Post mastectomy pain syndrome

Sallyellen
Sallyellen Member Posts: 7
edited December 2015 in Pain

Thank you so much to everyone for all of the advice thus far. I have been going to physical therapy for 3 months post implants. My cording is still present. I experience pain under my arm-entire armpit area which is debilitating at times.

I am wondering at this point if maybe I have post mastectomy pain syndrome as this started after my may mastectomy and has continued. I live in Maryland and was trying to find some type of specialist to go to. At this point physical therapy is helping but not enough.

My breast surgeon and plastic surgeon have both pretty much written me off. They both said they couldn't do anything else to help me, didn't even look at the cording, and told me to keep stretching. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Happy holidays to everyon

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  • Queen_Celeste
    Queen_Celeste Member Posts: 68
    edited December 2015

    Sallyellen:  I just started therapy on December 22 at the lymphedema clinic at my hospital/cancer center (in Kansas).  It has already helped!  I am being treated by an occupational therapist with special training in lymphedema and cording.  She is terrific and I have learned a lot.

    I developed cording and lymphedema right after my exchange surgery (October 6).  My plastic surgeon, who is excellent, said everything was fine.  From a surgeon's point of view it was.  After all, the surgery was successful and the implants look pretty good.  I think that surgeons just have a different point of view and maybe it is not long term.  I finally contacted the nurse navigator at the breast center.  She told me to get a referral from my oncologist to the lymphedema clinic.  This was at the beginning of December and the first available appointment was the 22nd.  So far, insurance has covered everything.

    I hope you can find something like this to help you.  Maybe your oncologist could refer you?  Might someone at your physical therapy have some information?  Contact your breast center or cancer center?

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