Numbness and tightness under armpits

Kiks1

I had a bilat on 12/ 17 and just had my drains removed yesterday. I never had much pain after surgery and not having drains definitely gave me more mobility. However, I now realized that the tightness and numbness under my armpits ( especially on my affected side) is really uncomfortable. Is this normal at this stage of recovery and how do I improve the situation? I had called the BS for a referral to a lymphedema PT but have not heard back from anyone yet. I have been doing some stretching exercises gently from the Sloan Kettering website but have not seen any improvement ( ok, it guess it has only been 2 days) as yet.

Any advise will be appreciated. Thank you everyone.

ksusan

Yes, I'd say that's normal. Don't overdo stretching--you really, really want your lymph system to heal well.

Kiks1

Thank you ksusan. Didn't realize how challenging it is to get through mastectomy.

LisaAlissa

On healing the lymphatic system...I've read that it only has a limited time to heal. You may want to read on the StepUp SpeakOut website. No lifting your arms higher than your shoulders before the end of the first couple of weeks, as I recall.

HTH,

LisaAlissa

new2bc

I had tightness around the scar lines which felt like I was wearing a tight bra or a rope that was being pulled.

BethL

kiks- this had been one of my biggest complaints. Even now, 4 weeks later I wake up and still feel pain there. Feels swollen, after getting up. Mine is kind of in the front of my pits. It's like if you picked up a child under his arms, where your thumbs would lie on him is where I feel the most pain. IT is way better than right after surgery and continues to get better each day. In the hospital that was the only pain I medicated for.

I told my ps about it early last week, for fear something was wrong. He said it's expected because the muscle was released when he put the te's in. I didn't consider that because it's not where he cut, but it is the same muscke. Did you have implants or te's placed at the same time? This would explain it. I described it as having balls under my arms, and he wasn't worried. Since then, like I mentioned, it is better. Hang in there.

Kiks1

Bethl, that is exactly where my tightness is. Like you say, it feels like having golf balls under my arms. Funny thing is I didn't have reconstruction so I am wondering why. Also, am worried about cording because my right arm is having pain stretching out. I will be seeing onc. And surgeon again this week. I hope one of them will get me an appointment with the PT.

Thank you so much for your reassurances.

badger

hi Kiks1, I also had bilateral mx without reconstruction and remember that feeling like golf balls in my armpits. It took a while but eventually it went away, as did the random 'zaps' I felt as nerves healed. I do still get aches and occasional swelling at the tail ends of mx scars, especially under my L arm, that I usually notice if I haven't gotten enough water or exercise.

You're healing on the inside apace with the outside so please take baby steps and let people help you. I did nothing the first two weeks. So glad we invested in a push-button recliner as I couldn't have managed a lever arm mechanism.

I remember being amazed by how many chest muscles it took to drive a car. Couldn't do it for a month. Took two weeks off work (desk job) then rode in with a co-worker for a few more weeks. Was still on pain meds and not legal to drive. *TIP* even if you're not driving, bring a small pillow to put between you and the seat belt.

I remember not being able to lift my arms enough to reach items on the top shelf at the grocery store and having to ask for help, and I remember the feeling of triumph when I could finally reach them myself. It takes a while so give yourself time to recuperate and kudos for small goals along the way.

The step up speak out site has reliable info on lymphedema http://www.stepup-speakout.org/

and there's a great BCO thread about getting back to exercise safely. Here's the link and I'll also bump it for you.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/58/topics...

Best wishes and gentle ((hugs))

Kiks1

You guys are the BEST! Don't know a community as supportive and caring as this.

Badger, thank you for your reassurances. I feel so much better. I am still worried about so much else, it is nice to have one less thing on my mind. It is funny that I have little pain and tightness on the chest itself, in fact I have not taken pain meds since I made a fuss for them to remove the morphine after I woke up from the surgery. Unfortunately, many pain killers also give me migraines( which were just migraines before bc, but now I hope I can differentiate between them and more serious mets!), sorry I can be paranoid. I even drove a week out from the surgery. I felt I actually had better range of motion before my drains were removed. I am thinking it might be scar tissue forming and some cording under my right arm pit. I am taking everyone's advise to keep stretching but start slow and gently.

Anyways, thanks again to everyone, and praying that we all have many more peaceful and healthy years to come

Erica3681

Hi Kiks,

You've gotten good advice already here. I just want to reinforce your desire to find a good physical therapist. Make sure to find someone who works with breast cancer patients. Some of the post-surgery issues are related to things other than lymphedema, like cording, nerve sensitivity, etc., so a good PT will use gentle techniques to help you regain your range of motion and ease your discomfort.

Best of luck. Please let us know how it goes.

JerseyGirl22

I had BMX on Nov. 30th, and I experience the same numbness and tingling in the armpit. I saw a PT/Lymphdema specialist yesterday, and she said all was fine. It's normal. I had a tiny bit of cording in my arm, that she gave me stretches for and she gave me other exercises to do to help prevent lymphedema and to increase my flexibility.

