NO SERIOUSLY, MY CHEST IS KILLING ME!!!!

jamiesue1
jamiesue1 Member Posts: 21
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I need help!! It has been almost 5 mos. since my double mastectomy. My chest hurts so bad I don't know what to do anymore. I spent the whole weekend putting ice on it to numb it. I just got off the phone with Pain mgmt center and have an appt set up for Oct. 1. HASN'T ANYBODY FELT LIKE THIS???????? I had paraesthesia (supposedly nerve interruption) on my chest but now my surgeon says paraesthesia wouldn't last this long so he has NO CLUE as to why I still have such horrible pain. I have exterior pain on my chest so I can't wear anything on my chest when I sleep and then I have interior pain starting from the bottom of my rib cage up to above where my breasts were. It feels like I have an 8" belt wrappred around my upper torso and it gets tighter and tighter I take about 6 - 8 percocets a day for the pain. I want to get off them because I've been on them since I had the Mastectomy but I can't with this ridiculous pain. Somebody please tell me they have experienced this and have a solution!

Comments

  • kew
    kew Member Posts: 24
    #2
    I'm so sorry!
    Jamie,

    I can't help with your specific question. I did not experience what you're going through. But I can pray and I will.

    Lord, give this woman relief from this pain. Give her doctors insight and wisdom into the cause of the pain. Show her how to handle this difficult situation.

    I pray you would surround her with friends who will love her and take care of her. Heal her body quickly, please. Amen


    Could some gentle stretching exercises help at all? How about a hot tub, does that ease the muscles at all?

    Wishing you the best!!

    Kew
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #3
    CHEST PAIN
    Hi Jamie,

    I have had a lumpectomy on one side and a mast. on the other, I too have a lot of chest pain. Sometimes it is so severe I will clutch my chest. The lumpectomy side is due to lymphedema and muscle contractions. That said the mast side has been hurting mucho-mucho! Recently my doctors have dx me with COSTOCHRONDITIS (very big word). Check out this link and perhaps you could ask your doctor about this.

    http://www.diagnose-me.com/cond/C598186.html

    My best to you,

    RE
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #4
    Have you asked about accupuncture?
    I have heard that this is great pain management. Could the pain be related to adhesions?

    I, myself, only had a lumpectomy, so I'm no help.

    I'm sending warm hugs,

    Kathi
  • Joycelouise
    Joycelouise Member Posts: 482
    #5
    I haven't had such bad pain
    I haven't had such bad pain after my mas. I do have a lingering soreness to my ribs and breastbone that I hope is from radiation. Only really sore when I push on it. Has anyone else had that after rads? I know the bones are damaged by the radiation a bit.
    I have had some pain under my arm and inability to stretch the mas. side arm all the way. I do yoga and it helps a bit with mobility. Also, visualizing warmth and light at the pain center helps a little. But I am not dealing with major pains, so this advice must seem like an umbrella in a tornado.
    Best wishes, love, Joyce
  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #6
    Just an idea
    No, I haven't been hit with this particular problem, but I have had friends who had difficulty finding a cause or a cure for their pain problems of various sorts. All doctors have their specialty and some specialize in pain management. Electrical stimulation, various medicines, some kinds of complementary therapy, acupuncture, massage all might prove helpful, but seeing a pain specialist that knows what should work (and might have even more tricks in their medical bag) might prove best. A pain specialist will not only know how to get you off the percoset, but how to get you back on your feet and maximize your quality of life given your problem and the treatments that are out there. Ask for a referral to the best one in your area. Good luck!
  • survivor51
    survivor51 Member Posts: 276
    #7
    Not sure
    I had some pain and found that getting hand towels wet and put into the microwave then placed them over my bilateral mastectomy area and put a dry towel on top allowed the heat to sooth the areas. In addition, I took several hot showers during the day and even during the night when the pain kept me from sleeping. In addition, I have been going to an acupuncturist. Before I never believed in acupuncture but the very day I went, I became pain free. I don't know where you live but you can email mine at http://www.turningpointhc.com and she could tell you who to contact in your area. When you look at her bio, she is the real mccoy. Her name is Dr. Susan Russell. Also, learning to meditate and move your pain away helps. There is a good site for that at the Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meditation/MM00623
    It calms you down and helps you to think. My prayers are with you. Angela
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #8
    survivor51 said:

    Not sure
    I had some pain and found that getting hand towels wet and put into the microwave then placed them over my bilateral mastectomy area and put a dry towel on top allowed the heat to sooth the areas. In addition, I took several hot showers during the day and even during the night when the pain kept me from sleeping. In addition, I have been going to an acupuncturist. Before I never believed in acupuncture but the very day I went, I became pain free. I don't know where you live but you can email mine at http://www.turningpointhc.com and she could tell you who to contact in your area. When you look at her bio, she is the real mccoy. Her name is Dr. Susan Russell. Also, learning to meditate and move your pain away helps. There is a good site for that at the Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meditation/MM00623
    It calms you down and helps you to think. My prayers are with you. Angela

    Heat
    Girls: Becareful with heat. One of the dangers of heat is lymphedema in breast cancer patients. That's why you should avoid very hot showers, hot tubs, and any kind of blood pressure cuff and needles in the arm where lymph nodes were removed. My oncologist warned me about this. Hugs, Lili
  • jamiesue1
    jamiesue1 Member Posts: 21
    #9
    survivor51 said:

    Not sure
    I had some pain and found that getting hand towels wet and put into the microwave then placed them over my bilateral mastectomy area and put a dry towel on top allowed the heat to sooth the areas. In addition, I took several hot showers during the day and even during the night when the pain kept me from sleeping. In addition, I have been going to an acupuncturist. Before I never believed in acupuncture but the very day I went, I became pain free. I don't know where you live but you can email mine at http://www.turningpointhc.com and she could tell you who to contact in your area. When you look at her bio, she is the real mccoy. Her name is Dr. Susan Russell. Also, learning to meditate and move your pain away helps. There is a good site for that at the Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meditation/MM00623
    It calms you down and helps you to think. My prayers are with you. Angela

    HOT OR COLD?
    Thanks everybody for your responses. I have been putting ice in a towel on my chest and it seems to help for awhile. At least till it de-thaws from the cold. Should I be using warm instead?
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #10
    jamiesue1 said:

    HOT OR COLD?
    Thanks everybody for your responses. I have been putting ice in a towel on my chest and it seems to help for awhile. At least till it de-thaws from the cold. Should I be using warm instead?

    Jamie: Your chest pain
    Jamie: Your chest pain might be scar tissue also., which heat nor cold will help but massaging it will. After my mastectomy I also had some chest pain, and surgeon said it was scar tissue to massage it to break it up and that helped. Maybe, you should call the surgeon's office and ask. Hugs to you, Lili
  • jamiesue1
    jamiesue1 Member Posts: 21
    #11
    mmontero38 said:

    Jamie: Your chest pain
    Jamie: Your chest pain might be scar tissue also., which heat nor cold will help but massaging it will. After my mastectomy I also had some chest pain, and surgeon said it was scar tissue to massage it to break it up and that helped. Maybe, you should call the surgeon's office and ask. Hugs to you, Lili

    thanks Lili
    I go to a physical therapist twice a week for a massage. I've had 16 visits. I started on a pain patch today on top of the percs. I am going to a pain management clinic next Wed. and hopefully they will have some answers for me. Thanks for the suggestions.

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