Shoulder blade and under arm pain after mastectomy???

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited August 2019 in Surgery - Before, During, and After
Shoulder blade and under arm pain after mastectomy???
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  • GreenEyes81
    GreenEyes81 Member Posts: 389
    edited August 2017

    I had a right side only mastectomy on 8/9/17 and seem to be healing well. Hoping the drains come out any day! Yesterday I started noticing my right shoulder blade is tender and sore and the back under part of my arm is the same. Like where the back of my arm pit meets my back. lol I also have cut back on the narcodics a lot in the last 24-36 hours...so maybe it's just no so numb anymore.

    Is this normal? It's almost like my shoulder blade is more tender then the breast area. My chest is numb and not a whole of feeling unless I get a stich on a tube pulled. I have had no chemo or rads. Just surgery and home taking it easy.

    Any thoughts???

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  • runor
    runor Member Posts: 1,798
    edited August 2017

    I did not have a mastectomy, just a lumpectomy, and yet I had an alarming amount of pain way back at the very edge of what would be boob tissue (?) basically on my shoulder blade. I know - this is hard to describe. But if I reached around, slipped my hand into my armpit and then poked those fingers into the edge of my shoulder blade, holy cow! Did that ever hurt! Like someone slugged me! All along that bone edge.

    I had my lumpectomy in April. Finished rads end of July. That shoulder blade is still tender! Mine flared up during radiation and has eased off a bit. But still ... it just hurts. And after my surgery it REALLY hurt!

    I have no idea why so can't offer any advice. But you are not alone in this.

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  • Bellkat
    Bellkat Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2017

    I had the same issue on the left side, dr explained that sometimes when lymph nodes are involved, they do a lot of digging for the right ones. Up to three inches in my case, and they took all of the breast tissue which can expand further then expected. Hope this helps, good luck!

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  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited August 2017

    I have it as I say under my upper arms,,tricep area. It feels strange to rub it and it hurts if I do. Moreso one side than the other. I'd say it is def from the node biopsy. I'm sure that upsets the whole balance in those areas. Plus I know from walking into the OR(anyone else walk into the or awake?) and getting on the table they stretch your arms out that's how you are during surgery, so no wonder shoulders and upper back hurt.

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  • MarilynIllinois
    MarilynIllinois Member Posts: 79
    edited August 2017

    yes, my right shoulder blade is sore too. My husband said he can see a small bruise.

    My guess would be pressure against the operating table during surgery. Healing wishes to all

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  • Falconer
    Falconer Member Posts: 1,192
    edited August 2017
    Hi All,
    I will say that my left shoulder, chest, neck, jaw, armpit and even the back of my head have never been the same since the process started last June 2016. Beginning with the MRI guided biopsy where I held my arm cocked over my head for an hour and a half and they kept saying, "hold still hold still while we get this," I had pain in my shoulder all the way down my back for weeks. Then onto the MX and then rads (hold your arm over your head, please. Don't move.) And finally recon. What happens to your shoulder joint and surrounding areas is rough! I'm going for physical therapy so remain hopeful I'll feel pain free someday.
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  • Rrobin0200
    Rrobin0200 Member Posts: 433
    edited August 2017

    ouch, ouch, ouch. Did I say ouch?! Yes, I had the same pain. Had BMX 3/31/17. The shoulder pain and under arm pain was more like a burning sensation... and it lasted for weeks, I'm sad to say. Nothing much helped, unfortunately. It will eventually go away. In the meantime, maybe ice packs? Are you still on your pain meds?

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  • trackercs
    trackercs Member Posts: 8
    edited August 2019

    I am also experiencing shoulder pain on my right side, which is the side with lymph node removal. I had bilateral mastectomy on July 22, 2019 with a re-excision on August 5. Today August 16, I'm noticing pain in my shoulder blade. I'll give it the week and then ask surgeon about physical therapy referral. I'm hoping it just part of the surgeon recovery and not the muscles locking up.

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  • Rah2464
    Rah2464 Member Posts: 1,647
    edited August 2019

    They definitely root around thoroughly in there when doing the surgery. I remember having bruising on my ribcage, front and back after my double so I know they were working me over. Also, some people have more breast tissue that wraps underneath their arm/side chest (called tail of Spence ?). It is also possible to have nerve irritation from the surgery because there are a tremendous amount of nerve pathways in that area. So mention to your PS or BS, whomever you are seeing. It is likely that some physical therapy can help once you are released to do so. As you begin the healing process and lower your pain meds you definitely will get different aches and pains. Sometimes sharp, sometimes achy, sometimes burning sensation as your nerves and tissues heal. Your body has been through a significant surgery so will take some time to knit itself back together so be patient and careful with yourself.

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  • exercise_guru
    exercise_guru Member Posts: 716
    edited August 2019

    I know this thread is old but I recommend trying to find a PT or massage therapist that knows the Barnes Myofascial release method. I didn't find one until years after my surgery and I wish I had tried that first.

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