Radiation Burns

When I finished my radiation treatments two and a half weeks ago, I looked at the burns I had then, and thought, I can get through this. 

I should have read the fine print, which states radiation burns can continue to develop for two weeks (or more!) after the treatments are finished. *sigh* As some sections of burn have healed up, others have surfaced in a slow and somewhat fascinating dance.

Most of the burns, while red and angry looking, didn't hurt as much as I would have thought. I wondered some about this, but have been too focused on using my set of *four* lotions which help them heal to spend much time on it.

Then, the latest burn bubbled up. It's on the rear part of my armpit, well towards my back. And, it hurts! Like a bad sunburn hurts. Don't touch me! Are you sure shirts are required? (Answer: not around the house, they're not.)

What was different about this set?

The answer stares at me every time I look in the mirror. Unlike the other burns, the skin in this section of my chest was not touched by my mastectomies. Which means ALL of the nerve endings are intact and speaking. Not nicely. 

Took thirteen years, but I've finally found a reason to be (temporarily) grateful for the nerve damage on my chest. If I'd have been living with this pain for the last month, I'd have been worn down by it. Especially when it was right in my armpit, I very well might have thrown in the towel and given up my yoga workouts. Which would have meant I would have lost my range of motion because radiation burns don't just affect the skin - they also disrupt nerve signals, and damage the ligaments and tendons beneath the surface. 

As it is, I've spent a LOT of time, in addition to yoga, trying to convince my shoulder to go back and down. The fitness director at my gym helped a lot last week by giving me a private PT-like session, showing me a set of exercises which have made a huge difference. So grateful.

There are two good news parts here. One, the burns have been healing well. My diligence in keeping them properly creamed is paying off. Two, no new burns have surfaced in several days. I think, I hope, when this current set heals, I will be past this latest set of bumps in the road. 

One step at a time.