DIEP pain

Ask our Nurses your questions
1

Hi, I had my DIEP 10 months ago (single mastectomy and immediate DIEP reconstruction). All went well and all is healed. I had 15 radiotherapy sessions in May. Because of rib pain, I had a nuclear bone scan to check for bone mets. All was clear.

The rib pain is still there, but I’ve come to realise that it isn’t the ribs, it’s the skin about 2cm above the end of the scar. I am having phase 2 operation in 3 weeks. I keep mentioning it but my dr just says it’s just scar tissue.

Is it normal to still have pain 10 months on? Should I be insisting that they look at it? I have mammogram soon on good side.. Will they ultrasound the painful area?

Thank you

2

Hi. I have had a similar pain since just after diep a year ago. Mine is cording which most people get under the arm. Specialist physio massage helped but I still get regular pain from it.

Ask the surgeon or the specialist nurse for a specialist physio referral. I hope that helps xx

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3

Thank you. May I ask @shirlz if you can feel a cord? I can’t feel anything but soft flesh. Hope you get your issue resolved soon.

4

Hi bluesatsuma,

Thanks for posting. It is understandable that you have questions about the pain you are experiencing in the skin above your DIEP scar 10 months after your operation and radiotherapy. Everybody recovers from treatment at a different rate. For most people discomfort and pain subsides within a few weeks or months of treatment. However for some people it can persist, and we know this can cause anxiety and affect quality of life.

Ongoing (chronic) or persistent pain may be caused by damage to the nerves or cording as @shirlz mentions. It can also be due to scar tissue as your doctor says. There are different ways of controlling this pain which are described in the link.

It is reassuring that your bone scan was clear, but as the pain is not improving it is important to let your breast care nurse or treatment team know again how much this impacting you. They can assess you and decide whether any further scans are required. They can also offer advice on strategies that can help to manage the pain and may refer you to an NHS pain clinic or a pain management programme if appropriate.

We offer a range of free supportive services which you may be interested in. They include face to face and online courses and events.

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Best wishes,

Katy

Breast Care Nurse

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