Phantom Itching 2 years post reconstruction

For months after BMX/recon I had phantom itching... of my right nipple. Said nipple, of course, was removed at the time of surgery. Now how do you scratch an itch on a body part that isn't there anymore? In time the itching went away, now, 9+ years later it still comes back once in a while. It's really maddening.

I had dry needling by a physical therapist. She worked on the muscles and nerves affecting the itching areas. I continue the at home treatments she taught me for a few times each week. The itching is gone. I still have some numbness.

If interested you will need an open minded PT. A few who I asked just did not understand.

My insurance did not pay. It was $30 on top of my copay.

Coach Vicky

Welcome, Amyrae28! That is certainly an innovative way to deal with it - we do what we have to do!

The Mods

I had a mastectomy and tram flap reconstruction in June 2007. One year later, had to have the bottom half of the reconstruction removed because of necrosis. The surgeon performed a latissimus dorsi reconstruction to replace the dead tissue. I had the tingling and itching for at least a year in my breast which the surgeon did say was nerves regenerating and would last about one year. Over time, it lessened and just about disappeared. My shoulder blade area where the latissimus was affected still drives me crazy at times and no amount of scratching it helps but my husband knows "the spot" and massages it and it helps a bit. Until a day or two ago, the breast hadn't bothered me for a very long time then all of a sudden it itches inside (behind the nipple, which was removed and reconstructed with abdominal tissue) so badly and is driving me crazy. I can't believe it has returned after so long. I read some of the other comments and am wondering about 2 things. I have increased my daily dose of Vitamin C due to COVID 19 as an ICU nurse told me this was a good idea. (I have not had COVID, this was more hoping to boost my immune system should I get it.) Also, probably like the rest of the world, I am incredibly stressed over COVID, the social unrest, working at home, etc. Other comments said stress seemed to cause more itching for them. I will reduce my Vitamin C intake and do some things to try and reduce my stress level but like the others in this thread, welcome any suggestions or solutions you have found worked. I may consider acupuncture if this persists. I went for the entire time I was on Tamoxifen to reduce side effects and it was very helpful so I am a big fan of acupuncture. Thank you.

Bumping this old thread because I had my first "phantom itching" in the middle of the night last night. What a horrible feeling to not be able to scratch!! (Well, I did scratch but the numb skin didn't feel it.) Has anyone come up with a solution for this?

I'm 4 months out from a single mastectomy and ALND.

The itching is from nerves that got over stimulated. I recognized it because I've had a failed neuroma surgery and got this over the counter creme for it--Capsaicin . (had only one node removed) and it itched most at night. I got rid of my itching after 2 months in just 3 days. A friend of mine was complaining about it. But she'd had the surgery many years ago. I had her get the creme, apply it when the itching starts, usually 1-2 times/day. She said in a short time it has taken the bite out of the under arm itch. It is still there – but the PAIN underneath has calmed. I encouraged her to now stop using it for a few weeks, then restart. The idea of the Capsaicin (the ingredients in hot peppers), is it overwhelms and disorientates the nerves with a greater stimuli. Being she's had it so long,yet gotten some good results in a short time, she might need to get the nerves to adjust to this new baseline for a while, then overwhelm them again.

Try it, and I really would like to know people's experiences with it. Apply with a cotton ball or something besides your fingers. Because if you wash after putting on your hands, it stays and then you touch your eyes, etc. and you will feel it.