Drain Scar Pain

peverson

I don't know if this is the right place to ask this.... I am about 3 years post surgery, and the scar where my drain was is super tender. Does anyone else have this experience?

barsco1963

Hi peverson. I am just past the one year mark, but do have some pain off and on where my drains were. It is not constant and not super tender as you describe, but definitely is where the drain scars are.

Erica3681

Hi peverson,

I haven't had this problem and haven't heard anyone else mention a lot of tenderness at the drain site, especially after several years. Maybe a nerve got disturbed by the drain and still hasn't settled down (that's assuming this tenderness has been constant since surgery). Sounds as if it might be worth checking out with your doctor, especially if the tenderness is recent. Is there any redness? Just thinking maybe a little infection is brewing.

Maybe someone else will come along who's experienced this. When in doubt, though, I'd definitely recommend asking your doctor.

Barbara

BreastFree.org

peverson

Oops. It's been two years since surgery! I feel about a million years older.

 My doctors and physical therapist suspect that it's scar tissue pulling on other tissues. It's been bothering me as long as I can remember. They haven't felt any lumps or bumps. There's no redness. It's just very tender when I push on it. The scar itself is a doozy, pretty large and deep. The right side scar itself is kind of nasty looking. Part of the skin is still stuck to my check, and the scar itself is kind of gnarly, not smooth like the nonradiated side. I don't notice any pain unless there's some kind of pressure on the scar.

Thanks for your feedback!

Ihopeg

Hi I had a mastectomy 5 years ago. I understand the pain you mean. It seems like the scar from the drain is exactly where my bra hits me on my rib. I wish the surgeon would have made the drain spot somewhere else. hope this helps,

landis55

I am only 3 months post bi lateral masectomy, and my drain sites hurt alot as well as my whole chest wall.  I am having a hard time with the pain and didn't anticipate it would be like this.

Erica3681

Hi landis55,

I'm sorry you're experiencing a lot of pain following your mastectomy surgery. Have you had any physical therapy? If not, you might try to find a PT experienced in working with breast cancer patients. I think it helped me immensely. I started very early (two weeks post-surgery) and regained range of motion and overcame nerve sensitivity and cording very quickly. Even though you're three months out, it's never too late to seek physical therapy. There's no guarantee it will help your pain, but if you haven't already tried it, it might be worth checking out.

On my non-profit website, BreastFree.org, I have a section, "Physical Therapy," which you might find helpful, written by my own wonderful physical therapist. There's a link in that section to help you find a PT, but I would suggest first asking your breast surgeon or other trusted doctor for a referral. I hope this helps!

Barbara

edited to add: To access BreastFree.org, use the link below and then look for the "Physical Therapy" section on the left-side navigation bar.

crystalphm

Physical therapy with myofascial release may help you, but all that said I am 2 years out and the cancer side still hurts, right where the bra band would go. I find it not possible to wear a bra ...so I wear the Still Me or is it Still you?? cami. but they are very hot in the summer...so I just go "flat".

 but yes, it hurts right where the drain was, and the doctor says "it is what it is", and nerve damage must have happened there. I did have the drain in for almost 4 weeks, it was very painful then too...

I wish I had answers, if you do, please post!

ritza

I am 7 months post op bilateral masectomy with reconstruction.  Radiated side had major infection at drain site..so yes, still have major pain there and redness. Doctors have not been very helpfull.                    

Galsal

Over a year out from BMX.  Saw the PS this past week to consult about removing all the excess skin that had been left for recon.  Did mention about the discomfort right where the band goes which is where the drain was.  Both PS and the NP in there agreed they hear this from a lot of women.

Well then put the drain in a different spot for crying out loud, not in the IMF area.    Change the common outcome.  Sheesh

Symcha

I feel it too. I thought it was just because I am 4 months post Sx.

I thought it would go away.

Hope we feel better soon

Momine

I had that for a long time. Now it is better, but can still be tender sometimes.

