Over the past year or so, I’ve been writing about my experience being diagnosed with breast cancer and, more recently, my chest wall pain from a double mastectomy.
Latest information on mastectomy chest wall pain
We would like to provide you with the latest information regarding this situation.
Double mastectomy with breast cancer and flat closure
Just to be here, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2021.
In February 2022, I had my breasts removed with a flat-closed double mastectomy. That means no implants. This procedure resulted in many complications and problems.
resulting pain in the chest wall
This double mastectomy with flat closure didn’t work, so I’m still dealing with the aftermath of the surgery.
In the midst of his suffering, he went from doctor to doctor to try to relieve his pain, but found that doctors were generally reluctant to talk about other doctors’ accomplishments, or lack thereof.
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This cost me dearly and also made me question my own sanity.
Comment and support ❤️
But thanks to you, dear reader, I’m still here and I’m still sane.
I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has shared their great advice. I am so lucky to have this loving community.
Reader comment: Mastectomy chest wall pain
Here is a comment from one of our many kind readers. There are many other people who have saved me by not giving up on me, and who have made me think I was completely crazy.
“I am filled with sadness when I think of you and your sweet family. I am angry at your doctors…I am so angry at your doctors that a purposeful, intelligent, conscientious person like you (at least ) It is infuriating and unconscionable to see such a level of failed treatment. I feel sorry for you.
Hundreds of comments about intractable pain
The above comment was in response to my PMPS blog post.
In that post, I outlined the excruciating pain I was experiencing as a result of the double mastectomy I had agreed to to forget the pain of cancer.
3 supports
Your hundreds of comments like the one above have given me three types of important support when I need it.
reality check
The first type of support was a reality check.
This was extremely helpful after I lost my breasts, when I felt gaslighted by the medical community and thought I might lose my sanity.
Healing solutions for intractable pain from mastectomy
The second type of support you provided was in the form of healing solutions. You have shared the most wonderful ideas. Here’s a small sample:
BioXcellerator Bowen Therapy E-Stim Therapy Myofascial Blast Frequency Specific Microcurrent Immunoglobulin IV Therapy: PK Protocol Ketamine Topical Pain Relief Cream Low Light Pulsed Laser Near Infrared Therapy Neuroprolotherapy Red Light Therapy
Support from all over the country
The third type of support was communications and even phone calls from other women who, like me, had inadvertently failed flat-closed mastectomies and suffered the consequences.
Failed flat closed mastectomy
I now know that too many women have very poor outcomes from flat-closed mastectomies.
In fact, this UCLA study shows that more than 1 in 5 women may.
How to deal with pain that is difficult to heal?
Yet, even with all of your support and incredible healing options, I was still dealing with excruciating pain.
As you can imagine, living with excruciating pain despite being told pain relief and relief as a result of a double mastectomy was not easy.
lateral chest wall pain
However, I did not give up and focused on the sensation and cause of the pain and found a solution.
I dug deeper and asked about pain. How exactly does it feel? Where does it hurt and what type of pain is it?
Explanation of pain that is difficult to heal
In doing so, I realized that in addition to the intractable pain that I mentioned in my PMPS blog post, there is a more specific way to describe this syndrome.
Intractable pain in the axilla
Much of the pain and discomfort I experience is from wearing a shirt that is three sizes too small for me, yet feeling restricted inside my body. There is also a tight, vise-like feeling in your armpits, as if they are contracted and held in place.
Then I have a strange painful stitch sensation in my body and a thumbtack sensation in my right armpit.
Post-mastectomy pain syndrome
Now that we understand the components of this intractable pain and can better explain it, treatment is a little more advanced.
Stay tuned to learn more about how I navigate the fallout from a failed flat closed mastectomy.
thank you
Dear readers, I can’t thank you enough for listening and providing solutions.
This was very important to me when the medical system is ineffective or unwilling to help.
What is your mastectomy or breast cancer story?
If you, your sister, daughter, mother, friend, or anyone you know is suffering from breast cancer, please leave a comment and let me know how you got through it.
This article was first shared on June 23, 2023
