Hi everyone, just curious to find out how everyone was after their sentinel lymph node removal. 10 days ago I had a lumpsectomy and the sentinel node removed. Obviously at first I was a bit tender then by day 4 things started to calm down. Day 6 I had it checked over and was told it was looking good. Well the following day the pain started, had that for 2 days then yesterday I woke up feeling so much better, so thought great stuff we’re on the mend, well today I’ve woken up with it being painful again but not as bad as the days before, has anyone else experienced this?
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Hi 2209
The lymph node site can be much worse than lumpectomy area. I dont know why. I had lumpectomy 2 years ago and only had painkillers due to pain in underarm. For me, this was uncomfortable for several weeks and I still get uncomfortable after heavy lifting. I would encourage you to keep doing the exercises to prevent your arm and shoulder stiffening up.
Hope you are doing okay otherwise x
Hi there !
I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node removal on 5th February 2024 i know different to your pain…but I had awful like sunburn pain under arm from armpit to elbow… was still doing exercises but so painful when skin is touched. Against body or by material Or I moved my arm . Saw breast nurse and doctor who said probably nerve damage in op…He prescribed NEFOPAM as paracetamol and ibropfem but did not initially help.
I posted this on macmillan forum and had lots of helpful suggestions…
Massage area gently with bio oil
Wear soft bra all the time
Cushion under arm pit
It should settle down eventually but if concerned see your BCN.
Take Care 
Sending positive vibes hope pain eases soon x
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@poorlyboob
Hi there thank you for your reply, like you I am only on painkillers for the arm, if it wasn’t for that I would be great as the breast doesn’t hurt at all and I’m big busted. I’m doing the exercises but sometimes have to stop if I feel it’s hurting, fingers crossed it starts to ease soon. X
@loopylou1
Hi there thank you for your reply.
Like you I have exactly the same pain running from my armpit to half way to my elbow, but I forgot to mention it in my message. There’s times when I feel like someone has sliced a piece of my skin off, at first I thought I was having a reaction to my dressing then realised it wasn’t that after placing a gauze over the dressing. Think I might take a trip to my GP as Paracetamol are not helping much.
My life saver is my cushion, I wouldn’t be without it, fingers crossed it solves itself soon x
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I overdid it washing my hair after a couple of weeks (must have been a bit too vigorous, ha!) and felt a swelling move to under my armpit which was hideously uncomfortable. Couldn’t put my hands over my head again and could have kicked myself for being too confident I was all fixed! It did settle, though, after a couple of days. Like others I also had the sandpaper/carpet burn type feeling which it seems is pretty common. Everything had all sorted itself by the time I went for my results four weeks after surgery and haven’t had any issues since.
Hope everything eases for you soon. x
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Just had a shower and I can feel a lump under my armpit so that’s what could be causing the pain, so it’s definitely doctor’s tomorrow.
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I had my sentinel node plus 1 removed a week ago and it’s burning now. I thought it might have been due to deodorant it makes sense hearing others say similar. Thanks for posting.
I had no under arm incision and the arm exercises were fine so I stopped doing them very much, but it sounds like I might need to carry them on just in case?
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I noticed that after the dr did their feeling around it was the pressure of them doing that, that caused added pains in the surgical areas. Careful dry brushing helped me, careful to stay away from the actual surgical points but properly brushing from wrist to the breast then towards the neck (remember to do a neck to heart brush before doing the arem/breast brush) really helped with cording, with the stagnant lymph, swelling, lymphoma, as well the breast area itself (under breast area really felt good).
I told my dr I did that about 3 days after surgery and every 2-3 days after and the surgeon was encouraging me to keep doing it. My cording was very minor I believe because of doing this too. I also was up and around back to doing normL things and the flexibility was easier too. Worked great for me, maybe might help you.
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Hi there,
Thought I’d add to this as I’m now 9 days post op (same op).
I experienced the sunburn type sting too and just the last couple of days an odd ache in forearm area - but it only lasts a minute ‘ish then disappears.
I’ve also still got a funny lump there about the size of a walnut.
On Wed I had wound check and dressings removed. I asked about the lump etc:
The lump in my case is perfectly normal and it will be absorbed by my body over time. It happens a lot apparently.
So, I hope that puts your mind at rest 
The other odd burning/aching is pretty common too.