Ariom

I have a tender spot where my drain was too. My surgery was at Christmas, so it is recent.

I had Mondors cording in the same area, so I put it down to that. It isn't bad pain, just a bit of a burning sensation, and right where the bra band sits.

I also find that I feel it more if I am tired.

Also, I have named the underarm sensation from the SNB, "The Claw" It kicks in if I am tired too.

JuanitaB

I am almost 3 months out from surgery and I find that the area around my drain scars is still very tender, as is my chest. I still can't sleep comfortably on my side. Also, a lot of tightness across my chest. I do my physio exercises at home but not as dedicated to it as I could be, I keep saying I will do better!

crystalphm

JuanitaB, It does take time to sleep on your side comfortably. And I am a side sleeper so it made it difficult. Even now, 18 months out, I still wake up slightly and change positions, it still nags, the drain spot pain.

For the tightness across your chest myofacial release helps with this, and a therapist can show you this...it breaks down adhesion's and exercise never really did enough for me to ease the tightness. I do have to say though that the tightness feeling still comes back to me at times. Just feeling the scars or adhesion's I suppose.

Welcome to our group here....

JuanitaB

Hi crystalphm, I am also a side sleeper so it has really bothered me to wake up on my side and in pain.

Thanks for the info on the myofacial release, I will definitely look into this!

Spookiesmom

I'm a side sleeper too, one drain scar was making me crazy. So I made a small pillow, about 5 x 5" lightly stuffed it, and shove it under me. It really helps.

crystalphm

I sleep with a soft pillow under the drain rea too...it does help.

mjclay

I will be having my mastectomy next week, but went looking for any info on drain scars because I have a disfiguring scar on my bottom from a surgery 13 years ago (the surgery scar is invisible, the drain scar is large and has a weird lump and dip).  Regarding your drain pains, it took about 5-7 years for me to quit having shooting "ghost" pains or discomfort sitting in certain positions.  Now I don't feel it at all, thank goodness! 

I'm hoping for better with this surgery considering that I have several more to go for reconstruction and I have little kids at home who are not very sensitive to "mommy's booboo"...

laralee67

hi i am alittle over a year out and i still am very tender where the drain toobs were and mostly the hole where they took them in and out - but where the lympth nodes were taken out hurts bad and im still very numb everywhere

laralee67

hi i am a year out of a double mass myself and i still have pain , twinging of nerves itching deep inside my chest and the dr gave me neurontin , its a nerve and pian killer - i take 600 mg 3 times a day and if i miss a dose ill notice it - give it a try and if u cant afford it u can get it free  - feel better girl-  laraleealbritton@gmail.com   if u have any questions email me

laralee67

hi mjclay - good luck girl  i hope all gos well 

tangandchris

Glad to read this....because I've been having awful pains where one of my drains was removed last week. This drain hurt like hell the whole time it was in, and now that it is out I get this sharp pains that come out of no where. Seems like it happens in the evening/nighttime more. I was starting to wonder if this was because of my current infection, or what. IDK, I'm still concerned that it might be, but it is good to see that others have experienced pain.

Ariom

Hi Tangandchris, Just thought I'd answer you. This is an old thread with the last entry being last August.

I am sorry to hear you're experiencing these sensations, but have to say that it is quite normal. I can't speak about the recon and expanders, I didn't reconstruct, but I have read of the same issues from many who have had the same surgery and recon as you.

I went back through this thread and found my own entry from last May. I was still having burning sensations, and the dreaded "Claw" which was a sensation of a sharp claw holding on to chest and underarm, usually in the evening, after a day of overdoing it. We all seem to overdo it, and then have the "Claw" to contend with! LOL

I am very pleased to say, that I am now a little over a year out from my surgery and although I am still quite numb on my chest and underarm, I have far less strange sensations and burning these  days. For me, it has been a steady improvement.

I wish you all  the best!