PAIN! Month after Lumpectomy with 6 nodes Removed! Anyone?

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited December 2014

    Hi ronandvon, welcome to Breastcancer.org! We're sorry you have to go through mastectomy to alleviate that pain, and really hope it helps.

    Looks like you already made your decision but, if it helps, you can learn more on Mastectomy, types of mastectomy, what to expect during and after surgery, etc, on our main site.

    Best wishes. Pleas let us know how it goes.

    The Mods

  • SweetHope
    SweetHope Member Posts: 439
    edited December 2014

    New to this thread. I'm so discouraged hearing the length of time this is taking for you all to have relief from this pain. I have been on Norco since my ALND. I try to only take a half pill during the day, but by evening, the burning under the arm, the pain across the breast and that "I've got a baseball shoved in my armpit" pain makes me want to vomit, so I take a whole pill. All I do is lay in the recliner. I stay in a padded sports bra and binding over upper arm to keep from jiggling when I walk. Riding in a car is too bouncy. My BS says that this will be over within four months. But I read here that this may never be over.

    I finally ventured out to the store on my own the other day. By the time I finished loading the car I was in so much pain I forgot my purse in the basket. (It took 10 minutes to return for it and there was this darling woman still standing out by it, guarding it!)

    If I do anything like picking up a milk jug I pay for it for two days. I was very active and healthy before; now this sedentary existence has put 12 new pounds of fat on me.

    I'm close to tears, worrying all the time that this is my fate. I know I'm whining, but don't you dare tell me to count my blessings. I know what they are, but right now they are not enough. I'm angry, scared and I want my life back.

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited December 2014


    Sweethope, I'm so sorry to hear that you are in so much pain. Are there other meds that you can try that might help?  Can you take Motrin or Aleve in addition to the Norco?  You state that you have burning pain, have you tried meds that more specifically help nerve pain, like Neurontin?  Just a suggestion to ask your doctor about.    Does your breast jiggling set it off? I couldn't quite tell from your post. Perhaps a more supportive bra?  Or a breast binder?  EAB Medical has lined breast binders which I have to use for my lymphedema. Perhaps that type of compression would help?

    I really hope you will find relief soon.

  • Susug
    Susug Member Posts: 193
    edited December 2014

    I can't believe your doc is surprised. My BS warned me about the pain I could experience going down the inside of my arm to the elbow..luckily I haven't had any pain but he did let me know it was a possibility

  • SweetHope
    SweetHope Member Posts: 439
    edited December 2014

    Glennie, thank you for the info. I will definitely ask about the Neurontin and check into the binders. The pain is anytime I am not laying flat. Susug, doc wasn't surprised, he just said it should be better soon. I am so glad you did not have this happen. And, I am so grateful to find this website. Meeting all you brave, knowledgeable women and men helps me feel I am not alone. I have a place to turn to when i am in a funk like earlier today. My DH is angry and confused about this whole process, so I try not to unload on him too much. Sorry that we are here, but thank you for being here for me.

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited December 2014


    Sweethope:  here's a link to the site.  They also have compression bras,, and since you had a lumpie, maybe that would be better for you than the binder. I use the LINED binders,,, they are softer on the inside.  Hope you get some relief soon.http://www.eabmedical.com/

  • JessiesGirlJudy
    JessiesGirlJudy Member Posts: 6
    edited December 2015

    I'm 2 weeks out from my sentinel biopsy with lumpectomy . I have good mobility BUT am having a numbing/tingling pain on the underside of my arm that radiates down to my palm. I am scheduled tomorrow Dec. 3, 2015 for re-excision as one margin area was not clear and my surgeon found another area that turned out to be positive for DCIS....just wondering if these weird feelings are something I may have to just live with..

  • JessiesGirlJudy
    JessiesGirlJudy Member Posts: 6
    edited December 2015

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