Understanding and Treating Nerve Pain after Breast Surgery and Breast Reconstruction
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ค. 2024
- Dr. David Song of Medstar Health in Washington, D.C. discusses nerve pain after breast surgery and breast reconstruction. Patients have reached out to the Foundation to ask what nerve pain is and how it can be eased and treated.
Dr. Song begins with an anatomical description of nerve pathways and the difference between sensory nerves and motor nerves. He continues to describe how these nerves are disrupted during surgery and why patients experience various forms of nerve pain.
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Holy moly I think this is what I have! I have had stingy stabbing pains in my recon since surgery 4 years ago. I went to a consultant who suggested that it was in my mind! 😖 I will be taking this info back to him later this month. Thank you ❤
I would be grateful for you to share this! Thanks 🌸💕
Great analogy and explanation about the nerves!
Dr. Song, you are a brilliant (and generous) teacher. Such clear explanations. Thank you!
I couldn’t agree more and why I invited him to share his expertise.
That is so fascinating!
Very descriptive Dr. Song. Thank you for helping me to understand this numb tingly achy pain i have that shoots down my arm .ive had 47 surgeries on my chest right side due to double mastectomy infections fails ect..
I am glad you found the video helpful and wish you well. You have certainly had some disruption of the nerves after all your surgeries.
Great information! Thank you Dr and Terrie!
You are very welcome.
I had a mastectomy a year ago and I get that burning stabbing sensation under my arm. It’s getting better but now I know what it is. I asked my doctor but he didn’t really know what I was talking about and said nothing was wrong. It’s an occasional hot stabbing uncomfortable feeling. Not really a pain but like someone behind me is poking me with a hot pencil. Thank you for this video. I didn’t get reconstruction.
I am so glad I came across this video! Very helpful! After my breast reconstruction I had a sharp burning pain that usually happens when I stand up. Pain meds did not work, massaging it did!
Samantha, I am very happy to hear this. Dr. Song does such a great job of making nerve pain easy to understand. I hope you continue to heal well.
This is a great one! Thank you!
I’m glad it was of help.
So grateful you this explanation! I will try the massage!
Let me know how it goes. Thanks!
I am 3 wks post op breast aug. This has been such an insightful dialogue. I am grateful for your advice. Thank you.
You are most welcome Bryghton. I am glad this is helpful for you.
This was wonderful!!!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it Danielle! Thanks for watching.
Great information! The pain on my radiated side now makes total sense! I'm going to give massage at try!
Best of luck and I hope it provides some relief for you!
Thank you Dr. Makes sense
Thanks for viewing and stopping by.
Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for visiting the site.
I have been diagnosed with post mastectomy pain syndrome -five years later the pain keeps me up periodically and it is awful. I had a great plastic surgeon and breast surgeon and I am happy with the results from the same hospital. I am happy to hear about these advances. I am going to talk to my surgeon to find out what I can do
Hello. I hope things improve for you soon and that the video was beneficial. Wishing you all the best.
I think I have that fantom pain. Thanks for your explanation 👍
You’re very welcome Gisela.
Thank you..super helpful.. I am 11 months post d flap surgery and 6 months post radiation..have nerve zings and itchin, especially if I am exercising.
I’m very glad this was beneficial.
omgggggg the itching !!!! i am 2 weeks out bilateral Diep ,the inching is on my non radiated side , its bringing me to tears !!!!!
I'm glad you found the channel Lisa and this helps explains why that is happening.
What can you use for the itching
Great video. I'm having a mastectomy on Oct 10th. My Father had his leg amputated and has terrible phantom pain. So I am very familiar with nerve pain. I didn't realize that it can happen after a mastectomy.
What can you do about muscle spasms and contractures
Have you had any type of physical therapy Pat? There is a video on this channel titled, “Physical Therapy Benefits After Breast Reconstruction”. It may help but you’ll have to consult with your healthcare team.
Thank you host for this video..I'm so worried For my mother, she just had her breast surgery and she felt so painful after..I can tell her now what to do
He Gems. I'm sorry your mother is experiencing pain but sometimes the source and how things works brings some bit of comfort. I hope this video does just that. Please send her my best and thank you for being her caregiver.
This video is a gem! It clearly explains a lot of questions and doubts for recovering patients. Liked and subbed! I have a question regarding post op recovery. My wife had a double mastectomy with sentinel procedure (the lymph nodes were not removed since they were clean) and immediate implant procedure. From the first day after the operation she cannot move or control her forearm (the side where the sentinel was done). All other motor functions of the arm are ok. Its only the forearm that she cannot control, retracting or stretching. She cannot even feel the biceps tendon. Its been 2 weeks from the operation. Do you have any information from similar cases regarding this issue? Does it recover with time or does it need medical attention? Surgeon suggested to wait another week to see if there will be any improvement.
Thanks so much for your kind comments. I’m sorry your wife is experiencing these symptoms. I would have an evaluation from a physical therapist if it were me. Ask her surgeon if he will write an Rx for this. I hope things improve soon.
@@DiepCFoundation Thanks for answering and your kind words. We will see a neurologist in a few days. All the best!