I think, as you can see on here, most of us would say that the lymph wound is definitely more tender/troublesome than the tumour wound but it does get better for the vast majority of us.
Keep doing your gentle exercises though. They really do help. Don’t stiffen up.
My CN suggested taking a pain med 30 mins before morn stretches and it does sort of get you through when it’s a horror show! 
I’m 9 days post op now. Dressings off was a blessed relief on that wound. It’s much easier to move without it.
It’s better every day.
All the best to you
Good luck
Take care
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Hi there ladies thank you all for your replies and advice. I went to see my GP and she said everything looked ok and wasn’t worried about the lump as it didn’t hurt to press and was soft. Yesterday I didn’t have to much burning pain so hopefully it stays that way. We’ll get through it we’re strong.
All the best to you all xx
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Hi yes exactly the same! Had lumpectomy and sentinel node removal 4 July felt really ok until 14 July when pain started, I am told it’s all the nerves knitting back together. I’ve not had much bruising, a bit swollen, but then sharp electric shock type pains. Today they have gone 
still a wee bit swollen, my steri strips came off themselves yesterday and it feels so much better. I think they weee actually pulling on my breast and the tape was irritating too.
I haven’t been wearing a bra unless going out as even though I got a good post op bra I found it rubbed because of the swelling. It will get better. Good luck
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Thank you
Just another question for everyone, when were you all back to normal activities, like washing the dishes, loading the washing machine, bending over in the shower for cleaning feet, using your affected arm for cleaning your body, making the beds, cleaning the bathrooms etc etc. I know it sounds silly but I’m really not sure.
About 2-3 weeks till I resumed normal avtivities and was back in the gym doing rowing machine. Do bear in mind all of you that it can flare up again and get wtorse after radiotherapy - though I had 19 fractions, so quite a lot. Didn’t get cording or nerve effects (tingling down arm mainly) or oedema until 3-4 months after radiotherapy. You need to restart and do arm exercises after radiotherapy. I dropped out of the gym for 2 weeks over the xmas period and it went downhill from there, so you need to keep on it. The cords can be broken through deep massage and stretching, the breast oedema improves with massage but tends to come back and always be there. Though a chance of late effects of radiotherapy is mentioned as a possible occurance, its not really focused on which can make it a surprise when it happens. I read a statistic of about 27% experience it - thats quite a high incidence to my mind to be brushed under the carpet.
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Wow that’s amazing being back in the gym doing the rowing machine within 3 wks, just the thought of it makes my arm hurt haha.
Thanks for your advice about keeping up with the exercises, I shall keep doing them everyday. My best friend had cording and she said it was so painful, glad you got yours sorted out.
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Hi everyone, I’m on day 8 after lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node removal and its getting hard! I am a printmaker and sketch, knit, sew etc all the time - but have been told I can’t do any of these because they are too repetitive. I am a creative and my mental health is suffering because of this (which sounds so rubbish!) - any other creatives out there who have been through this and can let me know when they were able to get back to normal?
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It’s not rubbish at all we have things we need to get back to which are our coping mechanisms . The most important thing for you right now as regards activity is to keep up with the exercises as appropriate for the stage you are at and also not to overdo things - speaking from experience if you do it will knock you back. I would suggest having a chat with the Nurses on the helpline about it because it’s all about building up to normal activity and for you a lot of crafting is normal - it might be possible for you to start doing a few minutes of something that you can pick up and put down easily - it’s not the same as being able to completely immerse yourself in a creative project but it’s a start . Its incredibly frustrating I know - I felt the same though for me it was swimming and Yoga that I most needed to get back to . At times I listened to Headspace which I found helpful - hang in there it does get better I promise .xx
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Thank you for getting back to me, it is all very useful. I think I must have just hit a low - having spent the end of August planning me Autumn - creativewise with the run up to christmas, and then suddenly climbing on this unexpected crazy rollercoaster! Hugs to all on the rollercoaster with me!
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Ah yes - the busiest time of year for you normally and the right run up to Christmas can be invaluable as well for getting into the festive spirit - no wonder you are feeling so out of sorts. Hope you feel better soon and if you need to immerse yourself in something to the point of oblivion then I can recommend audiobooks - I had two retinal vein occlusions a few years ago and I was quite debilitated with that and I couldn’t read for a while and honestly audio books kept me sane . Xx
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