Affects after mastectomy. What's normal?

Hi @Keba, I'm coming up to 11months post mastectomy and am still evolving. The pain that I  experienced  has gone through various phases as healing has taken place.  I too like (Primek) experienced cording although mine was very fine and I found if I didn't massage it would start to thicken.  I also found that weather has played a large part in my pain levels and I find if I get cold the whole left area where the mastectomy  took place and my back both ache at a deep core level until I warm up.  I still think of myself as a work in progress and find I am aware of feeling stronger and fitter as time goes on.  Big hugs to you and know it does improve.  Xx Cath 

Cording, which is scar tissue in a band can seriously impact on movement and comfort. Also hypersensitivity with nerve regeneration can cause pain along under arm and side of affected breast from node removal. I needed lyrica for a very short time for the nerve pain and on the physios recommendation regularly stroked those sensitive areas to decrease its sensitivity and it worked and quickly off the lyrica. The cording was also causing lymph drainage issues under arm and breast area. So i had laser done by my lymphodema physio. ..3 sessions and suddenly I had normal movement and no pain. I was also tight at elbow and wrist. My prophylactic mastectomy with recon on other side had none of these issues as didn't have to touch the nodes.

I'd be speaking to bc nurse or local hospital about lymphodema physio.

Kath x

Hi there keba I was 43 last year when I was diagnosed in May with triple neg, had 8 lymph nodes taken but were all clear, 8 rounds of chemo I still have issues with pain sometimes but its bearable and is helped with the physio etc but didn't have any issues with the skin going black. I still attend physio and pilates etc to help improve the range of motion in the left arm, I had my other boob off in november as well as a prophylaxis after I finished treatment, no regrets there for me but its a very individual decision to make,  no lymph nodes that time but did get a seroma as the dr didn't want to listen to me when I said not to take the drain out too soon, but recovered well from both. I am on the waiting list for bilateral reconstruction.  Are you seeing your surgeon again any time soon??? Or have you seen the physio?? You should still be seeing them after only this short amount of time since your surgery well I was at least, or you could see your gp for a physio referal under a care plan which will give you 5 funded visits if you like, alot of physios just use these for payments so theres no out of pocket expenses, do you have any swelling in your arm??? Margie 

Hi Keba,  you can contact your breast care nurse or oncologist / surgeon at any time if you think the pain levels are not right.  Having said that, yes it does take time for the pain to go away fully.  Are you able to access any phsyio services?  They're not cheap ( not in Sydney anyway) but I found it very helpful, both mentally and physically to do a number of sessions to help with the movement.  Most Importantly you MUST keep stretching,  I'm almost nine months on from double mastectomy - nodes removed on left side.  Also had radio on left side. I still stretch on the left twice a day.  The right side - only sentinel node and no radio, healed much quicker.
You'll find at 8 - 12 weeks things will improve a lot.
Good luck :)

Aine