nerve damage from surgery

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miraclemom
miraclemom Member Posts: 41
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi-been having a problem with my arm,tingling,shooting pain up and down it and numbness in fingers since I finished chemo.Went to doctor and they did some nerve tests and found besides carpel tunnel that the problem seems to be coming from the nerves in the under arm area,close to where they took nodes out from.Anyone elsa having this problem?Thank you for any input you can give.

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  • patci
    patci Member Posts: 1
    #2
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    I had lumpectomy with radiation and lymph node removal (14 - no cancer) 6 years ago. To this day there is still an area of numbness under my upper left arm, periodic tingling (depending on positioning that goes from armpit to fingers. No shooting pains except for periodic pings in upper arm. Not sure if they have anything to do with the surgeries. I did have physical therapy after surgery, so perhaps the area for the nerves to get reconnected ended up being stretched out and they couldn't connect. How's your arm movement and rotation? I'm told nerve damage from lymph node surgery is common.
  • miraclemom
    miraclemom Member Posts: 41
    #3
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    patci said:

    I had lumpectomy with radiation and lymph node removal (14 - no cancer) 6 years ago. To this day there is still an area of numbness under my upper left arm, periodic tingling (depending on positioning that goes from armpit to fingers. No shooting pains except for periodic pings in upper arm. Not sure if they have anything to do with the surgeries. I did have physical therapy after surgery, so perhaps the area for the nerves to get reconnected ended up being stretched out and they couldn't connect. How's your arm movement and rotation? I'm told nerve damage from lymph node surgery is common.

    hi patci-the movement in my arm is good its just it gets this tired feeling in it and aches,plus the other things you read.The doctor didnt say it could be caused from having the nodes removed but that they need to do more testing.I just know that I didnt have this problem before with my arm so maybe it is from the removal of nodes plus the chemo plus tamoxifen which im taking-they say that can also cause mucsle problems-makes you wonder whats worse the cancer or the cure sometimes.Thank you for replying to my question and your infomation.Takecare!
  • klippe
    klippe Member Posts: 7
    #4
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    Hello Miraclemom, I had the same symptoms and it could just be from the chemo, or so the nurses tell me. It should go away over time if it is just from the chemo. But doctors don't seem to be too concerned. Humph! Feel better!!!!!!
  • ksfc
    ksfc Member Posts: 251
    #5
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    I agree with Patci - nerve damage from lymph node dissection is common. I have numbness, tingling and sometimes shooting pain. I had the dissection followed by a staph infection, followed by lymphadema, chemo and then radiation. Now, I'm recovering from a bout of cellulitis and vasculitis in the same area. There are a lot of nerves in that area and depending on how things go, you can have lots of scar tissue that effect the nerves. If the pain is bad, insist on some help. I've had lymphadema therapy - very helpful and I do daily exercises to make sure everything keeps moving and circulating as best it can.
    Take care - Diane
  • pollyana
    pollyana Member Posts: 6
    #6
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    Count me in! I've had nerve damage in my arm since the lymph nodes were removed 1-1/2 years ago. I decided that if I can surrive Cancer and live to see my grandkids grow, I'll learn to live with the pain.
    I hope that knowing that what you feel is not atypical will take the fear away and that you will also learn to live with the differences in your body that result from the horrible trauma you have been through! My doctor calls Cancer "the elephant in the room", and he's so right...it's always there. I hope you are well and surrive your ordeal with humor and a good outlook.
  • miraclemom
    miraclemom Member Posts: 41
    #7
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    pollyana said:

    Count me in! I've had nerve damage in my arm since the lymph nodes were removed 1-1/2 years ago. I decided that if I can surrive Cancer and live to see my grandkids grow, I'll learn to live with the pain.
    I hope that knowing that what you feel is not atypical will take the fear away and that you will also learn to live with the differences in your body that result from the horrible trauma you have been through! My doctor calls Cancer "the elephant in the room", and he's so right...it's always there. I hope you are well and surrive your ordeal with humor and a good outlook.

    thanks everyone for responsing to my concern about the pain ,tingling and so forth that ive had in my arm.Went had had some test done this week and they want to do further testing mri/ct scan on my arm now.will let you know what i find out but i also am thinking that it is from the surgery from having the nodes removed.Thanks again and hope everyone is doing well.

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