Numbness after surgery

Hi Boxie83,

so sorry you’ve had to find your way here to this site, but the help and support is great.

Any operation that cuts the skin will also cut the tiny nerve endings in that skin. So your recovery will include a certain amount of time for nerve endings to seal and/or heal. Numbness sometimes lasts beyond recovery but generally some of the sensation you now feel including the burning on exercise, will ease. 

I hope you got a booklet showing you the exercises to do, please do follow them as shoulders don’t like being still and later in would give problems. 

Gently massaging the edges of your incision (bio oil is great) once properly healed will help nerve endings to sort themselves out. Plus it will help prevent too much scar tissue.

Hugs xxx

Hi Boxie83 I had mastectomy and node clearance 6 weeks ago and have experienced the same as you. I took some paracetamol about 10 mins before I did the exercises and that helped me. The advice I was given was to dial back the exercises if I had any pain at all, and if nothing else, to stick to the ones that weren’t painful. Found myself shrugging and rolling my shoulders a lot!

6 weeks down the line, the numbness is wearing off and has been replaced with a slightly tender, sore feeling. Like how you feel when you’ve banged something before a bruise comes up. I soon forget about it once I get distracted by something. Still doing the exercises plus yoga and Pilates which my surgeon has approved.

Did your hospital give you advice on pain relief? Mine told me to take paracetamol every 4 hours for at least a couple of weeks after , to avoid any pain taking hold. Ended up doing that for about 3 weeks after but not now.

Hope it improves for you and soon xx

Thankyou for your advice! Yeah I have a booklet, can just about manage the basic ones but I’m sure I will be able to build up. 
xx

Thanks for that. Well they just said take paracetamol and ibuprofen. Its just the burning sensation it makes me feel so sick. Early days I guess. 
Thanks for your help and advice, I suppose shoulder rolls and shrugs are better than nothing 

xx

Hello. I experienced this too. was told nerves grow back at 2mm a month and therefore would take a few months to heal. I'm 4 months down the line from surgery and my arm is still quite numb and I get a lot of tingly sensations. The radiotherapy has aggravated this. I've gone back to doing the exercises to maintain movement as my armpit area is quite sore. this link may help you too which I got from my sheet of exercises:

yoursurgeryandrehab.co.uk/.../

Hey Boxie,

I had a lumpectomy and node removal about a year ago and I am still slightly numb in places which I have been told is normal. It changes daily and sometimes get prickly sensations where the nerves are trying to repair themselves. The exercises they give you are definitely worth persevering with, they will help in the long run, just take it easy and continue with the basic ones until you're ready to move onto the next level.

xx

Thanks for your advice. Did you get a burning sensation if you moved in a certain way? I’m presuming that’s the nerves. Really takes my breath away x

Yes, it felt like I was undoing the surgeons work sometimes! I just reined back on the particular move that didn’t feel right but still made sure I did something. It will get easier and less painful, just take it easy x the breast care nurses were always happy to have a chat or take a look if I had any worries so do speak to them if you’re concerned x