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Arm Numbness and Pain After Axilliary Dissection

trecsdss
trecsdss CSN Member Posts: 22
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I had my surgery on June 18th. I have numbness under my arm from the elbow to the arm pit. I also have pain if I touch that area. My surgeon said some of the numbness may go away, but it will probably always be there somemwhat. Has anyone else experienced this? If it did improve, how long did it take until you noticed improvement?
Debbie
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Comments

  • crazylady55
    crazylady55 CSN Member Posts: 92
    #2
    I had axillary dissection in
    I had axillary dissection in Sept and mastectomy in April. The numbness has gradually improved. The physical therapist, I am seeing for lymphadema says that the sheath on the outside of the nerves are often irritated or inflamed, in my case radiation made it worse so it may take longer. Before radiation, the numbness had gotten much better. Give it time, my surgeon said in most cases it returns to normal in no more than 6 months to a year.

    Hang in there.
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  • trecsdss
    trecsdss CSN Member Posts: 22
    #3
    crazylady55 said:

    I had axillary dissection in
    I had axillary dissection in Sept and mastectomy in April. The numbness has gradually improved. The physical therapist, I am seeing for lymphadema says that the sheath on the outside of the nerves are often irritated or inflamed, in my case radiation made it worse so it may take longer. Before radiation, the numbness had gotten much better. Give it time, my surgeon said in most cases it returns to normal in no more than 6 months to a year.

    Hang in there.

    Axillary Dissection
    I really appreciate the information. It gives me some hope. I will be starting PT for lymphadema management later this month.
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  • dmc_emmy
    dmc_emmy CSN Member Posts: 549
    #4
    trecsdss said:

    Axillary Dissection
    I really appreciate the information. It gives me some hope. I will be starting PT for lymphadema management later this month.

    trecsdss
    I no longer have numbness. It does go away after awhile. As for lymphodema PT, I have gone once since surgery (surgery '06), but I will need to go again soon. It's more of nuisance than a problem now.
    dmc
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  • CR1954
    CR1954 CSN Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    #5
    Debbie....
    In answer to your question...yes.

    My surgery was August 2008. The numbness has eased, although it is not gone. Same with the pain.
    I still really can't feel much in my underarm.

    CR
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  • DianeBC
    DianeBC CSN Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #6
    CR1954 said:

    Debbie....
    In answer to your question...yes.

    My surgery was August 2008. The numbness has eased, although it is not gone. Same with the pain.
    I still really can't feel much in my underarm.

    CR

    I have the numbness too
    I have the numbness too Debbie and my surgeon said it may go away and it may not. I think he didn't want me to just expect for it to all be back to normal. I do exercises, but, they don't help much with the numbness. Good luck!
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  • cats_toy
    cats_toy CSN Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #7
    Debbie
    I had surgery in March 2007. I had a partial mastectomy and 13 lymph nodes removed. I still have some numbness in my underarm, and along the back of my arm. I don't notice it all the time, but it is still there. The pain at the touch is not anymore, but an ache along the scar line is pretty continual.
    Hopefully yours will clear up, we all heal differently too.
    Cat
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