I wasn’t expecting to have to have all my lymph nodes removed as the needle biopsy and ultrasound showed the first one to be clear.
Obviously it was necessary but it came as a big shock and I have found the side effects harder to deal with than the surgery. In particular the numbness in the armpit and down the back of the arm.
Can anyone tell me if this is likely to improve, by how much and how long it might take?
Thanks.
Maggie x
I myself had surgery in Sepember and I’m having the same sensations you are. A physiotherapist told me that the numbness will decrease over time and improvements may go on for as long as a year. After that it’s more or less considererd a state.
My numbness has in fact improved so I stay hopefull. How long ago was your surgery?
Hi Maggie.
I had node clearance under my arm 2 months ago and had all the numbness you describe. I still have most of it but it is improving slowly. When I asked my consultant about it he said it was likely to improve but sometimes people are left with permanent numbness. I also have some numbness around the scar where he did the WLE and it also feels lumpy.
Best wishes
Sheila x
Brewster,
If the nerve pain continues consider telling your GP and asking if s/he can suggest anything. I took Amytripyline for a while after my op since bizarrely nerve pain popped out in my back. It does make you sleep a lot at night and seemed to help a lot over a few weeks. Then stopped taking it and thankfully pain seemed to stay away, until I wrestled with a shopping trolley too soon!
Thinking of you all going through this stage…
Seabreeze
I had lymph node clearance just over a month ago, and still have a lot of pain. The emu oil has helped with the numbness and nerve symptoms I think, but not the pain which goes from my shoulder, under my arm and down to my wrist. I went to the GP about the pain as I haven’t seen a surgeon since the op (moved house) and he prescribed ibuprofen and thrush cream! Hopefully I will get a referral to a breast unit soon and find out what exactly is going on, and what can be done if it is lymphodema.
I definitely agree that the lymph node surgery is far more difficult to cope with than the breast op.
Thanks for replies. Reassuring to know that big op should be ok compared to node op. The nerve pain … And sensation/ numbness under an is slowly driving me nuts! Good to know the main op should not be as bad as this ??
Just reading this thread - I had my lymph nodes out Thursday, and without dought I have found this much harder than the breast op. I hate the drain,and I really hate the thought of lymphoma. It was my left side and I am left handed, I am terrified of cutting it etc. why has this op got me the most?
Ladies. I have to under go this operation on 24 Feb and I am dreading it then chemo… This is my second mx one in 2011 and then Nov. So hard to deal with. I’m just 40 with a 4 n 5 yr old. Helene x
Hi. I had mastectomy and 11 lymph nodes removed on nov 12th 2014 & had terrible burning pain in my chest and under and down my arm. I had cording down my arm as well. Started with physio after a few weeks and she has worked miracles. Couldn’t lift my arm at all but now can stretch right up. My physio & breast nurse got together about the burning pain and told me to get Amitriptyline 10mg from my doctor. They took about 2 weeks to kick in but the pain has gone. I still have some numbness above my elbow up my arm and round my back but can put up with it now. Hope you soon feel better. I honestly never thought I would but I promise you it will come. Lol. X