Pain in arm after surgery...

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CFed89
CFed89 Member Posts: 7
edited September 2016 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I am two weeks out from my surgery, I had a nipple-sparing, bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction and a sentinel node biopsy which resulted in an axillary node dissection. I had 22 nodes removed with 3 testing positive. Everything seems to be healing well, i have surface necrosis on my nipple but the Dr. says they'll be fine. What I am concerned about is the pain i am having in the back of the upper part of the arm i had the nodes removed from. Is this normal? Has anyone else expierienced this after surgery?

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  • Seraphima
    Seraphima Member Posts: 97
    edited September 2016

    My surgery is different from yours, but it am having a good bit of pain. It seemed generalized at first, but now I can identify the location. The back of my arm at the top on the side where I had the SNB is one area, and I hadn't been able to understand why that should hurt.

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  • Maya15
    Maya15 Member Posts: 323
    edited September 2016

    It's very common even though doctors rarely warn you about it. It's due to the nerves in axillary area being cut in the surgery. I had excruciating, burning pain in the top, back part of my arm, so bad I couldn't stand contact with clothing, starting a couple of weeks after surgery. My cancer center has a pain specialist who put me on gabapentin (for nerve pain--it's not a narcotic) and that worked wonders. You have to work up to the full dose but I started getting some relief within a couple of days.

    I also had arm pain from cording, with ALND I would watch for that, if you have it you will feel cords forming under your armpit and possibly all the way down your arm, it's very painful but treatable with a few weeks of PT.

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  • CFed89
    CFed89 Member Posts: 7
    edited September 2016

    Thank you so much. I'll make sure I look into this. I was getting a little concerned because the area that hurts didn't seem to be near where my lymph nodes were removed.

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  • Mariangel43
    Mariangel43 Member Posts: 136
    edited September 2016

    Good night. I have had a different experience with the mastectomy and my SNB. I definitely told the OS not to do a dissection because of the risk of lymphedema. In the SNB only one node painted and it was removed. The site of the surgery hurt but not so much. I could deal with it. What I didn't expect to hurt was the TE. I still have pain in the chest, a very intense stabbing pain. My arm hurt because I had and still use a walker to move around the house and outside. My forearm and hand hurt due to muscle exhaustion. When I reach the bed after any displacement I feel so happy. I think we are so different that we have different side effects and ways to respond to pain.

    Please be alert to any sign of lymphedema. I never used a ring in my right hand but I do now to check if my hand is swollen or not. Talk to your surgeon, to your oncologist, to someone who can give you answers to your worries and questions. Be brave.

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  • Painfulswelledarm
    Painfulswelledarm Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2016

    My experience is different. Nine months after my surgery of stage III breast cancer and 6 months after my incomplete chemotherapy of only 5 sessions, now I have been feeling worst living in burning pain of a tightly swollen right arm. My Doctor said it is only a frozen shoulder not lymphedema but I could not sleep day and night. No pain reliever tablets works for me. I had to see the doctor for shots of strong pain killer but it last in 8 hours.

    Please advise for any stronger pain reliever that I can take at home? How would I know if I am suffering from frozen shoulder or lymphedema?

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  • Seraphima
    Seraphima Member Posts: 97
    edited September 2016

    Just wanted to say hello, and welcome to the forum.

    I'm fairly new too. I'm very sorry to hear of your pain. I'm afraid I have no idea of the answer to your question, but it's certainly frustrating to have doctors ignore or dismiss our pain. My surgeon does that with my arm pain, but it's still short term for me.

    Is there any chance you can get a second opinion? Can you ask your PCP for a referral, or get help? I'm not knowledgeable about this issue, but I've read posts on here where a type of physical therapist seems to help most often.

    I hope you find relief soon. And I hope you stick around the forums.

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