Pain from tissue expanders?

My BMX surgery was on a Tuesday and six days later on a Monday they removed my drains.  I got my first fill about a week after that.  Fills don't usually hurt, and if they do, it's no worse than getting a shot.  The rule of thumb is 'low and slow'.  You don't want to fill too fast, because as the TEs expand, the skin stretches.  So about 50ccs on each side every other week is pretty much the norm.  You will learn to hate those TEs just as much as the rest of us did.  Please go to Moonflwr's thread, TEs: A Beginner's Primer and I think you'll learn a lot from those girls.  

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/...

Am I the only one who is so sore after fills? I am fine the day of but for almost a week after my sternum is so sore and if I have to sneeze (which I try not to) it causes so much pain! 

I just had my right expander put back in after 3 months of healing yesterday. He did my incisions under my breast this find by my ribs. He told me it maybe more painful but he felt it would heal better being there's more skin there. Let me just say I have a high pain tolerance & this crap hurts!!!' Everytime I take a breath it feels like it's pulling. Anyone else even had theirs done this way?  He also called me in Valium also this time and I've never taken it. When would be the time to take it? I'm taking my pain med every 4 hours. After my double mastectomy I only took pain pills for 4 days & not but twice a day. That's now you know this is really hurting this time. I go tomorrow for my post op appointment. He didn't put any fluid in yet either. 

Hi Az85048, I do remember talking with you before our surgeries. I got my the date for the exchange surgery, September 23rd. When my ps does fills on my right (non cancer) side she does 90 cc.I'm at 500cc in the right and 380 in the left. She is giving me a month off from any fills due to the fact that the left side is still so swollen from mx. I just hope that this doesn't prolong the exchange surgery. UGH!!!

Kate9675, I had a double MX Apr 30. They barely got the tissue expanders in me and they were empty. My skin was very thin. I've had 63 radiation treatments. Long story but it's my 5th cancer (3rd primary breast cancer). I'd previously had a lumpectomy. There is a difference between exercise and stretching. My docs said no exercise also. But I can stretch and do range of motion stuff. It helps. The no exercise is so that your pectoral muscles stay weak and pliable. It makes it much easier when they take out the tissue expanders and put in the implants (mine will go in in December). But I'm allowed to walk for some exercise, just nothing that would strengthen my pectoral muscles. Hope that helps make sense of it. 

Fourth expansion today.  Final 105 cc next Monday.  Pushing fills so I can be done in time to  see first grandchild over Christmas break.  Average fill 100 cc each visit.   Pain is unreal.  Doctor states it is unusual to experience such pain.  I will have 800 cc silicone implants mid November.  Taking Tramidol and valium.  I want to cut these demon expanders out.  I thought I had a high threshold for pain.  I had C-section and only took tylenol after day three.   Anyone else feeling the same pain?

All too familar ladies! I had my worst pain on the last 2 fills. Took a couple of days to get better. Was taking hydrocodone every 4 hours when I was up. It will get better. But i have to warn you, I kept bumping into doorways! LOL I stuck out so far. After squished were in much better. If it hurts too much call the doc and ask gor oain pills or a muscle relaxant. Also warm water showers may help. Hang in there! 

Hi I'm new to this i had my right breast off 12/08/13  cos I got lupus I couldn't have reconsturtion at that time I now have a secondery cancer in my left breast  if I could have chemo it would go but because of my lupus I can't have chemo so the end of November I have to have my left breast off and expanders put in both I'm feeling a bit scared as iv been reading all your messages and the fact that I am going to be in a lot of pain I am very high risk for infections and my fills has to be done over 6 months again because of my lupus 

But after reading all your comments if all of you lovely people can get through it so can I you are all so brave and I wish you all well being x

I hate that you ladies are in pain but I'm so glad to hear Im not the only one or going crazy. These expanders have really knocked me on my butt. I was like dblrecon and had two c-sections and after my first one went to a work meeting a week after giving birth! So I'm not a wimp. I tried to ween off the valium and Tramadol because i thought i needed to quit being such a baby but i only lasted two days. Pretty much had a melt down tonight and took some vallum, tramadol and a glass of wine. Much better!! My husband has Influenza A, had to drive all over town looking for Tamiflu today, missed my fill appointment getting him to doc, had to take care of two young kids and now Im sore as all heck! Just overdid it. I know whiney. Im not a whiney person but did go sit on my closet floor and let out a good cry while imwaited for the meds to kick in. Lol!

moonflower912: thanks for the invite. You were just what I needed. xoxo

I am so glad to see that I am not the only person that has experienced the type of pain that I am experiencing. But my surgery was January 15th & this April. I've been getting expansions & none of them have been as painful as the one I received the week before last & I'm still in pain. I still haVe 1 drain. & it started draining blood last Tuesday I believe. That went on for about 5 days, & now it's not draining anything at all. I'm in so much pain, & have had so many complications, I wish I had never done this. The doctors don't listen. None of the pain meds work, nor the muscle relaxers. I don't know what to do. I know this post is really old, but does anyone have any suggestions? I have tried the exercises, but it hurts to even move.

Thank you. I'm new here. Where is the TEBEGINNERS post?

I also suffered horrible pain from my expanders, mostly on the cancer side where I'd also had lymph nodes removed. Now that my treatment is complete (my exchange was 6 months ago), I can definitely say that much of this pain was caused by complications from the lymph node removal. It felt like the expander was digging into raw tissue in my chest wall especially in the area where my side and chest meet below my armpit. I also felt like I had painful swelling, tightness, and pressure behind the expander/implant. I now know that I was suffering from both axillary web syndrome (also known as "chording") and had truncal lymphedema. The pressure/swelling/tightness was the lymphedema. The "digging" pain was from the expander pressing on a large chord.

Fortunately, a few months after my bilateral mastectomy (and removal of 16 lymph nodes) my plastic surgeon's PA wrote an RX for me to see a certified lymphedema therapist (CLT) a special type of occupational or physical therapist certified in treating lymphedema. This woman saved my sanity! Treatment involved a special (and somewhat uncomfortable) massage to break up the chords and another kind of massage called "manual lymphatic drainage" (not painful, very gentle) to drain lymphatic fluid build up. After just one treatment I was amazed at how much better I felt and enjoyed some of the first pain-free moments I'd had in months. I also had a stunning increase in the range of motion of my shoulder/arm. I saw my therapist for one hour twice a week for about 10 weeks until I was pain free and had recovered all range of motion and strength in my shoulder and arm.

This may not be the cause of everyone's expander pain, but if you are suffering insist on being evaluated by a CLT. You may finally find some relief as I did.

Happy new yorker see Fe princess post for a link to a page with more followers. You could also try the TE Trouble board. I can't link from my phone but search for it. Hugs.

YA, I'm so sorry you are n pain! Unfortunately it really is kinda normal to have some pain. And im NOT a doctor, nor do i play one on TV, LOL. But if you are in a lot of pain, CALL YOU DOCTOR. Sometimes they can take some fill out. Seeing as this is a holiday weekend (doesnt stuff like this always happen at these times?)First make sure you don't have a temp or any signs of redness that could signal an infection. If you have a fever call your doctor! If that is a no, some of the things that help others: try a bit of massage, perhaps a muscle relaxant. Other things people have tried are cold cloths or warm clothes over the TEs. Being extremely careful of both stitches and to watch the skin as you have no nerves in the skin. It should get better in a day or two. You can postpone your next fill, or ask for smaller fills too. Hope this helps.

Much love