Nervy pain in arm after sentinel node biopsy

[PaperbackWrighter]

10 days on from my lumpectomy for breast cancer and the healing on the breast wound is going great. The armpit wound from the sentinel node biopsy still hurts. Or more like - the affected arm, shoulder and hand often do. A kind of nervy pain is best way to describe it. Also sore to clean or put deodorant in the affected armpit - not so sore I can't do it. I'm just taking paracetamol (can't take inbuprofen or other NSAIDs). Doing my exercises. Is this normal?!

Sorry you’re going through this too OP.

I had my first lumpectomy 4 weeks ago along with node biopsy. I wasn’t allowed to wash or to wear deo for the first ten days but recall the wound being sore when it was warm and I perspired. It’s still a little sore now and as soon as the coverings were off I’ve been carefully moisturising it. Yes I was sore applying deo and still need to wash carefully as it heals.

I raised that my fingers were still a bit tingly at my two week review and was told that was normal. 4 weeks in it’s much better but still a bit fizzy - particularly if I’m busy and using it (altho still being very careful).

had a second lumpectomy 3 weeks in to get clearer margins but that didn’t affect the node scar, thankfully.

started the exercises from day 1 and still doing them.

keep going. Wishing you all the best for your results. Talk to your breast nurse if you’re concerned about the hand feelings - give them a call as they will be supportive.

Thanks @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic I recognise your name from other threads recently. Sorry you are also in this situation, and that you had to go back for a clearer margin. I'm dreading being told that as I'm near phobic about general anaesthetic and don't relish the experience again. (Also, the fact that I work for myself and have a piece of work starting end of August that I don't want to miss out on due to second op. BC really is not considerate of our plans is it?!) But I guess like you say at least it won't affect the SLN armpit scar.

I saw the nurse a week after my op to check the wound and she said the nerve pain stuff was all normal. But I might ring after the weekend.

Hope you are doing well and glad to hear you are healing 🤗

Didn't want to read and run. So sorry you are going through this. You will get there but the arm pain and numbness is normal. I still have mine to some extent 12 months later. Try not to stress about it and do gentle exercise, but if at any point you are worried , do contact the breast care nurses. They are great at their job and honestly that's what they are there for. Best of luck xx

I had the same and also had some cording pain in my armpit and down my arm/hand. The exercises helped as did seeing a physio privately as was seeing him for my other shoulder. It did feel much better after a few weeks but I'm now 10 days post radiotherapy and sore again 😫

I think we will all gradually get to know people going through the same and other treatments. I also work for myself and am waiting on tests to decide if might need chemo as well as radio. Not my happiest thought but we need to kick this thing’s arse. I’m also self employed so the time is helping me to think of contingency plans if I have to stop work for months rather than a few weeks.

a couple of months ago none of this was a reality. A year down the line I hope we will all be looking back on getting through this tough time.

Sorry to hear that you're waiting to hear if you might need chemo - did you have other nodes removed as well as sentinel node? It's tough for us self employed to have to contemplate months off rather than weeks.

I know what you mean about a couple of months ago none of it was a reality. I just realised earlier I'd agreed to write something for a local magazine (as a volunteer) for a deadline of 14/08 - I agreed this on 14/06 from my last email. When life was normal. I've just had to try and wriggle out of it now!

Here's to us all looking back a year from now, and thinking thank God that's over!

Thank you so much, I appreciate the reassuring words! xx

Thank you, and so sorry to hear you're sore again. Hope you heal soon.

I just had the sentinel node removed and thankfully that was clear. They found that I have dcis which appeared to be a surprise on looking at the tissue removed. The original dodgy area was a little larger than they could see on the scan too, hence going in to be sure. As it made things a bit less clear they’ve sent off for something called oncotype testing which will guide the next step, as well as evaluating the margins on the additional tissue removed.

Oh brilliant, I'm glad yours was clear. Such a relief. I've heard of the oncotype testing. Hoping you don't need the chemo, but like you said further up we need to kick its arse. I have the results still to look forward to (other than the SLN which like you was thankfully clear). Whole thing is such a bastard isn't it, but we'll get there in the end.

I also had nerve pain, tingling and even numbness in the fingers and hand of that arm. I did ask a few BC nurses and was told it was unusual to affect the fingers/hand, but from groups online I realise it is actually quite common. Mine gradually faded away and now at around 9/10 weeks I realise it has gone. It was still bothering me at around 6 weeks though.

From what I’ve heard the nerve pain is common - I’ve found that even the axillary node biopsy is still giving me gip.. I keep getting horrible sharp pains where they did it three weeks ago .

Im self employed too and have a mammogram biopsy on weds and I’m going to have to work on Friday . Should be interesting !

nerve pain is awful though and gets you down 😩 Hopefully it will ease up x
I think they are leaning more towards mastectomy for me especially as they think it’s multi focal and I’m not looking forward to the after effects