Underarm swelling and pain after SNB and MX. How long????

SallyAnneS

Hi all,

I had a UMX 10 days ago and am healing well. BUT I still have considerable swelling, numbness, and pain under my arm. There are several areas that seem very swollen. I basically feel like I have a painful golfball under my arm.

I've been dutifully doing my stretching exercises (I have no trouble) and trying to keep my arm elevated at night. But this swelling and pain shows no sign of getting better. How long can I expect this? Does it sound unusual to anyone or as expected? My surgeon said she thinks it's a combo of swelling and scar tissue and will improve over time.

I am fearful it's a permanent state. Lymphodema? Mobility is hugely important to me and it's my dominant arm.

Thoughts? Advise??

Thanks!!!

Sally

dragonsnake

I had BMX in July, and the SNB side is still occasionally numb under the armpit, with a feeling of a round foreign object under and near the armpit. I had the same feeling on the prophylactic side for about a month or more, no SNB on this side. Also have some burning and pain in the chest and occasionally  pins-and-needles feeling   in the  arm on the cancerous side. Still cannot sleep on my stomach - chest pain, but can sleep on the prophylactic side hugging a pillow. I had almost full range of motion from the beginning, but figured out that stretching exercises  from Sloan-Kettering are more harmful than useful, waited for two weeks to start them. What  was OK are two exercises ordered by my surgeon: wrapping an arm around the head and trying to reach the opposite ear, and "grinding" with a stretched arm, exercising the shoulder muscles. Numbness was worse after the "wall climb".

SallyAnneS

Thanks for the reply! Why did you think the exercises did more harm than good? I've been doing them and my PT says they will help with the swelling and the "lump under the arm" feeling. I do think they seem to help for a bit afterwards, but wonder of hey contribute to the long-term pain and swelling.

I also have really good range of motion. And I have that very sensitive, painful skin feeling on the MX side on my upper arm. My tummy felt that way after my rrSO and did go away.

Curlyq1974

Hi SallyAnneS, Wow you are so early into this! I had my bi-lat MX and SNB almost 3 years ago. I can tell you that I had pain on the SNB side and some lymphedema symptoms such as cording for several months immediately after surgery. I was instructed not to do any stretches for a very long time, only squeezing a stress ball. Now, nearly 3 years out I have no lymphedema symptoms, no pain, no range of motion issues and no numbness in my hands. I now do lots of stretches to keep limber, both for my arm and shoulder area. And I protect the SNB arm BIG time. No needles, BP, or IVs on that side. I wear a compression sleeve when I fly just as a precaution. I would say it took me a good 8 - 10 months before my arm felt like my own again. Be gentle on yourself, you have gone thru a lot and the inner workings just need time to heal. Don't push too hard.

Best wishes in your recovery and treatment,

Janet