Still in pain 1 year after bi-lateral mastectomy & reconstruction

nelliott59 said:

Hi Marty,
   I have discussed

Hi Marty,

   I have discussed this over and over again with my plastic surgeon and she just doesn't understand why I seem to be in such pain.  My physical therapist said I must have a lot of nerve damage and tightening of the connective tissue.  I really feel this is way too long to still be feeling like this.  Its also getting old sleeping in my recliner most of the time but it is the most comfortable.  Thank you for your kind words.

Call your Oncologist and his staff - see which Plastic Surgeons they recommend you seeing.  Check with a larger Hospital in your area, specializing in Breast Cancer -- get a listing of Plastic Surgeons.  Make a few calls, get references on physicians -- and proceed to get check by another Plastic Surgeon.

No need to be in this much pain - unless as you suspect, there is nerve damage.  Please  .. Please .. Please don't give up.

Gentle hugs, dear Sister.

Vicki Sam

VickiSam said:

2nd opinion is need here .. Just my 2 cents.

Call your Oncologist and his staff - see which Plastic Surgeons they recommend you seeing.  Check with a larger Hospital in your area, specializing in Breast Cancer -- get a listing of Plastic Surgeons.  Make a few calls, get references on physicians -- and proceed to get check by another Plastic Surgeon.

No need to be in this much pain - unless as you suspect, there is nerve damage.  Please  .. Please .. Please don't give up.

Gentle hugs, dear Sister.

Vicki Sam

I agree with the 2nd opinion.  You should not have to endure the pain you are in.  Let us know what you do.

hope4thebest said:

get another opinion

Hi, I am also in recovery from a bmx but it was in July 2011.  With reconstruction surgeries, my implants went in in Nov 2011.  I am interested as to what others say because I also am in pain, still.  I am most comfortable sleeping on my back.   (I think most women feel better than we do, don't get too discouraged!!) Having the mastectomy on both sides is alot for the body, For me, yoga seems to be one of the best things to help stretch the muscles.  I try to do something every day to get the circulation going, and that helps.  Any kind of movement is good for the body.  For you, maybe the deep breathing will exercise your lungs enough to expand things.   

Lately, I noticed my posture was getting bad, hunching over.  So I am now trying to hold my shoulders back as much as possible and open my heart, pressing the sternum out and forward.  The helps me, but we are all so different.  Most of my discomfort is in the back, and I know it is the muscles.  All of these minor things can impact how we feel.

If it is really bothering you then get a second opinion from another Dr, or a different physical therapist/healer?  It helped me to speak with my dr or his nurses to get information on recovery time, maybe they could discuss a reduction of the implant size?  Either way, try to give it some TLC and try some daily stretching ( there's a book, "Thriving after Breast Cancer" by Sherry Davis that will give you ideas).  

PS: Maybe you need a new bed? 

My advice is to also seek a new surgeon, or at least, another opinion until you get relief.

So sorry, Angie

I am disappointed that still today the pain suffered by patients still goes unaddressed.

There is truly no reason in this day and age that issues like this are not addressed with all the side affects possible from every form of treatments we end up having.  It took me more than 4 years to uncover the layers of pain that I was experiencing after begging for help.  With each medication one pain would end uncovering another that another medication would help.  Yes it is true some of us do not fair very well with our treatment phase while others whistle and dance their way to work.  When I was suffering my doctor was stuck on the anxiety cancer patients experience instead of looking for the reasons for my pain riddled body.  Thankfully I was insistant on having Quality to my life and demanded action when anti depressants only gave me more side affects to contend with.

There are Pain Specialists out there and Cancer Facilities are known to have them on staff.  Doctors use to try and make me believe that this was my destiny and that this was my new norm.  I refused to spend the rest of my life suffering and soon found out that when the diseases were addressed I could return to work something they said I would never do and actually have found I can work harder than ever now a Drywall Taper at my age.  Fighting for the quality in our lives is truly worth doing and it is hard to deny.

Good luck and don't stop trying

Tara

Hang in there. I had similar experience. Slept on the couch for 2 years, had to buy a bed that the head went up and had PT. But eventually the tightness went away. Focus on stretching exercises - Every Day! and  Yoga!

nelliott59 said:

So, I had a second opinion

So, I had a second opinion today regarding my pain and tightness after my bi-lateral mastectomy one year ago.  It seems I have capsular contracture on both sides around my implants.  Not many options - go to a pain clinic which I don't really want to do as I don't want to depend on pain pills.  Option 2 is having the implants totally removed and hopefully that will take care of my pain.  I really liked this plastic surgeon.  Told him I couldnt' make that decision yet after all I went through to have the reconstruction done.  Has anyone had capsular contracture?  If so, any suggestions on things I could possibly try would be very much appreciated.

Nellie, I am so sorry.  You do have quite a decision to make.  I had a lumpectomy, so no implants.  I hope someone else here has been thru this and can give you some advice.  Keep us updated and good luck!

Hugs, Jan