scar tissue pain---who else?

Anonymous

scar tissue pain---who else?

gb2115

Please tell me about your post surgery/radiation scar tissue pain. I am having some off and on. I guess it's normal, but it's nice to hear you're not alone.

I had lumpectomy in November, and finished rads 2 1/2 months ago. I get lumpectomy scar pain if I poke at it a lot (which I don't LOL), or when I'm laying down for awhile and then sit up and the breast tissue moves. I also get axillary pain--mild but present. I have had some this morning which is why I'm thinking about this. I keep looking at my armpit expecting it to be all swollen or something, and it looks normal. I have been doing the post surgery stretching to keep it from tightening up more. I guess it takes awhile for body to figure out what it's doing.

I see my oncologist next week and will mention all of this, but want to hear from others.

Thanks!

englishteacher

I had lumpectomy and radiation in 2013 and the scar tissue is more painful than ever. I went to one breast surgeon who tried to break up the scar tissue with a special steroid shot but it costs too much money to do it again. The best results I had were with massage therapy but it ended up costing too much money. I thought the $25 copay was all I was paying and then I got a bill for almost $300. I'd rather massage it myself. Many people have had good results with surgical removal that might be for you. It's not going to get better. I'm sorry.

MinusTwo

My RO said that w/o continuous daily stretching for the rest of our lives, the areas that were radiated will constantly try to pull back - like a rubber band. She was very proactive about getting me into PT with a certified lymphadema therapist. Since you've had a nodes removed, you should consider truncal LE. Below is a link to a knowledgeable site. You'll find most docs don't know much about LE. Hope you get good answers from your MO.

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/

gb2115

I am being officially monitored for LE (was sent by the BS right after surgery) and so far have no signs. I just had a follow-up this week at the LE clinic. At last onc appointment the doc evaluated and was sympathetic about the scar tissue pain, and told me to keep up the stretching. But yeah she said it's par for the course. The rubber band thing does make sense. I have lingering soreness from rads. If I skip stretches and exercise that includes range of motion it doesn't feel as good.

ksusan

I had useful PT early on. At this point, a combination of stretching, staying moisturized, PT stretches in a therapy pool, and scar massage from a nurse give me pretty good flexibility and decrease pain.

Tappermom383

More and more things that those of us new to BC have no clue about! Is it never over?

MJ

gb2115

This is where I get confused... I have read about scar massage, but then they also say never massage radiated tissue or massage in the LE risk area...

MinusTwo

gb - you need to be trained in LE massage. It is a specific procedure. That said, my LE/PT did massage my cording & it resolved.

Hopeful82014

Yes, my LE therapist does very targeted massage to break up the scar tissue. I was given very specific instructions on how to massage the incision scar starting a month after surgery. It's been 2 yrs. since surgery but I still pay a price if I skip the stretching, moisturizing and massage for more than a day or two.

ksusan

Yes, I only let people who are LE-trained or have been briefed by the LANA-certified nurse touch me anywhere near my armpits. However, I've never heard that radiated skin shouldn't be massaged; in fact, my surgeon and LE-trained PT both recommended that it be done beginning about a year after radiation ends.

gb2115

The lumpectomy scar is the one that hurts really, and only in the morning when I sit up in bed after the tissue has settled all night, or if I poke at it... and actually the pain has lessened from when I first wrote this post. And the axillary scar is fine now but a little tight. Stretching makes a difference, I have learned I can't skip that.

What's weird is there is a section on my upper breast that even with the slightest touch sends tingles through my armpit. That is new. Guess it's nerves regenerating!!

And my upper chest has been a little tender (under collarbone) ever since that area was radiated. Doesn't get better or worse, it's just there. I guess the tissues are angry from radiation.