One morning you wake up and feel stiffness and pain in your shoulder as you reach in the cupboard or try to wash your hair. You give it a couple of days only to find that it’s getting worse. You can’t shave your armpit, put on your seatbelt or sleep on that side.

In the general population, a stiff or “frozen” shoulder can occur with or without injury. Individuals with diabetes are prone to this type of painful stiff shoulder, but we are not sure why. Shoulder pain and stiffness are also very common in individuals undergoing or recovering from breast cancer treatment.   Breast cancer interventions are traumatizing to the tissues that are in close proximity to the shoulder joint.  Radiation, scarring from a lumpectomy, mastectomy, or tissue flap reconstruction often impacts shoulder flexibility and can lead to this condition. Treatment includes hands on stretching and joint mobilization from a physical therapist with instruction in home exercises. This is one of the more painful conditions physical therapists treat, and sometimes it takes a few months before a frozen shoulder “thaws”.

Shoulder function can also be impacted if you’ve had lymph node removal or a biopsy as part of your treatment. Tender cords of tissue can form in your axilla (armpit) limiting shoulder motion. This particular diagnosis is called Axillary Web Syndrome (AWS), or cording. Clients often report feeling a tight band or “rope” in their armpit. It can occur days, weeks, or even months after surgery. Scar release techniques are required in these cases to alleviate the tightness.

I have been surprised by the number post breast cancer clients I have treated with stiff shoulders that do not have AWS. They have found their way to our clinic through word of mouth rather than part of a post-op or post treatment follow up with their MD. If you or someone you know has undergone breast cancer treatment, let them know that a stiff or painful shoulder is a common side effect and a physical therapist can help.