PMPS

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Hi.

I have been struggling recently with bad chest pains when I walk around. I am being tested for angina soon(already started medication) I am now getting what feels like a little electric shock in the centre of my chest with numbness and tingling in my left arm. I have had had double mastectomy after 7 failed rebuilds. I have ended up with permanent nerve damage and am on prevailing for it(clearly not working great but has made it tolerable most days). Also my scar tissue is stuck to my chest wall and doesn't move. My last op was in May 2016. I have never heard of post mastectomy pain syndrome before but I think it may fit what I am going through? I think possibly that my scar tissue attached to my chest wall that has got a lot of nerve damage, may have started to attach itself to things that it shouldn't do? My ECG's always comes ok, that's what's making me think the pain might not be angina and I really need to find out what is causing it. I was under the Marsden in Sutton but have moved away to Norwich and I'm not under anyone up here and don't have anyone to ask, or anyone to examine it to see if it could be the PMPS. I don't know what to do

Hi Shazalfie10,

Thank you for getting in touch with us and welcome to the online community. It sounds like you’ve been going through a very difficult time so I’m glad you’ve reached out to us.

You mentioned that you are being tested for angina soon and your ECG’s have been normal thus far. However, it’s really important that you get yourself checked out again, especially as you are now experiencing numbness and tingling in your left arm. I would suggest giving NHS 111 a call or asking someone to take you down to A&E today.

It’s understandable that you would relate the electric shock type pain to nerve damage, and this may be the case however as you are now experiencing this new numbness and tingling, you have to get yourself checked out.

Post mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) is a pain disorder associated with nerve damage following breast cancer surgery. This type of pain is usually described as burning, stabbing or shooting in nature and is helped by neuropathic medications such as pregabalin.

After having seven failed rebuilds followed by a double mastectomy, this could mean that you are suffering from PMPS. Treatment for this is usually a combination of medication and physiotherapy and in some cases, further surgery to remove some of the scar tissue. It might be helpful to get in touch with your GP to ask for referral to a pain specialist. There is a pain management clinic in Norwich that your doctor can refer you to. You could also ask your GP to refer you to the breast surgeons at Norwich Hospital to examine you and discuss treatment options.

The most important thing is that you get yourself checked out today, to rule out any cardiac issues, despite normal ECG’s in the past. I hope this information was helpful.

Take care and best wishes,

Adrienne (Cancer Information Nurse Specialist)

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get back in touch. You can speak with the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us.

Ref: AM/JC

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