Still pain 6 months after operation...

Lynette

I have been told to massege my lumpectomy and axillary node clearance scars in order to reduce scarring. My whole breast still feels very sore as does what feels like my rib cage. Is this normal 6 months after surgery? Thank in advance.

AnneW

I assume you had radiation? It's normal to have tightness and tenderness, especially in the ribs for a while after that. I can remember feeling that discomfort, but I exercised a lot and it got better. Not sure how long it lasted, though.

Anne

Lainey64

Lynette, I'm going on 8 mths since my lumpectomy and axillary node dissection and I'm still having pains.  Not so much around the lumpectomy site but more around the axillary scar and my underarm area.  I've also had rib pain on the affected side, both in the front and in the back.  I don't have any rib pain at this time, but I do feel the tightness across my chest, especially when I walk.   My therapist also told me to massage the scars to help desensitize the area.  I finished rads in May and know that probably irritated everything all over again.   I get scared every now and then but am trying not to freak out too much since I saw my BS two weeks aga and she examined me and did a sonogram.  Everything I've read says that after rads you can experience pain for months or even years, so if you've done rads, that is probably what it is.

Lynette

Thank you so much for your replies. I think I'd like the area checked out so that I'll feel much better about it. I keep thinking something sinister is going on!!

kcpc

My breast felt like a lump of burning coal for about six months after lumpectomy and radiation, then it gradually got better but even now, 2 yrs later, it still hurts at times. The best thing was lidocaine pads.They're like a big sticky note impregnated with lidocaine. They don't completely cure the pain but they take the edge off without the grogginess of painkillers. I used them for about a year and they were a life saver. Ask your doc for a prescription and give them a try.

It's a bad situation to be in - the surgeon just doesn't want to believe he or she could have caused so much pain. My most sympathetic doctor was my primary care physician who has known me for a long time and knows I'm not the type to exagerate or overuse painkillers.

I swore if I ever read another story about a woman who climbed Mount Everest or something two weeks after surgery, I was going to scream! Sometimes it just takes a long,long time for nerves to settle down. Unfortunately there's a few of us who experience this problem.

Lainey64

Kcpc, thank you for the tip on the Lidocaine pads.  This is the first I've heard of those and will definitely ask my BS for a prescription.  I'm not scheduled too see her until next month but I might call ahead and ask.  You describe the discomfort and pain perfectly "a lump of burning coal".  That's exactly how I feel some days.  That, combined with the shooting pains in my arm, can be really disturbing on some days.  Thanks again for sharing! 

Deb-from-Ohio

I had my lumpectomy on April 21st, it not only still hurts but is still swelled to twice the size of the other one...and at times it gets so hard.....I just hope the swelling goes away, course the rads might have something to do with that.

AnneW

I had a hard time getting the lidocaine patches to stick. They didn't work for me, pain wise, but I know many people who call it their "magic paper" because it worked so well for them. I ended up on Neurontin till I got the scar tissue cleared out with my last surgery.

Nerve pain is unlike any other...It behooves you to get it under control before the body accepts it as the "norm."

Anne

PGP

I am 8 months after lumpectomy and months since radiation- 2 months ago pain came with

a vengenance that is worse than right after surgery- Just has another ultrasound 2 days ago and

a pocket of fluid at surgery site is getting bigger and changing shape- My breast hurts 24/7 and

now taking 1/2 vicoden every 4 hours. One Dr. wants to drain and the other says leave alone- that

fluid buildup is normal???  Where is this pain coming from and why would it start months after

surgery??  It really sucks because like most of us I would like to put this behind me.

Anonymous

I am 3+ years out of lumpectomy and rads and I still have pain, albeit a small amount; sometimes it's worse than other times though.  I think it's normal...?

Sandygirl

Lynette, I had my lumpectomy 9-08. I had trouble with my SNB site not healing properly. I have always had pain under my arm that went to my rib cage. I thought this was normal, I would always have discomfort. I was not told to massage the area, I would have been glad to comply. On this past Tuesday, I went to a Physical Therapist for lymphedema education.  She examined me and said, "oh my, you have so much scar tissue, the lymph fluid is having a problem flowing properly. She performed a 20 minute massage by the site breaking up the scar tissue  and I cannot believe the pain is completely gone. I thought I was destined for chronic pain.  I had a small amount of swelling in my upper arm and breast, that is also gone.  I am so grateful, I feel like a different person. I will continue to go to PT and hope this lasts.  She also told me that years ago, everyone received a referral to PT after breast surgery.  That would have been nice to know months ago.   

Nanner12

just read your post‼️‼️‼️You might be my soul mate🤣🤣🤣I’m with you, it’s been 6 weeks since my partial mastectomy. My scars on the breast where the lumpectomy was performed are still EXTREMELY SORE‼️‼️I’m with you, it really bothers me when I hear those same stories about miraculous recovery😫😫