Post-mastectomy Pain Syndrome

Hi, sorry I can’t help as I have not experienced this, but I just wanted to say hi and that I thought your post was really positive. I wish you the best of luck in finding some easing of the pain soon 

I wonder if it may be worth seeing someone from the complementary therapies, such as a chiropractor. They may not have a solution to the root cause, but may be able to offer some relief. 

As for you having had a relatively easy time, I think it's important that we get to hear these stories too. I like them, they somehow make me feel better even when I generally feel rotten.

Thanks for your reply, I see from your profile that you have been on quite a tough journey and I wish you well with your life.

Thanks for your reply, I'm thinking about complementary therapies, but wondered first if physio would be appropriate.  Trying to gather info and think things through before deciding whether to ask for Drs appointment.  I get the impression this isn't very common, hope by posting I can find out if others have had it and what helped.

Physio sounds like a good idea, yeah. Sometimes, in situations such as yours, we really have to fight for ourselves. Too many times I have had someone from the medical teams trying to dismiss a concern, and it angers me because not every patient is able to stand their ground or knows how to go about it effectively. Too many times when we are told, "nothing can be done about it," it actually means, "We don't know how to deal with it," but not necessarily, "this is really beyond help." 

Aw thank you, that's so kind x

If anyone else is looking for information on this - I found when searched that no information came up, which is why I decided to post.  Then I tried searching for nerve pain and several posts on post mastectomy pain at a later stage came up, but they were a few years old which puzzled me, as someone must have had it in the years since.  I still have the impression it's not very common.

Hi,

I was diagnosed with post-mastectomy pain syndrome and I have Lidocaine patches prescribed that I stick over the area, its a private prescription as I have medical cover, I asked my GP to prescribe them and they wouldn't, they said their were cheaper alternatives that are just as good, it may be worth talking to your GP. I also use Voltarol gel on the area this was recommended by my breast Consultant, it also helps with the pain. Paracetamol will not be effective because the pain is nerve pain.  

Thank you for that, and I hope your own pain level is reasonable at the moment.  I have gel for arthritis so will have a go with that, and the patches sound useful -  they  didn't come up in any searches so I wouldn't have known about them otherwise.  Also both these solutions don't involve taking lots of drugs.

I am 6 weeks post mastectomy. Only really getting pain on driving. I am finding doing stretching exercises is helping alleviate.