Hi everyone!
Not quite sure how to start as I’m new on here. But here it goes.
I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer stage 2 in December 2010. I went through 6 cycles of chemo from January-May 2011. I then had a mastectomy with lymphnode clearance on 10th of June. About a week ago I developed a burning pain in my armpit and under my arm. I’m not a moaning kind of person and I can tolerate the stabbing pain and seroma in my chest. But this burning pain under my arm is unbearable. I even have to bandage it up that it won’t rub against my to.
Has anyone had similar experiences and maybe found a way to reduce that pain. Painkiller don’t seam to do anything.
Can anyone help please? Looking forward to hearing from you
Kind regards
Manuela
Hi there
I would contact your bcn + get an appointment asap in case there is some sort of infection. Do you have a follow up appointment booked with your surgeon? It’s probably nothing just inflammation but best to get checked out. I had alot of pain after my mx but it wasn’t really on the surface more deep insidewhere all the nerves and muscle etc had been damaged.
Hope you get it sorted + start to feel alot better soon
tina x
Hi Tina, thanks for your reply. I saw the surgeon yesterday and mentioned the burning pain. But he didn’t really comment on it or asked any questions. But now thinking about it, I probably should have insisted on an answer or something. Will phone the BCN tomorrow.
Thank you, Manuela
Hi.I don’t know whether you are trying bravely to do without any painkillers at all? It does sound rather like nerve pains, perhaps either the BCN team, or your GP would be a help to get this under control. I had Gabapentin for some nasty sensations under my arm which persisted after surgery, and I thought it helped. I don’t need it anymore. I’ve seen several posts on here about burning pains. K x
I think Karis might be right, sounds like nerve pains. Definitely see bcn and GP for prescription, also try wearing a silky top next to your skin, and massaging gently over the scar (nerve pain is referred often). Hope this works
xx
Hi there,
I agree with the other girls about it being nerve pains, I think these kind of pains get slightly worse as the feeling and sensation returns so dont be a hero, Gabapentin was mentioned, the one Im on is Lyrica AKA Pregabalin,it was a Godsend. My pain was like yours, the mastectomy scar wasnt so bad, it was the burning in my armpit that was the worst, it felt like theyd sewn in a piece of splintered wood into my armpit. Its 2 years now and I still have to hold my arm away from my body and sleep with a cushion between my arm & chest, hope your pain goes quicker than mine, keep doing your exercises, theyre really important.Also, don`t wear anything with a rough seam in the armhole or slightly tight.
Love Mags xx
Thanks a lot, ladies. I’ll definitey speak to the BCN tomorrow and also mention the medications you also mentioned. Hope they can give me something to ease this off as it is unbearable.
Thank you so much for your comments and support.
Manuela
Manuela, just to let you know my pains went after a couple of months, I know sometimes they go on longer but I think mostly they stop fairly quickly. Good luck xx
Hi Manuela,
My nerve regenration pains felt like I was being stung by hundreds of wasps in back of arm and nothing I took helped, fortunately they only lasted 10-15 seconds.
I had supersensitive skin develop about a week after node clearance op and couldn’t stand skin-on-skin feeling - felt like my skin had been cheese-grated and ‘burned’ like nothing I’ve ever felt before, it settled somewhat after 3 weeks or so - I used a lot of baby wipes (as couldn’t touch skin and cooled the skin) and applied aqueous cream (cooling effect again) which also helped to stimulate nerves to ‘find’ each other and ‘close the loop’.
I slept with a teddy under my forearm to keep it off the side of my body and sat with arm propped up under cushions to keep it elevated too.
Hope you get some answers and most of all some relief soon
Bev x
Thanks everyone for your comments.
Beverlie, what you are describing is exactly how it feels. I’ve also been using babywipes to cool it down a bit. I’ll check out that cream you mentioned. Did you get that over the counter or on prescription? Also you mentioned that it went away after 3 weeks, wow! At least I’ve got something to look forward to and to work towards.
Thanks a lot, Manuela.
Hi Manuela,
You can get aqueous cream over the counter and is relativley inexpensive and I know I’ll need it once radiotherapy commences, but I got on prescription from the doc as our prescriptions are free once diagnosed with cancer…
After 3 weeks it didn’t miraculously disappear, but became more bearable (and I think my tolerance improved) and the Physio could actually do her job without peeling me off the ceiling. It definately helped me to keeping ‘stroking’ the area with wipes and cream to try to de-sensitise the area, 4 weeks after op I started chemo and not sure if this helped the sensation subside too - now the area at back of arm just generally feels slightly numb (8 weeks post op).
Bev x
Sorry, I forgot to add to speak to your BCN to see if there is anything that you could get from the doc to take to help ease the sensation too, just in case it is slowly driving you insane.
x