Forum Discussion

Shaylls's avatar
Shaylls
Member
9 years ago

Surgery side effect

just a question. My surgery was Monday and as each day has passed and the pain subsided, I have an awful and uncomfortable numbness under my arm and in the back of my shoulder and it's now protruding down my arm a little. Is this a normal side effect others have felt ?
side-effects
surgery
  • LadyLace's avatar
    LadyLace
    Member
    9 years ago
    Three days post lumpectomy and auxiliary clearance. Yesterday I noticed tha back of my underarm / shoulder was numb and this morning in the shower discovered highentened sensation with touch on the inside of my arm down to the elbow, almost feels painful. I am doing exercises as directed by physio and have good movement, albeit minimized by Bellovac drain! Thanks for your post @Shaylls (and others) as this sensation seems to be "the norm".  
  • Shaylls's avatar
    Shaylls
    Member
    9 years ago
    Thanks everyone. I don't have a breast care nurse so will just be calling my Dr in the morning about it just to make sure. 

  • iserbrown's avatar
    iserbrown
    Member
    9 years ago
    Numbness for me has finally subsided.  Please talk to your breast care nurse as others have suggested it may be a fluid build up as well as
  • Brenda5's avatar
    Brenda5
    Member
    9 years ago
    I'm like Shaylls, one year on and my underarm is still numb, down the side of my chest and down the inside of the arm is as well. I doubt feeling will ever return for me.
  • melclarity's avatar
    melclarity
    Member
    9 years ago
    @Shaylls

    Completely normal, it will as the other ladies have mentioned improve, though I have to tell you I am 18 months on from surgery and my armpit and outside of the armpit near the arm is still numb, I havent had a full return of feeling due to lymph node removal. But to be honest, its been no big deal, its an odd feeling but doesnt bother me at all or cause any problems. :) Melinda xo
  • Hopes_and_Dream's avatar
    Hopes_and_Dream
    Member
    9 years ago
    The numb areas will gradually lessen.  I had a lot of sensitivity inside my arm from the elbow to under arm.  Felt like really bad sunburn and I could barely stand anything touching it.  All nerve damage from the lymph node removal but good news is that it does eventually disappear.   Weird feeling putting on deodorant or shaving when you can't feel a thing.  Hope you continue to do well :)  Jane  x
  • socoda's avatar
    socoda
    Member
    9 years ago
    Totally normal and it's such a weird feeling. I'm 5 months on and I think I have feeling back but get my underarm waxed and I can't feel the wax or the hair removal - Not too bad really :D Can feel the coldness of deodorant. It takes ages for the nerves to rewire themselves. (If they do). 
  • Share's avatar
    Share
    Member
    9 years ago

    Hi Shaylls, you may have some fluid building up in that area where you had auxiliary node clearance.

    Mine felt quite weird too and as @Afraser said, it does feel like an "out of body experience" for a while.

    I found my experience to be like a "burning sensation" in my armpit initially which was accumulated fluid - just something to look out for & a chat with a breast care nurse or the hospital may ease any concerns. May also need draining.

    With regards to the numbness, that may last a while, unfortunately but nowhere near as uncomfortable as the first week or two.   

  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    9 years ago
    I had lymph nodes removed as well as a mastectomy and my left arm pit belonged to someone else for quite a while! No
    pain but unnerving and surprisingly difficult to get deodorant in the right place. It gradually improved. It's fine now for all practical purposes although not very sensitive to heat or cold.