Pain in rib area after reconstruction

Kali44

Hello everyone,

I had reconstruction in April of this year. While healing, I noticed some pain when trying to get up, in the rib area of the reconstructed side. I noticed over time it wasn't as painful as in the beginning however, it is now 7 months later and I have noticed that the pain is still there depending on how I move my body.

Is this normal healing? Or not 😞 please tell me this is normal and it just takes a while for the healing to be complete. Thank you for any help and/or suggestions.

Thank you!

VegGal

I had pain on my right lower ribs, kind of in the liver area after exchange. Oh boy, was it sore! It improved slowly, but I noted that I could aggravate it with certain activities. I was getting a wee bit concerned.

I had a revision and replacement of implants in September. The pain went away immediately and hasn't been back! I think somehow the position of the implant or scarring was causing the issue.

Now I have a little owie in my right scapula area....Woke up with that after revision. Will see PS soon.

It never ends!

Kali44

Hi VegGal,

I wish I could say that I had implants as maybe that would be the answer for my discomfort however, I had diep.... so I am not sure what the problem is and I felt after, it seems, like such a long time, I would be healed fully 😕

Thank you for your reply and I am super happy that you have healed well....☺

Kahnartist

I don't know how helpful this is, as I am still pre reconstruction, but some of my worst recovery pain (bmx with TE placement 10/19) has been my fin area. I think it is the muscles and tightness comes from the tissue from the surgery. I am going to PT now. I hope you feel better

Kali44

Thanks ladies.... I have stage 2 recon in Jan so hopefully once that happens, the pain will go away.

Tracyne

Yes I have it all day long. It aches and aches but Iam only 5 weeks post surgery. Funny thing is it's the only thing that really bothers me painwise.

Good luck with your surgery.

Trac

Shelly52

Hi.. I just ran across this thread. I had Diep 2.5 yrs ago and also had pain on surgical side next to breast bone. When I asked about it, the surgeon very casually responded, “Oh, yes, that’s where I removed a rib.” Whaaaaat?! I thought. He “removed” a rib to access the blood vessel that he connected my Diep flap blood vessel to. That was a shocker to me as, despite all my research on the subject, I was unaware of the rib removal part. It was very tender there for some time. Now it’s fine. Just a slight indentation to touch near my reconstructed breast. I remain VERY HAPPY with my Diep surgery result. Great surgeon and great result - despite a tough recovery and loss if one small rib. Ha! I hope you’re pain has resolved, too

Tracyne

Shelly52,

When I came out of surgery for about three days my ribs near my heart were so painful. I thought maybe I had heart attack on the operating table. All the doctor said and residents said they had no idea why it hurt. According to your post a rib was remove during possibly?

The pain I have now is underneath my breast and over my ribs and it's constant.

Trac

aquilegia

They don't remove an entire rib for DIEP, just a short piece near where it connects to the breastbone, in order to get to the blood vessel they need. For me, the divot that was left has caused the longest-lasting discomfort of the entire procedure. It isn't severe pain, but a nerve gets irritated at times and I have to lightly put my hand over the area to soothe it. Stage 2 fat grafting to fill the divot helped for a while, but most of the fat was resorbed and the pain came back. I'm trying to decide whether to get more fat grafting - is it worth it to go through general anesthesia and all that just to fill a small area.

Tracyne

Aquilegia,

Yeah I didn't phrase that properly and yes I did understand it's not the entire rib.

Trac

Legomaster225

I have pain under my breast that came up about 2 months after radiation. They recently diagnosed me with cording under my breast. It is along my ribs directly under radiated breast. I. Hoping the PT I'm scheduled for does the trick. It is very tender and hurts to press on it. I honestly thought my rib was broken

Kali44

Hello everyone,

I was locked out from the site because I couldn't remember my password, changed it after that a couple of times but my memory is crap. Finally, I am back! Thank you for all your replies. I, unfortunately, had to cancel my appointment in Jan and still living with the discomfort and sometimes very uncomfortable pain as I have yet to see my PS. I am going to reschedule my app for sometime in August, sucks, as my husband cannot get time off.

Does anyone know the process for this second surgery? Is it like the first in terms of being asleep and aunt of pain and recovery thereafter? Like can I drive, will I be able to walk????

I wish you all quick healing and maybe we should all have some PT to see if it helps. I am going to schedule that as well. I am hoping that by the time i have surgery it would have been healed

Thanks again