Pain with Expanders

Options
BAP10
BAP10 Member Posts: 10
edited June 2020 in Breast Reconstruction

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has had nerve blocking done and did it work and can you recommend a Dr in NYC? Or anything else to help with the pain of post surgery and expanders.

It's been 10 weeks (3/05/20)since my bilateral mastectomy and I am still in pain and very uncomfortable.

I am doing PT/OT, yoga and pilates and while my mobility is much better my pain is not. I have now confirmed with several patients that some people have pain with the expanders up until they have their final reconstructive surgery, which for me is Feb/March 2021 because I have to go for radiation.

I think I was mentally putting up with the pain, tightness and uncomfortable feeling because the plastic surgeon said sometimes it takes 10 weeks to start to feel better. And as I enter my 11th week I am still feeling terrible and it is mentally getting to me and wearing me down.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Floral
    Floral Member Posts: 41
    edited June 2020

    I think I would make an appointment with my surgeon or plastic surgeon or both to find out why I was in this much pain. I get about constant pain wearing you down, it surely does. I'm not sure it's completely normal to have that much pain 10 weeks from surgery. Have you done PT? I had a very easy time of surgery and the expanders (annoying at times, but not a problem for me), but the tightness did get on my nerves. PT gave me some simple exercises to stretch the area out and that plus it's been 4 months now for me have done a lot for the tightness. Make no mistake, I do have a number odd feelings, numbness, fleeting pain, and just plain weird sensations, but nothing that really gets to me. I will be glad when I get the TEs removed, they are HARD, but nothing difficult to handle.

    If I were in pain that was getting me down I'd be on that phone for help. YMMV

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited June 2020

    Are you talking about pain from the TEs? Then yes, it's common to have pain for all the months you are stretching the skin. My PS believed in 6 months between BMX and exchange as long as there were no other problems. Check out the 'exchange' thread. If they are filling to full too fast, the pain will be worse. Get them so slow down. And you can have some of the volume taken out so your body will adjust more slowly.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BAP10
    BAP10 Member Posts: 10
    edited June 2020

    Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately some people as I have now found out do have pain with the expanders the entire time until it is switched out for the implants. I have being doing PT/OT for 4 weeks now, 4 days a week and while the use of my arms etc are back to normal it doesn’t do much for the pain. So I have been keeping the pain under control with a pain management Dr. When I first reached out I thought that there was something wrong with me but everyone experiences this very differently. I wanted to reply back with a thorough answer so that my experience can help others. Thanks again for taking the time to respond back.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • allyncics
    allyncics Member Posts: 4
    edited June 2020

    Hi BAP10,

    I had expanders before my reconstruction what I suggest is get a sports bra to wear after each time the expander is filled. Continue to wear the sports bra like a bra. The pain is not that great I know. The best thing I can tell you is ask your doctor for a pain reliever or take Tylenol. The pain does subside at some point btn each expansion. Feel free to ask me any questions I had the expanders angry construction 10 years ago. I’ve been in remission 10 years.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories