Burning Pain??

It's nerve pain. It DOES take time to heal. I had it the first go due to node removal and it took two years before it became almost gone. It only kicks up when I do too much with that arm. Traditional pain killers don't work on nerve pain but I found Ativan helped..it relaxes muscles...so perhaps Tylenol with muscle relaxants will work. There are also meds that target nerve pain directly. I never had implants, so don't know too much about that except some gals have huge pain with them.

I decided against it because after all this time, I do not want to wake the sleeping lions.

I had this burning pain as well but different from the other poster. I only had it with the TE pushing or pinching in certain parts. A burning pain is exactly how I described it to people and it would wake me up at night. It got worse the more I was filled but was immediately gone at exchange. I had lymph nodes removed as well but the pain was actually on my other side where I had no nodes removed. So in my case I am positive it was from the TE.

I have had extreme and intense nerve damage pain since my BMX with node removal.

The standard meds for nerve damage pain are Neurontin (the generic is Gabapentin) or Lyrica. Amitriptyline is an anti-depressant that can help with pain in some and help you sleep at night if pain keeps you awake.

My pain is so severe I am still on all my medications even three years later.

I also get Lidocaine treatments that I have found extremely effective in decreasing nerve damage pain. About every 6-9 weeks, I go to the Pain Procedures Center and I get an IV bag of Lidocaine. I can tell when it starts to wear off because the pain comes back.

Last summer, I had to have a Thoracotomy and the surgeon had to cut directly into tissues that already had nerve damage pain and it was awful extreme pain. I still have issues from the thoracotomy and new additional pain.

Talk to your doctor. Write down all your pain symptoms (burning, skin hypersensitivity, numbness,sharp,stinging, etc)  and where you feel each pain. Hopefully your doctor can find something that works for your pain. Be aware, though, Gabapentin and Lyrica do come with side effects that some can tolerate and some can't, but you won't know how they effect you unless you try them.

From a lot of the people posting, I have seen a trend that most (not saying all) plastic surgeons don't understand nerve damage pain post-surgery. You may want to talk to your breast surgeon or get a referral to a pain clinic (and hope you get a good doctor).

I am sorry to hear of your pain and totally understand.

P.S. Please remember that since you had lymph nodes removed, you are at risk for developing lymphedema. It is recommended that the effected limbs (including hands) have no needle pokes or blood pressures taken on the side(s) where lymph nodes were removed.This applies to sentinel nodes as well.

I had horrific burning pain immediately after my BMX/TEs which lasted for nearly a month. It felt like a searing, red-hot bear trap around my chest.

Two things changed that: I started taking my pain meds around the clock, as prescribed, instead of trying to wean off them too soon. I definitely needed them but was trying to not be a wimp.

The second thing was the pain went away as I started to get fills. That told me that the TEs had been irritating a nerve, and that with expansion, they moved away from the sensitive area.

As you can tell already, nerve pain can be from so many sources. If your PS isn't "getting it", perhaps it's time to see a different doc... maybe your BS? Maybe a pain specialist? 

Just remember, the TEs are only temporary! Hope you find relief soon....

simplelife2 - See if your PS will give you a prescription for the lidocaine cream - pain pills never really helped my pain at all.  But that topical cream did the trick!  I think mine lasted for about six weeks, so maybe soon it will just go away on its own!  Either way, good luck to you!

I saw a pain psychologist in 2011 and 2012 for my post mastectomy pain syndrome.

One very important thing I learned that nearly all people with pain do and have is a type of cycle. On days we feel good, we over do it. Then we have day(s) of inactivity. And the cycle is repeated.

I had to learn to break the cycle. I still have severe pain from the nerves being nicked during my BMX and no de removal on 1/11/11.

I needed to pay very close attention to what I did and how it made me feel. I had to modify my daily activities so as not over due it and cause more pain.

For example: I can't sweep and mop the kitchen floor and vacuum on the same day. I can't carry the laundry basket to the clothesline. I need to use my garden wagon. If I want to do any weeding, I need to take it easy on housework, etc etc.

I, too, have been dealing with a burning pain since 2 weeks after my mastectomy and lymph node removal. The whole backside of my arm, part of that shoulder blade, my armpit, and across the top part of my chest. The only way I can describe it is feeling as if I've been burned with an iron, then rubbed raw with a Brillo pad. It's constant, and even air hurts it. Everything I've read points to nerve damage from the node removal. My gyno and PS told me it was as well, and said I needed to contact my surgeon. He said he's never had anyone complain about it and that if I was still troubled with it in 6 months, he'd refer me to a pain clinic.

I own a bakery/cafe and use my arms constantly...even the day of an expansion of 120. It's been hard with that pain...I just pray it goes away soon. It's been 9 weeks since it started. Keeping you all in my prayers, too!! 

I am 5 years, post surgery. I have had constant burning under my reconstructed breasts from day 1. I'm not able to wear an underwire bra, which would help with shaping but have to wear soft bras. By the end of the day, the burning sensation dries me crazy. My PS tells me its a common complaint and may or may not disappear. I have to say, with all the surgery Ive been through, this is the worst fall out of all of them.

Hi, CammieK - The 'lightning bolts' are the nerves that were cut during your BMX trying to regenerate themselves.  They are fondly known as nerve zaps. They're more frequent and intense at the beginning, but over a year later, I still get one every once in a while.  And if you're having the 'sandpaper feeling' across your chest, then that's almost always nerve pain.  And unless you can get you oncologist or PCP to prescribe Gabapentin (Neurontin) for it, a regular pain pill won't touch it.  Not everyone gets the sandpaper effect but those of us who did, found out fast that many doctors are often unfamiliar with this phenomenon.   I hope that helps you a little..  Good luck!  

I had bilateral mastectomy on April 21,2016. I have started to experience that burning bad sunburn feeling. How long does it last, I'm so fearful something is wrong!! PLEASE ADVIS