feeling in armpit and arm after WLE and axillary clearance

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#1

Hi everyone
I had WLE and axillary clearance on 17th May. Ihad the drain removed ten days after surgery and have been doing the exercises every day. Back to the hosp tomorrow to discuss how the op went and whats next. Previously I had 7 chemos (4 FEC ande 3 TAX). My armpit is very numb and also my underarm is sore.Can anyone tell me please when the numbness passes? Also when can I wear deodrant and how long was it before people drove? Many thanks. Ness xxx

#2

Ness I drove a week after my op out of necessity really. The soreness is probably caused by damage to nerve endings. This will pass after a few weeks. As for numbness, my armpit is still a bit numb and I had my op in January! Not sure about the deodourant thing.
Debs
x

#3

Hi Ness

I am posting a link to the BCC publication ‘Your operation and recovery’ which includes information about what you may expect following breast surgery which may answer some of your queries:

breastcancercare.org.uk/search-results/*/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/100/

Take care
Lucy

#4

Hi Ness
Soreness and numbness improve over time, I’m still numb down the back of my arm 5 years on, so no worries.
Driving is more a concern it isn’t just a matter of how you feel it’s about insurance. I wasn’t allowed to drive until 6 weeks after surgery. So you need to check policy.
Regards Chinook.

#5

Hi, I`m still numb to the touch under my arm after 2yrs but yet still get a lot of pain in the area and also a lot of stiffness in my shoulder. Re:- deoderant, I only need to use it on the other armpit, I presume the sweat glands were either damaged or removed along with all the other stuff, cheerio, love Mags. P.S. do your exercises no matter how much they hurt, it will pay off eventually.

#6

Hi, I`m still numb to the touch under my arm after 2yrs but yet still get a lot of pain in the area and also a lot of stiffness in my shoulder. Re:- deoderant, I only need to use it on the other armpit, I presume the sweat glands were either damaged or removed along with all the other stuff, cheerio, love Mags. P.S. do your exercises no matter how much they hurt, it will pay off eventually.

#7

hi all. i had wle and snb 19th may. my arm is sore and the under arm is sor and it feeld stiff. pleased i had the op tho. i havent put deodrant on only on my other arm. i started driving about a week later. i asked my gp and she said i had to check with the breast nurse which i did and she said it would be okay as i had my wle and snb in my left armpit so i wasnt affected with the seat belts…hope it starts feeling better soon xxx

#8

Hello there, hope your recovery going well. I had the same op over a year ago now, and the lass who has the allotment next to mine 10 years ago - we were comparing numbness only the other day - she still has no feeling in chest area at all, I have feeling everywhere but armpit. The wierdest thing is when the nerves are growing back - you will get some pains but its good pain if you know what I mean. Driving was actually the thing that hurt the most for me cos of armpit area - it didn’t hurt when i was doing it but the day after it was very tight…maybe cos I had some cording. Well done for doing the exercises, they are tedious but so worth it, best Nicola

#9

Hi i had the op for full node removal 14 of them on 9th May, came home same day and drove the next day. A little numb at the back of the arm and no real pain. Havent used deodrant but then never really did because i believed it to be carcinogenic. Lush do a bicarb deodrant which I will buy from them when i feel the healing is complete.
Good luck with your healing.

#10

I had a WLE & SNB on 18 April, the feeling is practically all back now apart from a very small area at the back of my arm that is slightly numb. Re deodorant I’ve been using the Dove stick deodorant and everythings fine. I started to drive again after my appointment with the Surgeon about 10 days after the operation.
Hope that helps.

Eunice x