I had my left breast and 3 lymph nodes removed almost 5 wks ago and still suffer tightness and pain every day no successful pain relief, is this normal, has anyone else suffered that long please
Hi Vag. I had my mastectomy in June and axillary node clearance in mid August. I'm still feeling tightness and a bit swollen but it's been improving more quickly in the last couple of weeks.
I think everyone is different. I was told 6 weeks is average but some poor souls suffer weeks and weeks of pain, others not much at all. I’m 3 weeks almost post op and my armpit is more painful now that at first - nerves growing back apparently. And I had a seroma (fluid pocket) drained but the nipple keeps getting stabbing pains. Nerves again, I guess as my scar is around the areolar.
5 weeks is very early days. I had lumpectomy and when I saw my oncologist 3 months after surgery, he said it was very early days for healing and pain would likely last many many months. I'm sure mastectomy would be different, but any surgery at all can take 6 weeks minimum initial healing and 3 - 6 months in total to get back to normal.
My breast is still sore from lumpectomy, 8 months in, but I think that is different as breast tissue doesn't like to be disturbed and it can take a long time for it to heal and for all the nerves to grow back.
If you are worried at all though, do give your BCN a call, they will be glad to help
Hi Vag, I had left mastectomy and lymph clearance 4 weeks ago. I've got painful cording in armpit to elbow. I've been doing all the excersises regularly and massaging the cording like the bc nurse showed me but still sore. I've been given amitriptyline to take at night as this helps with nerve pain, I'm told it takes a few weeks to kick in properly. It hasn't yet, it's been 2 weeks, a great side effect though is its helping me sleep really well!! Hope we both feel loads better soon. Sandra x
