Still Uncomfortable with Implants

I had breast implants for several years before my bc dx. I had no pronlems AT ALL. They were under the muscle saline. Except for times that I had to lay on my stomach (and could then really feel them in all their unnatural state), I didnt have regrets, aches or pains. After dx, I had radiation. I developed capsular contracture and had more surgery to fix. This helped, but a second bc dx in the other breast resulted in a bilateral mx with reconstruction using silicone instead of saline. Fast forward 2 years: i cant overwork my right side without pain and charleyhorses in my chest/ribs. This includes lifting light weights for any upper body muscle groups. I know this is from the mess the radiation and subsequent surgeries (adhesions) left. The other thing, which is just annoying, not painful, is silicone is COLD to the touch. All the time. Even the left one, which hasn't given me issues, is cold. It's hard embracing these new ones as "mine"!

Hi all, think I posted sometime in Dec.

All three surgeries since Oct due to implant problems, well, even after cat scan and me screaming in pain and in er, I had a ruptured implant, with pain going up and down my affected arm.  It is now narrowed down to SCAR TISSUE. I am still on the Savella for fibromyalgia but no longer have pain in areas, just on side of breast.

My last surg, 2-25 PS was ready to take it out. No one had knowledge of a rupture except I knew something was definiately not right. Sure enough, when I woke up, he advised me.  So once again, I am dealing with aggressive kenolog injections.  So I have learned with a problem complain, complain and complain. I felt like I was dying each minute, did not understand how I could have such pain all around implant, and no evidence of a rupture from catscan. Incredible.  No pain until last week, so again got injected yesterday. I wish I can say am I almost there after 3 years.

I am not familiar with you gals who are on now, but a big hello to all.

Wow, this thread is great.  I just learned the word Capsular Contracture last week.  Words like Iron Bra in this thread are so familiar to me.  I had lumpectomy with chemo and rad on left side in 1999, then recurrence and BMX with LD,  with  chemo and reconstruction in 2009.  I've been waiting since then for my body to get used to the foobs.  In 2011, I did too much canoeing and got LE on the left side - wrapping, sleeve, LMD, PT, exercise.  Under control now, knock on wood.

I'd been thinking I would just "get em out".  I'm not in pain, but in constant discomfort.  Iron Bra seems to be getting tighter, and the sensation you got as a kid when you jumped into the water wearing a life vest, and it climbed up your armpits.   Do we have a word for that?

Anyway, does anybody know if a PS in Minneapolis doing FG, and can comment on outcomes? The idea of 3 procedures to remove the Iron Bra is daunting.  I don't think I'd mind convex, but, like all of this, it's hard to know how you'll feel before you get there.

I've learned a boatload of good info in the last 15 minutes, blessings to all of you!

Deborah--many forum members suffered with pain from implants. Sometimes a smaller implant, or a smaller implant with fat grafting does the trick. I had my implant removed in stages with fat grafting at each surgery. My last surgery included implant removal and removal of extensive scar tissue. This finally did the trick. There will be a solution for you, as many forum members have been thru the same ordeal with implants. The best. Eileen

Deborah, I was told that "some people just don't tolerate implants." Yeah ... seems like a LOT of people don't tolerate them. A smaller implant with fat grafting was presented to me as one solution.

PastaPesto, you can go to a site called fatgraftpatients.com and ask about a doc near you there.

There's two different procedures ... fat grafting, like around an implant, and fat grafting with the brava system, which is basically a big cup you wear for months to prep the area to accept more fat, and you can achieve the reconstruction without an implant. So you have to be clear which one you're researching, because a doctor who tells you they do fat grafting may not do the brava system. I did the brava procedure because I was really adamant about losing the implant, and was ready to go flat if I had to.

I am a year and a half out from my exchange to implants. I always have the iron bra feeling and I think it is getting worse. I have lymphedema and lots of unexplained inflammation. Also have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. My arms and hands go numb every night.

I am beginning to think my body is actually rejecting these implants. Is that really a possibility?

Does anyone know if I remove the implants will my pec muscles ever feel normal again? Is this surgery usually covered by insurance? Also i am wondering are there any drs at Mass General who do total fat grafting?

Eileen- thanks for your reply. I would love to get rid of the lymphedema and iron bra feeling! What is the fat grafting website?

I am so afraid to take this step but I feel like I am getting closer to making that decision. I had 4 surgeries in 8 months in 2011 and thought I was done. It is a lot to wrap my brain around.

Ginger, your surgeries should be covered by insurance. Sorry you are having so much pain! I completely understand your frustration with thinking you were done...

Deborah, I am also considering going to smaller implants, but with what I've found out recently, I'm wondering how much pain it will solve. There may be two issues...scar/nerve pain and mechanical pain.

Just wanted to update that I was referred to a Pain Management Specialist, not by my original PS, but a PS I went to for a second opinion and questions about DIEP (I found out that I'm not a great candidate for DIEP, and this PS doesn't like doing GAPs). When I saw my first PS again and told him about the referral to the PMS, he said that he "hadn't thought to send me there." Frustrating that there is not a better recognition of pain after mastectomy and an accepted variety of treatments to help the patients.

I have been on Neurontin with a gradually increasing dose, which I don't feel has really done much. It helped a little with the discomfort at first, but I think it has become less effective as time has gone on.

Last week I had 5 ultrasound-guided steroid injections (Kenolog) on some of the pain trigger points over the implant. A needle was injected between the skin and the implant, and Kenolog placed. It took 2 days to feel results, but I did feel that the burning, pinching pain was reduced by about 50%. It has come back a bit, but it is generally improved.

