Lumpy feeling under arms and nerve damage after BMX

georgia67

I had surgery Sept 1 after having 6 months of chemo.  The tumor couldn't be felt for about 3 or 4 months at the end of chemo so hoping the cancer was gone.  No biopsy results yet.  I have two of the three drains left and am still wearing the tube compression wrap they put me in after surgery.  Surgeon wants me to keep wearing compression.  There wasn't any cancer thought to be in my right breast and a 2.5 in my left.  I am a person that wants to stop problems before they become a big problem.  I already have swelling in my feet and ankles from Taxol that hasn't gone away and some neuropathy in some toes and fingers.  They keep saying the swelling will go away but it hasn't.  Last Taxol was end of July.  My arm pits feel like I have something under them all of the time.  There is a roll under my right arm pit coming into my chest and some swelling under my left arm.  What bothers me most in my left side is the nerve damage that goes under my arm  and down the inside of my underarm toward my elbow.  The surgeon said this was sacrificed nerve from taking the lymph nodes.  (Rant: I laid on the nuclear table for 3 hours after two injections waiting for it to move to track the sentinel nodes.  It didn't move so they had to take a group of nodes instead of just the sentinel node)  I don't have a pain just numbness and soreness.  I can pretty much move my left arm any way I want but haven't quite gotten my right as high.  I know this isn't abnormal.  My question is any suggestions for helping nerve sensitivity better and any suggestion for under arm feeling.  I read on another group about wearing compression t-shirts for underarm swelling but didn't know if that was a answer or not.  My incisions goes back around my sides toward my back pretty far and this tube keeps sliding down letting them show and there seems to be some swelling at the end of the incision.  I am amazed and don't want to minimize the amazement I have at the lack of pain I have had and the easy recovery that seems to be happening.  Thanks for any suggestions.    

Psufan

I had left breast removed and 10 nodes on Aug 8. It took 3 weeks for me to understand all of my pain was nerve pain and a PT to give me something to do.. first as my flexibility comes back pain decreases. Second rubbing it helps. She suggested different types of fabrics too. My surgeon made pt sound optional but it has made a huge difference for me. I had flaps under arm for 3 weeks until PT. Still have swelling at end of medial incision.

Outfield

Georgia, it takes a while. I didn't understand whether you have true swelling that feels like a towel under your arm, or if it's just the nerve damage causing that sensation. My nerve damage felt like a rolled up towel in my armpit for at least the first few weeks, maybe even longer. I'm 7 years out and it doesn't feel like that now. A surgery like a mastectomy is a big injury. It wouldn't be unreasonable to expect swelling just from the injury response weeks and weeks from now.

Good luck, and it really is likely to improve.

georgia67

Outfield, I have a true swelling under my right arm that feels like a roll.  Seeing my surgeon Thursday to get the drains removed and will see what he says.  This is the side of the "Healthy" breast that was removed.  The cancer side had nodes removed so I feel something funny there but it is nerve damage from the node removal.  I hope that goes away but he said it may not.

Outfield

I'm glad you're seeing your surgeon. True swelling is something he might be able to help with.

Midwifeknitter

In general, I would say that surgeons are not experts at rehabilitation - they are awesome at what they do and are an essential part of the breast cancer treatment team. But for post-surgical issues such as nerve and muscle changes, swelling, etc, I think it is helpful to see a physical or occupational therapist who specializes in lymphadema and recovery from surgery.I had a first visit today with met a lymphadema specialist in order to be proactive about prevention and/or early treatment for lymphadema. I had a large axillary tissue excision and a LND (24 nodes removed) 2 weeks ago for a new breast cancer after mastectomy and now have a combination of pain and numbness in my armpit as well as thin cords that are very painful to the touch and limit mobility in certain areas. I am going to need extensive radiation in the armpit as well, which I know can increase risk for lymphadema. Tomorrow I will have surgery to replace a saline implant that was damaged during my last surgery and probably to place a drain since I still have a bunch of swelling from the surgery 2 weeks ago. The therapist was wonderful and showed me some very basic exercises and wants me to come back in a couple of weeks after healing from tomorrow's surgery. I think that if you don't get help from your surgeon, it would be good to see if you can find a physical therapist or lymphadema expert with knowledge about breast cancer for more ideas.

Erica3681

You might find this advice from a physical therapist who works exclusively with breast cancer patients helpful: http://breastfree.org/content.php?page=16

Dianarose

The numbness takes a long time to get better. As far as movement I went to physical therapy for months but it was well worth it.

I had swelling while on Taxol too. I just finished five weeks of A/C and by accident discovered taking Clairitin every day has pretty much got rid of the swelling. I can see my ankles again.

When I start to feel that puffiness I wear a compression sleeve and it helps.