My right breast burns after I got implants and still burns after I removed them, I need some pain relief.
I this video is a few years ago, I had a diep flap, and the pain I get is as if I'm getting a heart attack. My left breast cramps up all day everyday and I can't breathe.
Have you done any physical therapy or massage to this area causing you pain and cramping?
I am scheduled for DMX next month. I am wondering if I choose implants and get this PMPS can they go in after the fact and fix the nerve like what he discussed? Or do they do that only in Diep flaps?
Great question Tammy. To my knowledge, they may be able to go in after implant reconstruction but it is a fair question to ask your surgeon. It would require more surgery. The hope is you do not experience PMPS. You may experience some "zingers" after surgery as the nerves wake up but hopefully, like in my case, it will be short-lived and not a persistent issue. Best wishes to you!
I have what I can only describe as a Charlie horse rolling under and along the lower part of my breast. Is this caused from intercostal nerve damage? Also, I use a tens unit on my back shoulder after a failed LD Flap reconstruction surgery. Does the tens unit help or harm the nerves? It seems to give me some relief in that area. Nothing helps the Charlie horses though.
Hi Shirley. I cannot tell you what is causing the pain. An evaluation by a physical therapist or your surgical team may give you some answers. Have you seen the video on the Relivvr Rose on this channel? You used the tens unit. Viewers on this channel can use the discount code in the description of the video if you are inclined to try the Relivvr Rose. It was developed by a microsurgeon who frequently deals with post mastectomy pain for patients. Here is the link to the video: th-cam.com/video/chsyGnXPrdo/w-d-xo.html
This video has been so very helpful. I had nerve pain after my expended was filled to increase its size. The nerve pain was awful. However, after pain meds, it went away. Now, I do not want to continue with the procedure. I wish I had gone flat after surgery.
Judith, have you had further surgery after the fills? If not, you may still consider going flat. That won't necessarily get rid of nerve pain. Any breast surgery can cause nerve pain. You might want to check out the video on aesthetic questions to ask if going flat on this channel.
After my breast augmentation I am experiencing a burning sensation also pins and needles and sometimes numbness throughout my body. Is this normal? It is a very scary feeling also it triggers my anxiety.
Jomy, you should check with the plastic surgeon who did your augmentation for you.
I had preventative diep surgery in 2014, I still get the horrendous internal itch , the backs of my upper arms still have no feeling in them, the right also has allodynia at the top of the bicep. Ive tried massage, do you think gabapentin etc could help those symptoms? Thank you
Hi Sam, this is a great question that you will have to ask your medical team about. Have you reached out to your surgeon about this at all?
@@DiepCFoundation not yet. My original surgeon just dismissed the questions I had about having no feeling in my arms so I just assumed I had to learn to live with it. Its only since seeing people online talking about the itching and pains in other places that ive started to look for information.
Sam Rowe Great job digging for more information and being your own best advocate. I hope things are resolved soon for you.
@@DiepCFoundation thank you. Take care
So glad that now I know why I feel itchy
It certainly isn’t pleasant when it happens but there is peace of mind in knowing why.
My upper forearm hurts on the side I had breast augmentation revision surgery a day ago. Shall I be concerned.
I am so thankful for this video. I have had these symptoms for 27 years following a breast reduction and never knew it is actually a real thing.
Michelle, thank you for your comments and I am glad you watched this video and we are validating it IS a REAL thing. Dr. Song explains it in such easy to understand language.
Yes!! After my breast reduction years ago! I have had multiple surgeries to try and help. Spinal cord stimulator implant to mask the pain and several other things. Which has been removed now. I have been made to feel like it is in my head. Currently experiencing more and more nerve pain. I am so thankful I ran across this video. Thank you!
Hi, a close relative has had steadily increasing PMPS since 2012. This past year it's gotten much worse and in the last few days she's been up all night every night with severe stabbing pain. There are no local doctors that are familiar with Dr. Song's procedures. Is there some physician's resource for Doctors who perform the procedure Dr. Song prescribes so we could find the surgeon closest to us?
I have no idea where you are located James. I'm truly sorry for your close relative. I know of Dr. Song in D. C. and another group in New York. Are any of these near by?
Doctor I have a question for you I was experiencing something in my breast I delivered and after delivering like 1 week after my breast bring a ball a boil and the boy was so painful I couldn't stand it so I went to the doctor and they remove the past that once inside and after the the place could not Hill and I went back again to the doctor and they took me back to the theatre and they close there with stitches and that place got healed got closed and like now two and a half years I started feeling some pain from there but I usually feel feel something like from the simplest that words they put stitches so is this normal or is this having is always like is it normal for breast to get pain after surgery or after removing a boy from the best and put the status from the hold is it possible my name is winny I am from Kenya
Winny, this is a question to ask your healthcare team please. We cannot answer this question for you. Take care.
