Pain With Expanders

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JaimeAndrews
JaimeAndrews Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

I had a bilateral mastectomy in late January with expanders put in to start reconstruction. Since then I have had chemo and am almost done with radiation. The pain from the expanders has been so much more than I anticipated or as was described to me. I still use pain meds in the afternoon and evening. It shoots up my neck and into my jaw. My back is in knots (thank god I can have a massage). Has anyone else experienced this level of pain? Now that I have had radiation it is my understanding I have to keep the expanders in for approximately 6 more months. Then I will have them swapped out for silicone implants. Thinking about six more months of this is very depressing. I also now have frozen shoulder. Getting horizontal is a necessity for me, not to nap but to give my body/back/neck a break. Just needed to vent...

Thanks 

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  • Erica3681
    Erica3681 Member Posts: 1,916
    edited August 2009

    Hi Jaime,

    Sorry you're experiencing so much pain from the expanders. You should probably post your issues on the Breast Reconstruction forum. This forum is primarily for women who have chosen not to have reconstruction, so most of us haven't experienced expanders. There's a thread on the Breast Reconstruction forum called "continued Tissue expander pain!" The women there will really empathize with your situation and might have some good advice. 

    Good luck!

    Barbara

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  • sbmolee
    sbmolee Member Posts: 1,085
    edited August 2009

    Jamie - I am so so sorry you are having such pain.  Barbara is right in that you will get more responses on the reconstruction site.  My pain was not as severe as you but they switched me from pain meds to muscle relaxants and they really helped alot better than the pain meds.  The PS gave me Diazepam 5mg.  Good luck to you!

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  • terrij152
    terrij152 Member Posts: 530
    edited August 2009

    Jamie, have you had any fills yet or is the pain still from the initial placement?  I had my TE's placed on 6/18/09 and really don't have any pain.  Occasional discomfort, but no pain since 3 weeks post surgery.  I will be having my first expansion next week so I'll probably have more pain after that. 

    Good luck to you!

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