pins and needles with some numbness ? just had surgery

thanks @Blossom1961 I'm currently trying to freeze out my arm pit with a cold pack to help with swelling etc, and pain, along with the pain meds, looks like I wont be loosing the drain tomorrow as my BC nurse says the amount still being collected each day is to high, guess Jeff hangs around for longer (the nurses on the ward told me to name my drain. so he names after my hit man of a radiologist, that guys stab my boob more times than I care to mention  - with all the biopsy's and cannulas in the arm and then the hook wires (all 3 of them. ) hate to think the longest they can make you keep a drain in for? 

@Maree72 I had sharp pains in the back of my arm after my axillary (lymph node) clearance. It felt more like a knife stabbing me than pins and needles. My surgeon told me the pain was very normal as the nerves had been damaged. The numbness is still partially there even five years later. 

@arpie @GinGin thanks for the advice, think I was still quite groggy when I posted, but clearer head today, found some putty I had been given years ago from the physio at out patients back at RPH in Perth when I had my motorbike accident, so squeezing this is helping with the pins and needles. I then re read my fact sheet given to me by the physio at the hospital at pre admission, guess there's just so much to try and take in, this drain is a pain, I can feel it tug at my side, when i move, even though I have my most sexy post op bra on, (haha) praying for the drain to come out on Tuesday when I  go back to the hospital, I'm a bit over carting it around,  

Hi @Maree72,
I had lumpectomy and axillary clearance in Aug. had drains for 3 days( the drains were so painful each time I moved, it literally killed me, that may be why I couldn’t feel any pains from my surgery).Painkillers did not help me at all.

For me, I had numbness (still do today on the lumpectomy site). I didn’t move much (even arm exercises which I was shown to do) when I had the drains as it killed me when I moved. 

Hi @Maree72 

Pins & needles (to an extent) is fairly normal, also numbness.  My under arm felt quite numb for a few months - as some nerves may have been cut/affected & have to 're-route' themselves ..... 

Are you in pain at all?   If not, that is good .... if yes, keep up your pain meds.   Good to keep the arm moving, but not too aggressively ... 

So it is 2 days til you see your surgeon?  Write down all the funny bits you've observed, to let him know ....

BUT ... if it gets worse overnight & really worries you - give the surgery a bell tomorrow & ask for the breast care nurse (Do you have one assigned to you - most will get back to you by message at least, even on weekends xx).  If there is no breast care nurse there, ask to speak with the surgeon (tho most likely a message would be taken for them.)

take care & all the best for Tues. 

Don't forget to record the meeting and have a good buddy with you for physical & emotional support & an extra set of ears xx  ;)