Pain more in one arm/armpit after mastectomy with SNB?

beach2beach
beach2beach Member Posts: 996
edited September 2017 in Pain

16 days post BMX with SNB. Question is, has anyone noticed one arm more limited range of motion and tightness than the other? My right is tighter than the left in the armpit. I'm a righty and thought it would be better since I use it more , unless it's the opposite effect.

Anyone?

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited August 2017

    beach - I assume you had a SNB on your cancer side only, the right. Is that correct? If so, that would most likely account for the extra tightness. Has your surgeon given you any gentle stretching exercises with instructions for when to start those? You might consider seeing a lymphedema certified physical therapist to learn about arm safeguards and receive some risk reduction info and safe exercises to help with your stretching and return to better range of motion (ROM).

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  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited August 2017

    Hi,

    No also on my left, long story short, at that time we were not sure if anything was going on in the left breast also so there was also a SNB there also.

    I have been doing the exercises and I have pretty good ROM, it just feels a little tighter on the right, does not look swollen, just feels that way. Going to keep plugging along and give myself the time to heal. I should be happy two weeks out that I'm doing as much as I am.

    Thanks!

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited August 2017

    It might have to do with how the nerves were affected by the SNB on one side compared to the other. If they cut a nerve, or even irritate it by touching it a lot, I think that can really affect things. So the surgeries might not have been exactly identical on both sides. That's my thought anyway, kind of makes sense. I was extremely tight after my SNB, and still have numbness in the armpit and tingling if I touch in certain places, 9 months later. Definitely keep those exercises up, it will help---I didn't think I'd ever get ROM back, but I eventually did!

    :-)

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited August 2017

    beach - I had a bi-lat SNB as well, that is my surgeon's philosophy - he has been doing this long enough that he doesn't like to be surprised, so before removing the non-cancer breast he does a SNB. I didn't have any in situ or invasive cancer in mine, but did have a plethora of previously undetected ADH and ALH. Be careful not to overdo - the tightness you feel may be a signal that you are moving too much.

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  • hopebringscourage
    hopebringscourage Member Posts: 37
    edited September 2017

    Hi Beach-I too have the same tightness in my left armpit where I had the SNB. It feels numb/to me looks swollen-my drain was removed Thursday and I am almost 2 weeks post surgery. I also think I have not been resting enough and maybe using it more than I should. I can raise it all the way straight up-it's all just very odd feeling and I try not to worry. I have been doing a few exercise. Just decided today that I am going to stay in bed ALL day. So here I am. Good luck to all of you!!

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  • Luckynumber47
    Luckynumber47 Member Posts: 397
    edited September 2017

    Hi beach2beach. Aren't you glad that surgery is behind you? Now, on to healing! I had IDC on one side and DCIS on the other. My surgeon took 1 node on each side but she removed a lot more tissue on the IDC side than the DCIS side - much more aggressive on the invasive side.

    Best of luck with your recovery

    Lucky

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  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited September 2017

    Thanks all!

    Yes, good to be on the other side of surgery. No regrets either. I'm doing pretty well. Still some tightness more on right side when I put my arms behind my head. Right node scar is pretty good, The left, yikes, twice as thick with scar tissue. Go figure, yet I can move that arm behind my head no trouble. All in all I'm good. Be 4 weeks tomorrow. Just came back from the beach. Was a beautiful day today. Sadly could not swim all summer, between core biopsies then mastectomy but glad to have been able to do normal things right away.


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