Rib pain

Sorry to hear about your pan.  I think there are a lot of "us" out there dealing with daily pain.  I still have pain.  I had a lumpectomy and axillairy clearance back in 2006 followed by radiation and Tamoxifen.  Then in Dec 2010 I had a lumpectomy on the same side but deep up under my arm and around to my back to remove a lymp  node that was full of tumour.  I have then had extensive radiation and chemo.  I have never had any "work done" on the scarring. But now I have started getting deep massage on the scarring whilst I have my lympathic drainage massage.  I have only had one session and boy did it make a difference.  I was to the point of checking out laser therapy on the scarring.  Anyway I will keep giving the deep massage a go - fornightly.  My surgeon said after 2 years "If you still have pain, sorry you will have it for life"  What a cop out!!!  My breast area is so tender I just hate having my regular mamagrams and ultrasounds as it hurts so much.  Mind you the deep massage hurts but is so beneficial.  Good luck. XLeonie

I will look into massage too, to keep lymph flowing freely as possible, and maybe helping with ongoing discomforts/ infections.

 I am due for yearly double mammogram and ultrasound too soon.  There is a newer machine now, where one side of the paddle moves around the breast sort of, so less discomfort.

I recently read something about complex regional pain syndrome. Do not give up though. Time is a great healer i think.

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/complex_regional_pain_syndrome?open

All the best for 2012. Kathy.

Hiya

Yes I too had the rib pain only when touched for years after chemo and had many scans that all came back clear.  Mine has now subsided yet I still find it tender to touch many bones including my ribs 4 years on.

It is just all part and parcel of what your body has been through and in time, things will return to normal again.

Tanya

hey Debs

Firstly never apologise for waffling!!!  Thats what we are here for!!  We all love a good ole chin wag!! lol

Dont feel sorry, your life will be back better than ever, just give it time.  I felt like a 90 year old for a while after chemo but I am now back swimming, bike riding and going to the gym and most importantly running (yep running ) with my kids again (they are now 8 and 6).  I am now 41 and feel better now than I did when I was diagnosed at 36.  Just give it time, you will not feel like this forever.

Take care, lovely chatting.

Tanya xx

Hi Debs,  I had mastectomy in October 2008, chemo and then radium which finished in June 2009.  I could not sleep on my left side even after the radium burns had heeled. It hurt so much. Gradually over a period of about 18 months it has subsided and now I don't have an issue with sleeping on my left side.  I blamed the radium on the bones.  You said your mastectomy site feels tight.  i have used Vaseline Dry Skin Conditioning lotion since i had the surgery as it was recommended to me in hospital.  I used it twice daily for the first year and now just once daily.  I don't use deodorant under that arm anymore as it makes the skin feel funny and I don't perspire under that arm anymore.  I think they took that gland out!  Hoping that I have been of some help to you.

Take care,   Jill    xx

Hi Debs, I haven't had radiotherapy, but I have had recent issues with a mastectomy that was done over 3 months ago. I had tissue expanders placed in this side, plus on the other side, which had been removed 9 months prior. Following the development of a massive haematoma and a trip back to theatre to have this sorted out at 3 weeks post op, I started to experience weird pains and sensations. Everything was hypersensitive, and the sensation I had was a tightening and the feeling of the implant being lifted. This went on for weeks, and even the plastic surgeon had trouble inflating that side due to the tightness. He had no great suggestions, but my physiothapist did. She suggested some laser treatment and the application of Kinesio tape following each session. The PS was ok with this. I
had 4 sessions in the 2 weeks before Christmas, and
the results are amasing. I had one more session today,
and my exchange surgery is next Wednesday. The
chest muscle that had been very tight and almost
constantly cramping has relaxed and is softer. The tape
allows for lymphatic drainage away from the problem
area. The laser does no damage, but will break up the
fibrous tissue, and promote the growth of collagen (spelling?). I now have no pain, and I was wondering if it
might help you with your mastectomy and rib pain. It
could be worth a conversation with your physio. Mine is
provided as part of a Lymphodema program. My
surgeon is delighted with the softness that has been
achieved, and I'm more confident about surgery next
week. Apparently they use this a lot in the USA, and
they find that it reduces the contracture rate of implants
for those who have had radiotherapy from 40% down to
about 5%. I was thinking that my tightness might have
been a contracture developing. Now it is soft and I'm
less concerned. Hope you find a solution to your
problem. Love Chris xx

I also have weird feelings over the mastectomy site and very sore ribs when touched, think this is due to two bouts of radiation on that side - original series then another shorter series for skin mets. Have forced myself to sleep on that side, hard at first especially when turning over to the good side but everything gets better day by day. The one funny side effect is that sometimes I feel a pulse under the scar line, obviously an artery that has been repositioned during the surgery. Pulse can last from a few seconds up to an hour.

I have fortnightly lymphoedema drainage massage, an hour well spent as all the aches go away! Find out about this, you may have to go private with a physiotherapist as they don't have time for this service in my Public Hospital.With love

Joy K