Does anyone have problems with their arm still hurting after sentinal node biopsy?

mjjones453
mjjones453 Member Posts: 155
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I had a lumpectomy with Sentinal Node Biopsy in Feb. My arm still aches! does it ever quit? Also, I had radiation that ended in May, when does swelling of the breast go away, and the aches? The Surgeon didn't tell me what he would be cutting to find sentinal node, so I am just a wonderiing!

Comments

  • bluwillo
    bluwillo Member Posts: 113
    #2
    Yep
    First the arm was numb, then it hurt. You should ask your onc to refer you to physical therapy for lymphodemia (however it's spelled). I finally went today, should have gone when they recommended it in January. It could be that your lymph fluids are not being distributed. Call the doc. Also, they will give you exercises to do that will help with range of motion, which will help distribute the fluid.

    /blu is kinda slow about these things, but very happy today that I finally did it. OK, wearing this basic body stocking on my chest on a 90 degree day isn't the most fun, but it is helping! Stupid cancer!
  • jo jo
    jo jo Member Posts: 1,175
    #3
    bluwillo said:

    Yep
    First the arm was numb, then it hurt. You should ask your onc to refer you to physical therapy for lymphodemia (however it's spelled). I finally went today, should have gone when they recommended it in January. It could be that your lymph fluids are not being distributed. Call the doc. Also, they will give you exercises to do that will help with range of motion, which will help distribute the fluid.

    /blu is kinda slow about these things, but very happy today that I finally did it. OK, wearing this basic body stocking on my chest on a 90 degree day isn't the most fun, but it is helping! Stupid cancer!

    Have to agree with bluwillo...
    Have to agree with bluwillo...you should see a physical therapist. They can help greatly with some of the pain & aches your having in the arm and breast. How long it lasts i think depends on you and how you heal and if you have any other problems involved. I had my surgery in Nov and im just getting to the point were it doesnt hurt anymore (but i had other problems with it) and my arm is still numb down to my elbow. Ive been told the numbness can last for maybe a year and some feeling you might not get back.
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #4
    jo jo said:

    Have to agree with bluwillo...
    Have to agree with bluwillo...you should see a physical therapist. They can help greatly with some of the pain & aches your having in the arm and breast. How long it lasts i think depends on you and how you heal and if you have any other problems involved. I had my surgery in Nov and im just getting to the point were it doesnt hurt anymore (but i had other problems with it) and my arm is still numb down to my elbow. Ive been told the numbness can last for maybe a year and some feeling you might not get back.

    I agree with what the others
    I agree with what the others said. You probably should see a physical therapist. Many on here do for problems with lymphedema.

    Good luck!
  • waffle8
    waffle8 Member Posts: 234
    #5
    I had my surgery in Feb.. My
    I had my surgery in Feb.. My arm still hurts...Everyones sentinel nodes are in diff. places....My doc. said he had to "dig" for mine so he expected me to have lots of pain..My pain is weird it is behind my arm....
  • Balentine
    Balentine Member Posts: 393
    #6
    waffle8 said:

    I had my surgery in Feb.. My
    I had my surgery in Feb.. My arm still hurts...Everyones sentinel nodes are in diff. places....My doc. said he had to "dig" for mine so he expected me to have lots of pain..My pain is weird it is behind my arm....

    had mastectomy and 3 nodes removed in Jan and still hurts
    It still hurts under my arm, down into my armpit and also my mastectomy site but not as much as it did so as times goes by it does subside some. I also took some advice from somone on this site who said to massage the areas that hurt and that does help alot too so it may just be stiffness that needs to be worked out. I also started using my right arm more and more to loosen it up and build up those muscles again but you have to be careful not to do too much...just a little at a time until you can build it up and then be able to do more with it. They told me it could take up to a year for it to stop hurting and that the numbness may not go completely away ever so it is something you get used to after awhile I guess.
    Lorrie
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #7
    waffle8 said:

    I had my surgery in Feb.. My
    I had my surgery in Feb.. My arm still hurts...Everyones sentinel nodes are in diff. places....My doc. said he had to "dig" for mine so he expected me to have lots of pain..My pain is weird it is behind my arm....

    I just had a little pain
    I just had a little pain right after the lumpectomy, but, a few pain pills and I was fine. The pain actually subsided pretty quickly and I didn't get lymphedema at all.

    Hoping your pain subsides too!

    Lex♥

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