects from AIs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmEjlMdLi5w
