Arm pain after lymph node removal and lumpectomy - advice??

Hello Daisythedog

I had two lumpectomies and then had my mastectomy and had some lymph nodes removed then.  I am approaching the first anniversary of my mastectomy and I still get some pain under my arm, but it is not as bad as it was in the weeks after my mastectomy.  It is, I've been assured, caused by the nerve endings. 

Keep doing your exercises as they do help and in time you will get less pain.

Kiz

Hi Kiz,

Thanks for that, I've had all the lymph nodes removed.  I now have to have chemo and then radiotherapy before I have my mastectomy (wasn't expecting that news I have to say!!) 

did you take pain relief and if so what did you have in the weeks after surgery?  I just need to sleep!

I keep doing the exercises, so hopefully it will get better.

Thanks again and I hope all is well with you now??

Dianne (Daisy the dog!) x

After my Lymph node removal, I couldnt bear anything touching the skin on my arm - but was asked to persevere with it by gently stroking the arm with different types of material, from soft cotton to rough face cloths. This is to get the nerve endings used to the sensations, it took a while but did appear to work... :-)

The pain is caused by the severed nerve endings trying to reconnect. When I first had all my lymph nodes removed my arm felt very heavy with pain and numbness at the same time (weird!). The pain does ease with time but now, five and a half years later, I still have areas of my arm that are numb. It is important to keep doing the exercises as it will help. In the meantime don't be afraid to ask for painkillers.

Best wishes

KateG

hello Dianne,  It's two weeks tomorrow for me too since my lumpectomy and lymph removal.  I am still in a fair bit of pain, over my breast, which is very lumpy swollen and under my arm, which is tender.  I am getting shooting pains that flash across and then stop as fast as they arrive.  I assume that is nerve endings.  My arm feels very numb, like I have slept on it.  My nipple hurts a lot I think that is where they injected the blue dye.  My whole rib cage on that side feels very tight.  I am doing my exercises religiously but I seem very week on that side still.  I cannot bear the pain as I touch my breast, even gentle stroke hurts.  I have not had my follow up appointment yet not until next Monday.  I too wish I could get some sleep where pain does not wake me up.

Hello Dianne

I never took any painkillers after my lumpectomies or mastectomy as I wasn't in pain.

I slept a lot after my second lumpectomy and then had fatigue, but that is slowly easing.

After my mastectomy I slept in a slightly sitting position and about 3-4 weeks later I finally got to sleep on my stomach.  I use a small oblong shaped pillow underneath my mastectomy side (evens me up!) and sleep well most nights now.

Keep doing the exercises, they do help.

Kiz

Tramadol to help you sleep (take it half an hour before bed, you'll be out like a light).  

Exercises are a must. The other thing that helps is knowing that in 2-4 weeks it will ALL feel a lot better!

I agree with mistymoley - ask for tramadol (or suggest...? tramadol) I use it for chronic pain and it does really help. Also, the sitting up in bed with loads of pillows supporting every bit of you is a MUST!

Best wishes

KateG

Hi Anna,

I feel for you, as you describe the exact same things I'm experiencing!  I've been given tramadol for the pain, which I will take at night so that I can hopefully get some sleep (proper sleep anyway).

I'm persevering with the exercises in the hopes that it will get better.  It's more the nerve pain than anything.  

Feel free to chat to me if you need, as I know what you are going through.

Good luck with your follow up, I hope all goes well.

Dianne xx

Thank you Dianne  It seems such a long time I have to wait for the follow up appt. They said it was because of the bank holiday.  I too am persevering with the exercises, but I only had the co codamol a couple of times, I worry about pain relief as I am on other medication for asthma and emphysema and a lot of pain relief seems to make my breathing worse, even the ones I am told are safe.  Could be I just panic.  In the hospital they gave me Morphine and my sats (oxygen in blood) dropped very low.  I had to have 3 hours of oxy.  The level of oxygen in my blood has come up now but not to what it was pre-op yet. 

I hope you are coping better now you have the tramadol.