After talking to the doctor earlier, I have been trying to pay more attention to the pain I have, and I do believe that some of the pain is scar/nerve related (the burning and pinching), and some of the pain may be mechanical (the specific-site stabbing pain), with the weight of the implant causing additional pain.

Next week the doctor is going to perform an intercostal nerve block by injecting steriods into the nerve through the back between the ribs. I have had stabbing pain around my back around the bra-line area. I had this same pain after the mastectomy, and had extensive PT which helped then. As an artist, I am sitting and working with my hands extensively, and the position seems to exacerbate the pain. 

Tomorrow I am going to Mercy hospital in Baltimore to meet with Dr. Collins and get another opinion about flap surgeries. The second PS I met with doesn't like performing GAP flap surgeries, and doesn't like the results of taking a large amount of fat out of the top of the rump. But other surgeons are getting good results by doing follow-up fat grafting and lipo with the GAP. I don't have much fat on my belly, but my rump has enough extra to build what I currently have in implants at least twice!

I'm struggling whether to go ahead and just do an exchange for a smaller implant, or push for a GAP flap. The exchange is an easier surgery, but I just don't think it is going to solve the pain problems.

Oh my gosh, this is me ... I'm five years out from my exchange surgery and these things have never been comfortable. They are getting worse and worse (and looking worse too) as the years go by. I don't look good without a bra, and am constantly uncomfortable and in pain with one. I can't win. I need to look for another ps in my area but don't even know where to start. My old one was recommended by my bs, so I don't want to go back to him for a rec. So tired of constantly pulling the left side of my bra away from my body for a little relief. I had never heard of BRAVA or ATF before reading this thread -- maybe it wasn't very widespread when I was dx five years ago? Thanks to those who shared that info! Anyway, I'm going to look into that, and in the meantime I'm relieved to know it's not just me.

Ronqt,

Your situation w left side pain sounds just like mine! Do you think it might be PMPS? NEUROPATHY? That is what I'm dealing with...can't wear any bra cuz of pressure on L side...seatbelt kills me too.

I'm trying Lidocaine patches today...

What are Buntz patches?

Violet

I may have posted here in the past, but I also had post mastectomy pain syndrome PMPS among other things such as lymphedema, major radiation damage and sevete axillary cording/webbing. I ended up with implant failure and then fortunately found a top US microsurgeon/ PS who only works with breast cancer patients. He doesn't do implants but does natural breast reconstruction using your own fat from belly or butt (DIEP & SGAP) and other areas. He and partner do NOT use muscle like in TRAMs and LAT FLAPs. Because I am so thin I had SGAP using buttocks.



It"s been a long road for me and I have one last surgery which will be #10. It's been a huge relief how my new surgeon relieved 95% of my

pain by his meticulous hours of repair work aside from the work on my deformity to make breasts look normal again.



My last surgery will be my fifth with him. I started at Mayo then John Hopkins. Finally researched like crazy and found Dr Kline in Charleston, SC. He does first stage surgery with partner so not as long as at big institutions. They also do not have residents. They invite them to watch surgeries occasionally. They operate out of a beautiful new regional hospital with all private rooms.



The other wonderful thing is they accept ALL insurance and do not balance bill. Way too many PS out there not accepting in network insurance for BC patients.



Dr Kline also emails with me anytime and answers each and every question quickly. He does initial consult free over phone after you send pics and med records, or in person.



Keep in mind I am a BC patient that has had so many complications. To help heal radiation damage he ordered 30 days of HBOT hyperbaric oxygen therapy where I had to lay inside chamber for 90 minutes everyday. And watched HGTV. And took xanax.



He is also now using BRAVO on me and just a few other patients with major complications.



Please PM me if you feel like talking and I hope you all get relief from your pain too.

Violet: The only way I can describe a Buntz patch is a medicated pain killer which I put on area which is bothering me for 7 days.  Then I get a new patch and put it in a new area.  However, my breast is acting up again, dealing with IV infusion now for iron, asked my onc. about this, told me to call my ps and/or pm guy and/or breast surgeon.  Forgive me, I do not know what Brava is.  My plastic surgeon said the last resort would be for me to take the implant out and I do not think I am ready for that.  I am immensly uncomfortable.  Yesterday, the hospital I go to had a seminar at a local mall and I got to ask the chief radiologist about my problem. I called one of the other breast surgeons for a second opinion and I got a moronic answer from a moronic idiot trying to explain my problem.  She says the breast surgeon I tried to contact only follows her patients for 5  years after diagnosis. Even though i am not trilled with my bs, he said I am his for life. I also am putting on a cream to ease the pain.  The radiologist mentioned the words fatty narcosis.  I had never heard those words either from any of my drs.  I see my pain guy in 2 weeks, I want an MRI to see what is growing inside me now, as I am the queen candidate of scar tissue. The more they take out, the more it comes back.  I am at a loss, my friends who are lucky not to have had this disease just don't understand. so I thank you for letting me ramble and get my words off my chest.  I am now taking tranquilizers every day to calm me down.  Have been throug the Kinelog injections, accupuncuture, etc. Last week when I went to PS he said I cannot move it to the left because of scar tissue, however, there is a dent which he says he can correct. Why correct anything when I am in pain.  So I am blahhing away, not making any sense.  I do have neuroptathy and fibromalgia due to all of this and nerve damage. What a mess.  I am going to look for the word Brava and see what it brings up.  Thanks for letting me ramble. This month is 4  years, Oct. 9 diagnosed, of all nonsense.

With love,

where is your joint pain

I would ask whippetmom here https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics...

She is amazing!

Glad you like your Vinnie's!

I am two months out after reconstructive surgery and I feel the same way I feel like my implants are not part of me. They're heavy and I think that I have contracture