Double mastectomy in 2015...left side My gosh do I have pmps it's horrible the pain is undesirable it feels like an alien is going to pop out of my ribs...or they are folding on each other....it really is hard because I also have lymphedema in my left arm... so swollen arm pmps make everyday tasks almost impossible (tmi moment even wiping my bottom sends zingers) 😢 I take gabapentin, cymbalta and I also have lidocaine patches for pain...muscle relaxers...and hydro...its a lot to deal with...not sure I could do massage to relieve pain it hurts when you touch it...I also have nerve pain where my port was it sends zingers when it gets bumped...hurt since the day they put it In still hasn't stopped hurting after it was removed I'm a bundle of nerves going in the wrong directions... also over weight after cancer treatments so surgery its really ideal at this point...
Hi Ellen. Nerve pain after breast surgery, especially in the setting of lymphedema is a real challenge for you. I'm sorry to hear about this. Have you watch this video? Since it is age restricted be sure to log into your TH-cam channel to watch. It is a great video explanation of the system this surgeon performs. Information to contact him is at the end of the video here: th-cam.com/video/p-Han9V4Tr4/w-d-xo.html
I would like an appointment with this doctor I have many surgeries in breasts and dealing with pain
Marcela, this is the link to his contact: www.medstarhealth.org/doctor/dr-david-habin-song-md-mba/
I had a double mastectomy in March of 2011. I experienced this nerve issue in my left breast area where I had my radiation treatments and it comes and goes. However yesterday the pain/itching has started on my right side and it's pretty intense. Thank you for this information, a little reassuring that this is normal and there are some options that may help me address this issue.
Bonita, thank you for watching the video and I hope you find some relief. I feel that Dr. Song explains things so well and it makes it a bit easier to understand what's going on. Take care.
Hey you’re my sister I had a double mastectomy and radiation in March 2011. I have that horrible painful itchiness on the side that I had radiation on. Prayers for us all.
I lost sensitivity on both my neepls after having a mastopexy 18 moment ago. I was told there is chances that this could happen, but I was told that the surgeon will do everything to prevent it from happening. Unfortunately it did. It has affected me physiology. I want to know if the procedure the Dr is talking about can help me.
Laura, chances are nerves were damaged or cut during the mastopexy causing the numbness and loss of sensitivity. Nerve reconstruction can be done but it is done in the setting of breast reconstruction where nerves are harvested from the tummy area and transplanted to the breast area for sensation lost with nerves cut during a mastectomy. I would certainly address this with your surgeon to see if their is anything that can be done.
@@DiepCFoundation thanks for the response. I left this message four months ago. As of today, I still have not recovered sensitivity on both breast. My surgeon said there is nothing they can do, that the breast was lefted from a very lower position. That's was the reason why I did not recover sensitivity. I wish there was something I could do about it.
How long after a breast reduction to patients stop feeling the tingling, stinging and burning sensation around their incision caused by nerve regeneration ?
Jade, it is difficult to give you a time frame as each person will heal differently. Nerves grow at 1mm/day. The area that is affected by each patient will determine where the tingling and stinging will be. Bottom line, it could happen a few weeks up to months afterwards. Hope this helps.
@@DiepCFoundation Thank you ❤️
I had a breast reduction 20 years ago. I have just started getting pains in my left breast only, that sent me to the ER thinking it was heart related. It is short bursts of pain, all around my breast, and into my left arm. Could it be possible that the nerve is just now flaring up ????
I honestly have no idea but I hope you got some relief or answers for this condition.
I had a double mastectomy and radiation 11 years ago, and the side I had radiated is now causing me so much aching and itchiness. But when I rub it, it seems to flare it up more…anyone?! it’s freaking me out and I just want to get my implant out. I already had a capsular contracture after my surgery and I’m wondering if that’s the problem. It’s not hard it just hurts and itches.
What about breast nerve pain but never had surgery, all tests are clear
Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for you Elizabeth, especially if you've never had surgery. Could it be from an injury? I really don't know. You would need further evaluation to assess and understand the origin of this. I hope you do find out.
I’m having stabbing pain in the incision site 5 month after bilateral mastectomy. It’s worse when the weather is bad.
Nonya, check out this video also. th-cam.com/video/CZzEa-sNC5A/w-d-xo.html
@@DiepCFoundation Thank you! Will do!
I had breast augmentation many years ago. My nipple was painful all the time. I had the implants removed after 3 years. The pain is still there.
I'm sorry to hear this Aimee. Have you been back to your surgeon or primary care to report the problem?
I have the same issue have you been able to resolve the pain?
@@Stephnieparke No, it is still very painful. Sometimes during the day the pain shoots through my breast. I don't yell out but it is abnormal for sure. I did not have the pain before augmentation. I think it is nerve damage.
@@DiepCFoundation I did go back for a follow up. The doctor said it was a healing process and have patience. I went back again after a year and he thought it was a healing process. By 3 years I had him remove the implant thinking the pain would subside. It is still with me 20+ years later!
How long will that breast sensation the zingers last after the breast reduction without implants
Hilda, there is really no way of knowing as this will vary from individual to individual. The zingers lasted about a week off and on about 2 weeks after my mastectomy. Unfortunately, I still get the random "phantom itching" even 8 years out. It happens so infrequently. Maybe 2-3 times/year and only last 24-48 hours. Nerves regenerate for a long period of time. In your case, I'm not sure how long they would last.