Pain After Lumpectomy

Ljackson_61

I had lumpectomy in 2012 and one lymph node removed. I have pain back through the shoulder blade on this side all the time. It never goes away. I had 6 chemo and 35 radiation treatments. Anyone else have this pain

Moderators

Hi Ljackson, welcome to Breastcancer.org. We're sorry for the reason that brings you here, but glad you found us!

Until other members post with their own experiences and advice, you may want to read the articles Arm/Shoulder Problems Common After Breast Cancer Surgery and Pain Common One Year After Breast Cancer Surgery, from our main site. Hope it helps!

The Mods

Snowgirl63

hi LJackson, I had a lumpectomy dec 16, 2014 and have what I think is nerve pain that gets severe enough to take oxycodone. I try to avoid taking any pain medication now but sometimes it gets so bad I feel sick to my stomach. I haven't had radiation treatments yet. Starting tamoxafin Monday Feb 16/15. I also asked if this was normal but no definitive answer . I will ask more question on monday and get back to you.

Teresa

Ljackson_61

Thanks for the information. I have very hard time sleeping. If I lay on left side it is very painful. I hope to see oncologist soon to see if he would know why this is happening

Snowgirl63

My oncologist said yes the pain was normal and can continue for over a year and about it being nerve pain she said that the nerves have been severed so it is part of the post surgical side effect. I actually didn't start tamoxafin today as I had a blood clot way back when I was 21 and she said absolutely not taking the risk. So instead I got an injection of Lupron to stop my ovaries from producing hormones and an oral medication called Femera for all the other areas that produce estrogen. So far I'm just nauseated. And now less worried about the pain at the lumpectomy site. I hope you have a good day!

mhenz

ljackson61 you said it was in 2012. And your still having trouble?? I just had done 1 week a go and wasn't expecting it to last for that long. I was told certain exercise and massage and low heat. I have just started all this. It is such a strange bothersome sensation. I really underestimated how much this surgery would set me back. best of luck

Ljackson_61

mhenz, yes I have pain on lumpectomy side a lot. I also had one node removed that was positive. I have moved from area I used to live in so am trying to get established with a new oncologist. I don't know about anyone else but I am paranoid all the time because it does bother me so much. Ready to get a check up and some reassurance

NATSGSG

Hello All:

Please try the exercises in this video as for as long as you can tolerate each day...it seems to work for some of my sister's friends.  It's from Taiwan and in Chinese...I did a translation of it under Fitness and Getting Back into Shape and Healthy Recipe for Healthy Living...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pahtCOQeKHo

I have started yesterday, and will continue with it...I am getting all my test results tomorrow...I am nervous as h*ll...but am willing to give the benefits of this exercise that heals the body...of course I wont know until I have done it and some time has elapse...

Charstad

I'm trying not to cry. I am so relieved to find you guys. I had 2 lumpectomies about a year ago. I have had so much pain since. Doctors tell me to take vitamins and change my diet but offer no other help. I have breast pain that is sometimes severe and often have shoulder or neck pain with it. I was starting to believe everyone who was saying it was in my head and I needed to get over it!

lynnmiller

I've had two lumpectomy's,one on 2/12/15 and one last Thursday and this time they took out some lymph nodes. I do have a lot of pain and my upper arm is numb. I'm now waiting to see the doctor this Thursday to see what my next step is. May be chemo, radiation and tamoxifen.

I won't take the tamoxifen as I've read that my anti depressant Cymbalta can effect the Tamoxifen. It took me four years to find an antidepressant that works for me and I will never go through that horrible depression again. So I'm still here waiting to exhale.

BC2015

I had lumpectomy and 4 nodes removed a month ago. I am still in pain. It is hard to sleep regardless of position. 800 mg Advil has helped some and stretching the arm on surgery side (I developed cording) has helped a little. Make sure you ask what exercises you can do and diagrams showing how. I have burning in the Breast and my shoulder is still numb. It should get better with time. Inflammation and swelling is part on the issue I think .

BC2015

maybe it is nerve pain. Ask if neurotin might be a good med for you.

Gatomal

I had a lot of pain after my lump.With eight nodes removed, and a lift and reduction bilaterally. I am two weeks post op. In that time, my surgeon has given me three dexamethasone shots in the ribs under the arm. She feels around for the spot that is super painful, injects, and send me on my way. It has reduced the pain dramatically. The last time, two days ago, she used an ultrasound at the same time to see the neuroma and inject right near it. I have also started taking neurontin, which I think has helped, allowing me to reduce pain meds. I am being treated at UC San Francisco. Seeif youR Breast surgeon would do this for you. Good luck!

Curlykat

I am having ongoing pain after my LX, though I realize I'm less than one month out. But as soon as I get my rads schedule, I'm going to go back to my acupuncturist and see if he can provide some relief.

NATSGSG

Hello again everyone, 

I posted a reply back in 15 Mar 2015 about the exercises in the link i told you about that could help you before surgery ? I did those exercises daily for an hour up until until my lumpectomy on March 25th.

Now I would like to report back.  I had 1/5 of my right breast tumor taken out with clear margins (5cm total),  1 sentinel node taken out that came back negative. I also had breast reconstruction done simultaneously  by two SOs, both of whom were also trained in reconstructive surgery. 

When I woke up 5.5 hours later,  there was No pain on either my right shoulder or my underarm where a 5 inch incision was. 

There was a low grade bearable pain around my areola due to it being cut out (with nipple ) from where the  tumor was taken out.  It was stitched around back using dissolvable sutures and then glued over to protect it. 

At night I sleep on my left or in a semi sitting position. Lying flat hurts the areola as it stretches that breast.  Other than that, no pain.   I wear a nursing bra to support my 38D breast  to prevent friction to nipple and areola. . For some reason my reconstructed right breast is now 37D.That's how good my SO s are. I am supposed to start massaging my right breast to prevent hardening inside and help circulation. 

As of this writing,  the glue has dried up and falling off and the sutures totally gone with a pinky ring around it. It's healing slowly but surely.  Over these 5 weeks,  I have continued to do those exercises in the video except several days when it rained heavily. 

I believe those arm swinging exercises did contribute to the absence of  pain.  However,  on  days that I did not exercise,  the underarm did feel sore. Here's the link again if you are interested and willing to give it a try. 

Start swinging slowly if you have pain.  Wear sleeveless blouse may help you if you have pain in your underarm.  Do however many you can,  increasing to a longer duration each time.  Recommend s twice a day. If you persist for at least a week,  see if it helps? 

Anyway,  seeing doctor coming Mon morning due to a minor infection last week and on antibiotics.  If cleared,  will start chemo same afternoon on 12 weeks weekly concurrent herceptin + paclitaxel with pre medication of anti allergy drugs given intravenously.

Bottomline is:  there's no harm trying these exercises at this link. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pahtCOQeKHo

For translation of video,  go to section on FITNESS AND GETTING BACK INTO SHAPE. 

I truly wish everyone here speedy recovery of your pain. Hang in there. Please please please give these exercises a try?