It has now been 11 months after mastectomy with varying problems the latest one being a very painful arm and tingling from the tips of my fingers to my elbow, it is driving me crazy.
My own doc. thinks its damaged nerves whereas the surgeon (not the one who did the op) thinks its muscle related.
Has anyone else had this
Thx
Hello MRK3, sorry for quick reply as just going to work but yes i had the same and GP gave me Amitriptyline for the nerve pain and it's really worked for me and i sleep well at night too. I tried Physio prior to that but it just aggravated it. I swim a few times a week too. Hope you get some relief soon! Xxx
thanks mrsorangecat, I am taking pregabaline and tramadol, they help the pain but not the tingling. I am also waiting to see a physio and have a scan.
It is good that you are getting a good nights sleep very important.
Maggie xxx
Sorry cant help but i remember they did go on about cording in the arm...relieved by physio. I get irritating itching still along with a little stiffness but had no node clearance, arm is ok. The itch is more side to back away from the surgical site. Perhaps physio could help you.
Hi .. your not alone with this problem i too get the same , im 13 months post mastectomy and nearly since day 1 from my operation Iv had alot of pain in my arm , my Dr too says its nerve damage , I'm now on two types of tables for this , they do help alot although I still get the pain from time to time .. I'm now suffering from what my Dr thinks is a seroma , hopefully get this sorted next week when I'm back in my breast clinic .. hope this helps for you hun .. xxx
Hi Teresajrp this sounds terrible but it makes me feel not alone when someone else has the same thing, do you have tingling like me? I also take pregabalin and tramadol helps the pain but not the tingling.
What is a seroma? I hope it is nothing serious and gets sorted out soon.
Maggie xxx
Hi MRK-3, I’ve had various issues with my arm movement and pins and needles, physio made it worse, but swimming seemed to improve it, I also went back to doing the exercises they gave me to do after the operation.
Hope this helps you feel a bit better, I’m now 2 years since op and everything has settled down nicely.xx
Thanks Parker yes it does make me feel a bit better knowing I am not alone with this. xxx
Perhaps it is like mine. My doctors call it chemo- induced peripheral neuropathy. There has been a lot of BC in my family, they all lived and none of them had any of these issues and in my support group none of them have either. My onc provided nothing to stop it and didn't give pain pills.
For over two years my L hand would suddenly hurt and cramp and freeze into a painful contraction. They tell me this is from neuropothy, which means nerve damage. It is possible to have the nerve damage and something in the musles too. MY gp wanted me to get the test. The doctor that did the test said he coudn't get any readings due to swelling. I will get it redone for the muscle part of it.
See if you can get a nerve conduction test, then they will know if it is muscle or nerves or both. I am three years post chemo and have always worked out, so I am surprised I still have.Since chemo I have received a least 10 different dx on various body wide problems caused from massive chemo.
Recurrent DCIS
Tamoxifen & hot flushes 
