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• Cate

  

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  May 13, 2013 11:24:27 AM WATime

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  Hi, It will be 5 years June since I had a mastectomy & DIEP Flap reconstruction. However, in the last 6 months I have started suffered pain under & down the inside of my arm, its almost like a burning pain & is only at times most often at night, it seems to be relieved a bit by stretching my arm arbove my head. Has anybody else suffered this????

  49yo mother of 3 grown boys, married 27 years.. 2008 grade 1, 8mm, IDC, sentinal node clear, DCIS along 1 margin despite wider excision. Mastectomy & DIEP Flap, tamoxifen, no chemo..

• Glenys

  

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  May 13, 2013 10:17:51 PM WATime

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  Hi Cate
  
  The cause of the pain under/down your arm is not easily explained considering the time that has elapsed since your surgery. However this could be due to a delayed nerve problem relating to your sentinel lymph node surgery, as a nerve in your armpit (intercostal-brachial nerve) is inevitably damaged by the surgery and is slow to recover from damage (may sustain permanent damage). The 'burning' you describe is very commonly associated with nerve damage.
  
  In addition, scar tissue that develops slowly over years may contract and restrict, causing a tightness which sounds similar to what you describe down your arm. Stretching this out is often the recommended management - again the relief you experience by stretching your arm is in keeping with this.
  
  It certainly is worth having this reviewed by your surgeon to assess if these problems do relate to scar tissue or other factors associated with your surgery, or any other possible causes. Often review with a physiotherapist with expert knowledge in this field is desirable for thorough assessment and stretching exercises/massage to 'stretch out' the scar tissue if this is identified as the likely cause.
  
  This is not uncommon as a longer-term consequence of the surgery you have undergone Cate, but does need accurate assessment and appropriate management.
  
  Please let us know how you go Cate. Hoping for good relief from the discomfort soon!
  
  Love Glenys (Click Breast Care Nurse) xx
  

  The Click Breast Care Nurse 

• Cate

  

  • 3 posts
  July 31, 2013 7:53:56 AM WATime

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  Hi Glenys, I saw my oncologist last week & spoke to her about it. She had a good feel around & said all she could feel was some cording & that would cause pain.

  49yo mother of 3 grown boys, married 27 years.. 2008 grade 1, 8mm, IDC, sentinal node clear, DCIS along 1 margin despite wider excision. Mastectomy & DIEP Flap, tamoxifen, no chemo..

• Glenys

  

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  July 31, 2013 8:09:25 PM WATime

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  Yes Cate, cording is painful! There is some discussion about this in Q&A > PAIN AFTER AXILLARY CLEARANCE. With accurate diagnosis and the right massage therapy hopefully this will ease soon for you. Have you been referred to a physiotherapist for assessment & treatment?
  Really interested to know how things go for you Cate ...
  Loads of hugs xxxx
  
  

  The Click Breast Care Nurse 

• RedDogWA1

  

  • 4 posts
  October 14, 2013 5:20:56 PM WATime

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  I also have been getting a pain under my arm. I had a lumpectomy above the nipple and also two lymph nodes removed in March. Until now it has all been a breeze. I have never had trouble lifting my arm above my head from the start as I was looking after my mum straight after my surgery so had to be able to hang out washing etc so it was never a bother. I finished radiation in the beginning of August so this wasn't a problem either. Over the past week or so though I have been getting pains in the middle edge of my breast as well as in my underarm.
  
  I went to the local GP today and I know this seems funny but I even said to her that this had me a bit worried as everything else has been so easy I am waiting for the whammy. Anyway she had a feel and when she reached one spot under my arm I nearly went through the roof. She seems to think I may have an infection in the and has put me on antibiotics and given me a referral for an ultrasound.
  
