Lymph node removal numb but painful arm

Hi,

im 5 days post surgery for therapeutic mammoplasty also had lymph nodes removed. My armpit and under arm (and outer arm) are numb but now really hurt too…. Guessing this is normal but would welcome comments x

  • Hi Karlywarlyspider,

    I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the same breast. These were diagnosed within a year of one another. I had some lymph nodes removed both times and I had pain in the same areas for quite some time afterwards. I suspect that you just need to be patient. If the pain becomes too much, contact your specialist breast care nurse for advice.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Thanks Jolamine, hope you are doing ok now.

    patience isn’t one of my virtues  but I guess you just have to ride it out

  • Hi Karlywarlyspider,

    Patience isn't one of my virtues either, but we have to develop some new skills with a cancer diagnosis. I hope that your pain settles soon.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • I’m following this as I had lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed last week. My left arm is numb but also I have a painful sensation down the back off the arm and I was wondering if this was normal. I’m left handed so a bit worried about how long it might go in for but as you say patience is needed

  • Hi Alichi,

    A very warm welcome to our forum.

    I am sorry to hear that you have a painful sensation down the back of your arm. I am not a doctor, so can only reply from my own experience. It is early days for you yet, so I would expect that you would have pain still. I had pain down my arm for several months after lymph node removal. If you find this getting sorer, do contact your breast care nurse for advice. Have you been given exercises to do? It is worth doing these regularly, as this will help you get back to normal, as soon as possible.

    Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Hi Alichi,

    It’s early days for you so take each day as it comes.  I’m now just over 7 weeks post surgery. The pain under my arm and the cording was unbearable so I got amitryptaline from the doctors which took around 2 weeks to kick in but helped. I didn’t get a repeat prescription and ran out two weeks ago, the cording pain now runs down my arm but the burning sensation has eased. My shoulder and part of arm still numb. Keep on with the physio, hopefully your symptoms will ease but if not get some medication and talk to the breast physio.

    take care