Breast cancer
posted by michele
27 December 2013

sore boob!

Last reply: 21 April 2015 16:58

I have found over the last few months that the breast I had the surgery on is very tight. I had the lump and some lymph nodes removed in February. I find sleeping at night very difficult. I try to stay on my back but I am never successful. Every time I turn I feel like I am tearing a scab from my breast. I had an x-ray on my hip also and that came up clear. Anybody with recommendations for sleeping without pain. I have not slept right through the night as I have to wake to turn myself slowly in bed.
Any suggestions? Image removed.

10 comments

Comments

commented by Catherine1964
27 December 2013

27 December 2013 15:37

I would contact the breast nurse asap to look for advice. Also, some physio might b helpful? I know I resumed all my post op exercise in the later stages of and after radiotherapy.
I hope you find some relief, but please don't suffer in silence and contact the breast care CTR. That's what they are there for!
Take good care!
Catherine

commented by Resolute
06 January 2014

06 January 2014 08:01

Hello Michele!

Have just seen your post and am wondering how you're getting on now? I had lumpectomy and lymph node removal in April and didn't have a bother until a couple of weeks age when my breast started to get really sore, it sounds pretty much like you - at night it wakes me and I now find it difficult to sleep on that side.. Also I have noticed that I'm finding it difficult now in my morning shower to raise my arm enough to shave under that arm?? I wonder should I be contacting the breast nurse as Catherine suggested?

Happy New Year to all - lets hope it's a good one Image removed.

Resolute
X

commented by michele
19 January 2014

19 January 2014 17:33

Hi Resolute.
the boob is still the same - sore every time I turn in bed or stretch. I am a teacher so i am writing on the board every day so i am stretching all the time. I have a check-up this week so i will see what they will tell me and i will let you know if we can ease the pain.
Look after yourself.
Michele Image removed.

commented by michele
27 January 2014

27 January 2014 13:11

Had my yearly check-up with the surgeon and he seems very happy with the healing process. He did say that the tightness and pain is due to the thickening of the tissue around the scar. He recommends taking paracetomol every night before bed or else up it to ibobprufen. I had another mammogram and ultrasound and both confirm thickening. So mainly it is deal with the pain. It will always be sore.
Take Care.
michele

commented by elizo
27 January 2014

27 January 2014 23:15

Hi,
I had a problem with a frozen shoulder after treatment. I got to see physio in the hospital and he gave me exercises to do in a swimming pool. They were all stretching exercises and these really helped with the terrible pain in my boob. The water is great as you can exercise pain free and get great relief.
Liz

commented by Resolute
28 January 2014

28 January 2014 08:12

Hello Michele

Glad you got on well at your appointment.. I am due my mammogram in April and fingers crossed with good results I'll feel like I have put this whole thing behind me Image removed. About the pain and tightness, I agree with Elizo and think that physio would help as I too have that 'frozen shoulder' at times.. Still I suppose it is good to know that it is not unusual and that it is a radiation/surgery side effect Image removed.

Resolute

commented by michele
24 March 2014

24 March 2014 21:45

Hi Resolute and elizo,
Turns out the pain around my breast is from inflamed ribs, which can be a side effect of radiotherapy. I had a bone scan done recently and thankfully all was clear. The only thing the doctor noted was how inflamed my rib around the breast area was inflamed. She thinks I may have aggravated it but I don't know how. On painkillers and hoping it will sort itself out quickly. Image removed.

commented by Resolute
25 March 2014

25 March 2014 19:40

Hi Michele

Thanks for the feedback Image removed. You know that makes a lot of sense because that's exactly what it does feel like ...

Hope you are feeling well

Resolute

commented by happymum
21 April 2015

21 April 2015 16:21

Hi Michele, not sure if u look at this forum anymore but I have developed similar problem with pain around boob and under arm.This has been going on since January,I wont bore ye with all the details but have had weekly physio ,seenby lymphodema nurse twice and finally seen by radiation oncologist.I though it was a condition known as radiation fibrosis ,he thinks I have developed nerve pain as a side effect of the radiotherapy.Occurs in one in 400 people,(not sure how accurate that number is, I think it could be more).Anyway I am starting on medication,continue physio,swimming is excellent .Just thought I would share this with all as the more we know the better equipped we are to deal with issues.x
Happymum.

commented by michele
21 April 2015

21 April 2015 16:58

Thanks Happymum
I am also receiving physio on a regular basis as I found my arm was lacking in strength. I definetly have thickening under the skin due to radiation. I also had some nerve sensitivity. Thinks are starting to settle down now thank God. Hope you keep feeling stronger each day. Image removed. Image removed.

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