  I don't want to question her but how can I have an infection after all this time?
• Glenys

  

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  October 15, 2013 12:15:00 AM WATime

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  Hi Michelle - I've provided information about this in my response to your post in 'Introduce Yourself' - hope this has helped!
  I do feel infection seems less likely to be the cause, but without 'seeing' myself it's very hard to say of course! Some redness is normal after radiation treatment, and other causes seem more likely. Infection (usually cellulitis) is possible though .. please let us know how things go.
  Hugs, Glenys xx
  

  The Click Breast Care Nurse 

• Lea25

  

  • 4 posts
  October 23, 2013 7:22:20 PM WATime

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  Hello Glenys, Sorry I haven,t been in touch I have not had a computor, and now that I have one it is a Windows 8 and I am still getting used to it.   However I have seen my Oncologist and he has put me onTamoxifen I have to go back and see him in Feburary next year, he said that he wants me to be on them for 5 years, so far I have not had any side effects.   Also I don,t have to have Radiotherapy or Kemowhich is a blessing.      I spoke to you some weeks ago after I first had my Mastectomy about a Burning Pain under my arm, the Oncologist could not help me, but one of the Doctors at the Breast Clinic gave me some tablets called GABAPENTIN, and after about 2 weeks that Pain has gone.   What do you know about these tablets?I thought that some of the other ladies that have been having the same problem they may be able to speak to there Doctors about them if they would help.     I still get very tired and have to have Nana naps.    I still can,t come to terms with the loss of my breast, and I can,t get Bras fitted yet as I haven,t  healed enough Question do you feel better when you can get the Prothetisis ?    I do appreciate your help,it is so good to be able to chat with other ladies who have or are going through the same thing. Best wishes. Lea

• Glenys

  

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  October 23, 2013 11:22:33 PM WATime

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  Hi Lea - great to hear from you!
  Yes I do recall your comments about the pain - and yes, the pain under arm is usually due to damage to nerves (nerve pain is often felt as a burning sensation, and may have varying degrees of numbness/altered sensation/pins & needles associated with it). Regular pain medication such as Paracetamol & Ibuprofen are not usually very effective to help this. Gabapentin is a 'nerve' drug also used to treat epilepsy, and now increasingly used to help treat nerve pain. A common side-effect is drowsiness though, so I'm not surprised to hear you still need nana-naps! Many people do tolerate this better over time, so hopefully this will improve for you soon.
  
  I very much agree that others experiencing similar problems could discuss this with their doctors - though each case does need to be assessed to determine possible causes (as discussed in previous comments above and other sections).
  
  The loss of your breast is such a personal experience for each woman. Some find they are not distressed about this, whereas for others this can be very difficult to deal with. Many women do find wearing a properly fitted prosthesis helps them to feel much more comfortable as they are able to feel 'balanced' and more 'in shape' when wearing clothes. Even wearing the temporary 'soft-form' shape in a soft comfortable bra helps in the early days before obtaining a permanent prosthesis. Do you have one of these? (you can obtain one for free via your local Breast Care Nurse or via Cancer Council 131120).
  
  Certainly feeling you are able to look more in shape does help Lea, however if this alone doesn't improve things I would strongly recommend discussing this with the Breast Care Nurse, your GP or other health professional, or phoning the Cancer Council for support. There are people who would be able to help Lea, and chatting to others who really understand what you are feeling often does really help too.
  
  Hoping to hear how things go Lea.
  Love Glenys xxx

  The Click Breast Care Nurse 

• Lea25

  

  • 4 posts
  October 25, 2013 2:20:11 PM WATime

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  Hi Glenys, Thank you so much for your help & advise,I will be seeing a Councillor hopefully on Monday,so will be able to discuss a number of things with her. Reading about other ladies makes me ralize how lucky I am. Love to hear from you all. Lea
• Glenys

  

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  October 25, 2013 7:48:39 PM WATime

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  Excellent plan Lea. You've been through so much this year - the opportunity to really explore how you've been managing and possibly finding ways to deal with everything more comfortably would be tremendous!
  Hoping to hear how things go Lea. Big hugs, G xxx

  The Click Breast Care Nurse 

• Lea25

  

  • 4 posts
  October 30, 2013 6:57:25 PM WATime

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  Hi Glenys,I was able to see my councellor yesterday and have a good talk to her which was very helpful to me, she was very easy to talk to. I am feeling a lot stronger thanks to you and my friends. Many thanks Lea. X
• Glenys

  

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  October 30, 2013 9:02:27 PM WATime

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  Oh wonderful to hear Lea. Please remember we are always here if ever you need to discuss anything - or just want to write things down.
  Sending loads of warm hugs!
  Love G xxx

  The Click Breast Care Nurse