Chronic pain after breast surgery

Chronic pain after breast surgery

Some women have problems with nerve (neuropathic) pain in the chest wall, armpit,
and/or arm after surgery that doesn’t go away over time. This is called post-mastectomy
pain syndrome (PMPS) because it was first described in women who had mastectomies,
but it occurs after breast-conserving therapy, as well. Studies have shown that between
20% and 30% of women develop symptoms of PMPS after surgery. The classic
symptoms of PMPS are pain and tingling in the chest wall, armpit, and/or arm. Pain may
also be felt in the shoulder or surgical scar. Other common complaints include numbness,
shooting or pricking pain, or unbearable itching. Most women with PMPS say their
symptoms are not severe.
PMPS is thought to be linked to damage done to the nerves in the armpit and chest during
surgery. But the causes are not known. Women who are younger, had a full ALND (not
just SLNB), or who were treated with radiation after surgery are more likely to have
problems with PMPS. Because ALNDs are done less often now, PMPS is less common
than it once was.
It is important to talk to your doctor about any pain you are having. PMPS can cause you
to not use your arm the way you should and over time you could lose the ability to use it
normally.
PMPS can be treated. Opioids or narcotics are medicines commonly used to treat pain,
but they don't always work well for nerve pain. But there are medicines and treatments
that do work for this kind of pain. Talk to your doctor to get the pain control you need.