After two lumpectomies in November which did not give clear margins I had a double mastectomy on 16th December. My nodes were clear. Initially I was recovering well with minimum use of painkillers. In the last week however, the chest area above my scars (which are still numb) has been very sore. It feels like bad sunburn and even the softest of clothes brushing it is painful. Is this something others have experienced and will it go away eventually?
I had a similar experience although the worst area for me, for some strange reason, was down the back of my arm. It wasn’t so bad if I touched it with a firm pressure but any light touches like clothes brushing against it, was absolutely horrible. My physio. said that it was all to do with damage to the nerves.
It took qute a while but it did eventually settle down.
I’ve not had a mastectomy but I had a WLE and ANC on Christmas Eve and I’ve got numb areas and others with the sunburn pain, mostly on the inner side and back of my upper arm. It’s driving me absolutely potty and it’s really restricting my movement. I saw my consultant on Friday for a post-op check and as I suspected it’s due to the nerves that they’ve disrupted or damaged during the surgery trying to sort themselves out so the nerve endings go a bit bonkers.
I’ve read elsewhere that rubbing/brushing/massaging the area (if you can bear it!) can help to desensitise the nerves, and I’ve found that it does help although only for a short time.
I finally had my drain out yesterday so I’ve got less area covered with dressings but they’ve left sticky patches which stick to the “sunburnt” area and hurt like h*ll when I move. When they’re not itching due to my slight allergic reaction to the sticky stuff that is…
And then of course there’s the build up of fluid that I think I’m getting around the drain site…
Please will someone take me back a few weeks to before I found the lump and give me my real, perfectly healthy body back? Grump, grump, moan, harumph.
Jane xxx
Hi yamslass, I wondered how you were getting on? I had bilateral mx on 8 March, and have exactly the sensation/pain you describe along and either side of my scars. It feels like someone inside my skin poking my chest with handfuls of straw! It’s bearable, but is very sensitive to clothing. I guessed it was something to do with nerve regeneration, but I also have a lot of post-op swelling and bruising still, and had a small seroma drained yesterday (helped a bit).
Hope yours is better, Lynne xx
Well I’ve just tried a close-fitting soft cami having read this thread and the pains have almost gone, fantastic!
Hi Bubbletrouble,
I am very happy to report that the sensitivity gradually disappeared after a few weeks. While it was bad I found that close fitting underwear made of satin or silk helped a lot.
Thanks Yamslass, glad yours improved. I’m trying the stroking thing Jane, it’s quite a weird feeling and a bit yeuchy though it does seem to help for a bit. I hope yours improves hunny, it does get you down after a while. My scars are rock hard at the moment, and I’m desperate to use the Bio Oil my friend gave me but have been told not to use it until the scabby bits have all gone…I can feel everything stretching like elastic that’s about to snap on one side when I do my exercises, so I’m being very gentle and trying to hold them to stretch it.
A close-fitting soft cotton vest helped for a few hours, but seems to have stopped working today. I might try the silk/satin underwear next, how decadent! Lynne xx
Hi again Bubbletrouble
I started with the Bio Oil before all the scabby bits had gone. I just missed out the worst bits. I also used the Bio Oil all over my upper chest especially on the knotty hard muscley bits above my actual scars. I felt that the massaging might stimulate the nerves and get them all joined up and settled. That sounds very unmedical and probably not at all corect but as I said things gradually settled down until one day I realised that the sensitivity had gone.
Glad you are also doing your stretching exercises.
Hi yamslass, used the oil around the scar and felt much better. Thanks for your advice Xx
Hi everyone. I had a mastectomy in April and am currently having radiotherapy. Can someone please tell me if the discomfort and tightness across my chest and scar area will eventually go away. I have been doing the exercises regularly and although I have full mobility in my arm, the prickly pins and needles and tightness are driving me mad. Thanks for any comments.