Sorry to hear you have been and are suffering so much, it realy is not fun at all, is it.

I suppose the only bit of good news is that you are seeing someone on Monday so you can hopefully find a solution then. In the meantime, all I can suggest is trying to distract yourself with family and friends plus hopefully receiving great advice from the wonderful poeple you will find here. 

I'm sorry to say that I do not any answers for you but can only recount my own experience, which at least shows that it cannot be all that unusual. Not very comforting I realise but at least I can confirm that you are not on your own in this..

I recently had bilateral WLE and SNB and found that all the way through the initial tests and procedures and now during the post op recovery that my left side has been far more troublesome than the right, even though it contained the lower grade cancer of the two.

I am currently 4 weeks post op and while my right side is doing well, I have so far had a large seroma in my left armpit, which thankfully is now subsiding,but just in time for what I suspect is cording beginning to develop in the same place. Also the scar on my left breast is taking longer to heal than the right side did.

I too would be interested to know if there is a straight forward reason why there is such a difference in reaction between the two sides but I suspect it may just be down to "luck of the draw".

Take care and lots of luck with the doctor on Monday. I hope they provide some bloody good pain relief for you. xx

Thanks for taking the time to reply, much appreciated.  I am trying to distract myself, as you suggest, and it really is the only solution at present.  That really is very good advice for anyone struggling with pain.  It is helpful to know that having such different reactions is not unusual.  Thank you.

Hi Susu

You are right about the workings of the cream.  It is called Capsaicin which is the active ingredient in chilli peppers.  Here's some more info about it that others might find helpful....

A study by researchers with the Geisinger Clinical Oncology Program found that cancer patients with post-surgical nerve pain had substantially more pain relief after using capsaicin cream, with an average pain reduction of 53% versus 17% for the placebo.

Hopefully, it will work for me.  I'll let you know.  Thanks again for your support.  It helps.

Vivien

Hi Vivien,
Thank so much for sharing this info.  Look forward to your updates as to how you find it.
Best wishes
Kathy x 
 

Hi Kathy

I'll certainly post anything that I find helpful.  We need all the help we can get!

Best wishes

Vivien

Hi Vivien,

How is the chilli pepper cream going, is it helping yet? x

Hi Susu

The cream certainly has created a feeling of warmth which is not uncomfortable or unpleasant but the pain has not gone away. It feels as though it is a pain in the middle of the warmth.  My GP had a helpful suggestion to put a Lidocaine patch over the painful area and apply the cream all around the patch.  Then, because the patch must be 12 hours on and 12 hours off, the cream could be applied all over the whole area for the 12 hours that the patch is off.  This, added to all the other painkillers (Paracetomol, Ibuprofen, Gabapentin and Amitriptyline) is making things a bit more bearable.  However, due to the continuing pain and the extensive bruising, now 4 weeks since the mastectomy, I shall phone the breast care nurse today and try to get an appointment to get her opinion on my progress or lack of it.

Thanks very much for your care x

Hi, Vivien, I, too, have a burniig pain in my back.  It isn't there all the time but is quite debilitating when it is.  My doctors have no idea what it is either.  I only have paracetamol.so I try to grit my teeth and put up with it, but its not easy, is it!  Good luck with the chemo, my very best wishes to you.

Gosh, you are really not having a good time are you, I am so sorry.

Good idea to call your nurse though and I hope she can see you asap. I have my fingers crossed that she can sort something out for you. xx

   I spoke to my breast care nurse and she managed to organise an appointment with my surgeon.  

   He thinks the pain is being caused by a haematoma where the drain was positioned so there is swelling and some bruising causing pressure at the site.  

   This should resolve itself in time as my body heals.  At least now I have an explanation and that is always helpful.  I hope this is useful to other people.

   Thanks for your interest and concern.

Hi there,

Glad you were able to see the consultant so quickly,and that he had an answer for you..

As you say, knowing the reason for the pain is half the battle.

Hope you start to feel better really soon xx

Thank you x

Thank you x