Armpit lymph node removed - agonising pain (as part of lumpectomy for breast cancer)

[Thirdtimeunlucky2025]

I’m in so much pain. Went to dr’s this morning convinced I have an infection where the two lymph nodes were removed from my armpit. (Breast and site of lumpectomy removal is fine).

the incision site feels like a lump of something behind it, dr says he can feel nothing, and says it’s the same as my unaffected armpit, which I disagree, I can feel something firm and wide.

ibuprofen, paracetamol and codiene phosphate which I was told to take barely take the edge off the pain. It’s a sore pain, dull, not stabbing.

have tried icing it, have tried warming it, nothing really helps.

any thoughts? I got the drs app after discussing it with 111, don’t have a temperature, shiver (signs of sepsis etc).

seeing the consultant tomorrow evening but am really struggling at the moment.

Oh OP I have had an infected lymph node in my armpit and it was awfully painful (caused by a deodorant though) and I was given antibiotics, I would certainly go to 111 or a second opinion, that sounds very dismissive.

I saw the consultant and he suggested putting Voltarol cream on my armpit

If you’re reading this in time to come, I strongly suggest that you do actually ask before you do it

Personally, it didn’t help.
So still searching for something

I’m looking at physio, Next, but it’s New Year and everything’s closed at the moment

A long time spent on Dr Google also suggests that within 4 to 8 weeks of surgery it should subside. I only blooming hope so. It’s not much fun at the moment.

I should’ve said the consultant says it’s very likely to be nerve damage

I had a similar operation in October and wider excision Nov. 9 lymph nodes removed.
Symptoms did come and go including swelling, nerve pain, cording etc
My wound was discharging once and my temp fluctuating so had antibiotics. However my nurse thought the next time I didnt need antibiotics as it was just sloghing. I took daily photos as a record. I was able to send to my breast care nurse. Keep track of your temperature also and look for redness near wound.

I also got a physio referral.
Medication is available if nerve pain persists.

All the best.

Oh i did use voltarol too on the cording and nerve pain. Plus heat pads.

You can have specific painkillers for nerve pain. You shouldn’t have to wait in agony for 4-8 weeks. Call your GP and say oncology think it’s neuropathic pain, and you can be prescribed a short course of something like pregablin or amitryiptiline.

Good morning. I had 2 nodes removed three weeks ago as part of a breast cancer diagnosis also. I'm still quite sore. What I have is called 'Cording'. Has anyone mentioned this to you? Wishing you all the best on your journey. Xx

Sorry you are in so much pain. You can normally at least at my hospital phone a breast care nurse and they can give advice. I didn't have much pain at all after that op, the second op when I had full node clearance (25 out) I did have more pain but meds took it away and after a week it was a lot better. If you are still in week 1 would say there's a good chance it will improve a lot. 4-8 weeks in that level of pain something isn't right in my non-medical opinion and would keep pushing.

Stretching helped with that for me. More or less immediate effect, though it did keep coming back for a while. I just used the exercises on the sheet they gave me after the op. Painkillers didn't really touch it.
Hope you find something that works for you soon, it is awful.

I also found the exercises helped especially when I had cording symptoms. It felt like it was going to snap but when it did the pain went a lot.

Thank you all
its lessened slightly, not sure why, but I have tried moving more and have upped the exercises. Hopefully it’s just naturally going as I head away from the op date.
I have stopped the pain meds as they were making me groggy.

Spoke to the consultant today and he says it’s the nerves, and it will go, but can’t say when.

Did anyone have regular physio for this?

(My results were good, just one of the women who just happens to get breast cancer, not hereditary).