Mastectomy scars still tender after 10 months

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coffeelatte
coffeelatte Member Posts: 209
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

I was wondering if anyone else experiences tenderness and soreness at the scar line months or more after a single or double mastectomy. I am trying to get exercise since the cancer diagnosis (read on bco this is a good thing to do) so I walk most days for about 30 minutes. Often after I walk I notice parts of the scars really get tender. Many times when I am in the shower the scars are tender when I gently rub a washcloth over them. On days with low activity, the tenderness gets much less. The scar will also get sore if I sleep on my side for too long.  So weird. Does anyone else experience soreness this far out from surgery?

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  • xtina
    xtina Member Posts: 60
    edited June 2014

    Hi there!  I would recommend talking to your BS/PS just to be on the safe side, but yes I have/had the same thing!  I had a lumpectomy and had reconstruction/a lift on both breasts, and the scar that runs under the breast on both sides would be tender here and there for at least a year post-surg.  The scar under my right still ached at times until just a little while ago, mostly when I would sleep on my side for too long, like you noticed.  Like when I would roll over to my back from the side, I could literally feel the scar like creaking and moving along as I rolled.  I also found that switching bras helped, the ones I had initially purchased were just sitting on my scars the wrong way and seemed to make things worse.

    My BS said that some women feel pain or tenderness for up to 18 months post surgery.  You should always ask your Dr. about it though, just so they can take note and make sure that things are in order and are right for you.

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  • beatrice00
    beatrice00 Member Posts: 103
    edited June 2014

    My occupational therapist gave me a mini vibrator to massage the scars gently for 5 minutes a day and silicone scar strips to minimize them. I still feel tender and painful 9 months after BMX. I have pain, nerve tingling, soreness, tenderness and tightness. It happens. 

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  • Mich71
    Mich71 Member Posts: 45
    edited June 2014

    Since mastectomy 7 months ago, I still feel tightness and discomfort periodically.  I concur with beatrice00 above, I used silicone scar strips for a few months and it really seemed to help especially when sleeping at night.   Also might be worth mentally noting activities as a more active or heavy lifting SAMs Club trip seems to flare things up.      Thank you xtina for the 18 month  timeline as I had not heard this information and you give me hope this is not our new 'normal'!!

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  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 6,197
    edited June 2014

    Hi coffeelatte, I would mention it to my Doctor, but I doubt there is anything to worry about. It is a really brutal surgery and it takes some time for everything to settle down

    I am about 18 months out from a Umx and although I wouldn't call it pain, I still have some strange sensations. I did have a revision surgery in March this year to remove the Dog Ear I had left after the original surgery. It added another 3" to the scar so it now curves around my back, that surgery actually fixed discomfort that I had because of the nerves that were cut in the first surgery.

    I too used the silicone strips on my scars, which has worked well and I did the stretching exercises from the PT for many many months I have also massaged the incisions religiously since soon after the surgery to make sure I don't get adhesions.

    My surgeon told me that I could expect to feel some regeneration of the nerves for "some time". For me, it has all improved as time has passed, and I still have significant numbness, but have really just become used to it. I don't think about it at all.

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  • coffeelatte
    coffeelatte Member Posts: 209
    edited June 2014

    Hi ladies, thanks for the help.  I did go out and purchase two new bras on Monday to see if it helps, and it did. Yes, the bras I have been wearing seem to hit right on the scar and the two new ones have a band that sits lower, which is helping. Also, I bought the scar silicone strips about six weeks ago, but never used them because my scars hurt. So I got them out this morning and applied one of each side to start the process. So far so good!

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