Since my single sided mastectomy and lymph clearance (almost 2 weeks) the back of my arm (armpit to elbow) is a little numb and very sensitive (like a bad sunburn) so even clothing brushing it is very uncomfortable bordering on painful. Painkillers are helping with surgical wound but nothing seems to be helping this discomfort. Can you tell me what is causing this and when it might resolve?
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This is nerve damage from the axillary clearance. It is very common and will most likely improve. I had my operation in the middle of November last year. Initially I had numbness elbow to shoulder all the way around the arm front and back. I also had skin hypersensitivity on the back of my arm exactly as you describe. As it was winter I needed to wear jumpers and found they rubbed and, yes, it felt exactly like sunburn. I found that wearing a long sleeved t shirt that fitted fairly close to my arm made a huge difference. I also had discomfort on the top of my inner arm, particularly in bed. This was helped by wearing a crop top in bed.
Now I have some numbness in one patch in the middle of the back of my arm, and a bit in the axilla. I don’t notice it at all and the remainder of the arm feels normal. I do have some skin hypersensitivity off and on in the same patch. I found when it was very hot and i was wearing sleeveless tops the inner arm was a bit sensitive too.
Im sure that yours will improve. I think its impossible to say how much but i think also that the brain gets used to it and doesn’t register it any more. It was very uncomfortable initially and 2 weeks post op was certainly when it was bad for me. Painkillers made no difference so when I finally realise that I concentrated on trying different clothes, and supported the arm on a pillow in bed and when sitting in the sofa.
Hope you feel better soon xx
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thank you for your reply, it helps understand what is going on. I thought it was maybe nerve damage but nobody had mentioned this feeling to me so wasn’t totally sure. Ive got quite a bit of numbness but the hypersensitive skin is all day every day and is exhausting. I’m sitting at the moment with a hairdryer on my as yet unhealed scar under my arm and an ice pack on the back of my arm. Amazing where we will go for relief. I’ll try your tips on clothing and hope it slowly improves. Many thanks for taking the time to answer.
Hello schwartzwald,
Thanks for posting.
It’s understandable that you would like to know what is causing the numb and sensitive sensations you have noticed on the back of your arm following your mastectomy and lymph node clearance two weeks ago.
Immediately after surgery for breast cancer and in the weeks that follow, it’s common to feel some pain and discomfort. As @pat says it is common to experience different sensations such as a burning feeling and numbness in the scar area, and down and around the back of the arm. These sensations are usually due to nerve pain, and as @pat says as healing takes place and the nerves recover, these effects usually subside for most people within a few months.
Many people find that this improves significantly in the first few weeks but do speak to your breast care nurse, treatment team or GP if it continues to be as uncomfortable as you describe. As you and @pat say, usual painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen do not work well for nerve pain but there are other medications that work in different ways that can be very effective.
We offer a range of free supportive services for anyone who has had a diagnosis of breast cancer which you may be interested in. They include face to face and online courses and events.
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Mandy
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