Once your doc clears you to do more exercises, here's a video I found that is amazing... In just a few days my ROM and flexibility have increased exponentially... Please wait until your doc clears you for it, but it's worth the 15 minutes, or you can do the full 30... http://www.breastcancerrehabilitation.com/watchthevideo.html

Kiks1

I can't believe my BS refuses to put in an order for a PT for me. The hospital near me has a LANA certified PT and I had contacted them to see if I could set up an appointment. They even called BS to see if she would fax over an order. BS flat out refused! I am very disappointed at the BS and office staff there. I wasn't super comfortable with her even before surgery but decided to go ahead with it because of timing around the holiday season. The BS I wanted was already fullly booked and will not be able to even see me till after the new year. Is it ok to change BS for follow ups? 

I did see my oncologist yesterday anyways and he had no problem writing an order. He actually recommended a PT that specializes in bc patients, who is on the faculty of a local university, and is only 20 minutes from where I am. So I am relieved and waiting to set up the appointment. 

Jerseygirl, I will definitely follow the link to the video. My cording on the affected side is not getting any better, perhaps a little worse. I think I am getting use to the tightness, can't believe what we habituate to, but some days I can deal with it better than others. Also, seems like I get new bruises and aches every other day. Now, 2 spots( one on each side ), about an inch or so from the drain incision, on my ribs are so sore that I can't turn to reach over. Can't even suck in my abs, that stretches the ribs and causes pain. So I not only look flat, my stomach is sticking out AND I am hunch over! Lol, I must be a sight to behold! I guess it would be a good excuse to keep working on those abs, can't let the rest of me slide away.

Lynn1234

I agree with finding a good physical therapist that is experienced with breast surgery patients and lymphadema. They will measure your arms at each visit to determine if ;there is swelling and if it is getting better or worse. They will measure how high you can raise your arms. They have deep breathing and mild exercises that they will teach you. They also have special massage techniques that you can do at home that will help with the lymph fluid. By the way, they should be certified in lymphadema.

good luck!

lynn1234

windingshores

I was surprised back in March when my surgeon's nurse practitioner also said she didn't want to do an Rx for PT. Looking back, I agree with her: it was premature. Start with rotating your shoulders and crawling gently up the wall (did anyone show you those)?

The "iron bra" feeling of tightness is normal and at the stage you are at, there may still be some swelling and bruising.

What you are experiencing is very normal. It hasn't been long and mastectomy is major surgery.

I went back to Tai Chi when I could raise my arms more, but am still careful 10 months out.

In the winter I moisturize above and below my incision lines- don't know if that helps but I don't need dry skin to contribute to tightness.

Recovery is a fairly slow process, honestly.   You are right, noone tells us that.  Good luck!

StellaDora

I am going to be receiving OT in the next couple of days. I agree with the idea of receiving it to get me started and make sure that all systems go in the right direction as previously mentioned in Lynn1234 post. I have watched the MSK video that has a terrific PT modeling the exercises, but this is a choice that I have firm beliefs about and want to get back to riding my motorcycle as soon as possible... Cancer already is going to putting a damper on this...God Bless....

Kiks1

You go Stella! Yes this whole bc thingy sucks big time. We are not only dealing with the fear but also all the rather large bumps along the way. 

I have to say, definitely get to physical theraphy early. I finally got to see a PT 3 days ago and yes she has confirmed that I have cording on the affected arm( I only had two sentinel nodes removed). Good thing, no lymphedema as yet. The cording started about 3 weeks post bmx and it looks like a vein with lumpy knots going down my arm ( yes I was freaked out initially thinking the knots were swollen lymph nodes!) But she says that is the common presentation. Anyways, even after  one session, which popped 3 cords ( no pain), my range of motion is dramatically improved. So yes, prevention is always better than cure especially if you can spot problems before they start.

Also, just to update, for those just out from surgery, my golf ball under armpit feeling is getting much better. The tightness there was due to the development of my cording. I took the advice of members on this board to be vigilant in massaging my chest and incisions ( when they were healed)  so that scar adhesions do not become an issue. It has greatly helped me in preventing  tightness around my chest.

wirdgirl118

that sensation sounds perfectly normal,to me. The anesthesia is gradually leaving all your cells and you are starting to feel what your body is doing as it goes about healing

cb123

My oncologist was the one who referred me to PT also, not the surgeon.

I'm glad it was mentioned because I was wondering why not my surgeon and I see it must just be the way things are done. My General Practitioner is always happy to put in a referral for anything I want.

cb

Nancyw5

The tightness and pain under arms is so painful...after 4 months...I still cannot look at pictures of tight arm sleeves or.bras that cut under arms...and I cannot wear anything that has regular arm holes....It cuts into my incisions.....thank you for your input because I thought it was just me or something wrong....I am in PT with a wonderful group that works with woman who have had breast surgery...do exercises and have to say....I so not know what I would have done....