Hi Dr My Mom is recovering from breast cancer she will be finished her herceptin in September yesterday she was complaining of her back being very stiff and today she has a bruise on her shoulder blade she did have reflexology last Wednesday and had herceptin on Friday with the reflexology the lady worked on foot of shoulder she was able to tell mom that she has arthritis in her shoulder do u think this could cause the bruising or from medication she has had sixteen doses of herceptin also chemo also radium Regards Tracy
Hello, Welcome to Chat Doctor. Thank you for providing the brief history. As what I feel is the brushes will be because of the chemotherapy and radiotherapy which is common as body develops too much heat. If your mother had RA then it would have troubled the peripheral joints beforehand. Since she had tightness in the upper back this could be the post effect of Surgery as muscle has to try balancing the removed part. So if your mother is not diabetic then you can use cold packs for back. Make sure she don't have even cold. For shoulder pain, I think this will be muscular. Because usually people post mastectomy complains of shoulder pain. Using stocking for upper limb will be good to avoid swelling which occurs due lymphatic Chat Doctor. For shoulder to regain the flexibility there needs to be undergoing some sessions of physiotherapy which can help the shoulder to avoid pain and lose the ROM. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Regards