Does lymphedema cause shoulder pain?
In conclusion, lymphedema of the arm can cause severe shoulder trauma, pain and disability. Proper physiotherapy can reduce these effects. Patients should be referred for early treatment and follow-up to avoid permanent damage to the shoulder muscles.
Why does my arm hurt after breast reduction?
The pain is usually caused by bruising, stretching or damage to nerves during surgery or when scar tissue forms. It seems to affect more people who have had surgery to the upper outer part of the breast and the armpit. These areas are particularly vulnerable to nerve injury.
Why does shoulder hurt after mastectomy?
Some people have shoulder pain due to nerve damage from radiation therapy or a lumpectomy, mastectomy, or lymph node removal. If you have neuropathic pain, you may feel a shooting or burning sensation. Some people describe the discomfort as an intense tingling or itching feeling.
Is lymphedema in arm painful?
What Is Lymphedema? Lymphedema is a disease that causes painful and uncomfortable swelling of the arms, fingers, legs or feet, and commonly occurs after a patient’s lymph nodes are removed as a necessary part of surgery.
Can shoulder surgery cause swollen lymph nodes?
50% of women reported moderate to severe shoulder problems six months after surgery. lymphedema, or swelling of the lymph nodes, was not the best indicator of shoulder problems, as 44% of women who did not havelymphedema still had shoulder problems six months after surgery.
How long does it take for nerves to heal after breast surgery?
Most nerve damage will recover spontaneously (without treatment) within six months to a year. 2 In some cases, it can take two to three years for complete recovery. As nerve function returns, you may experience itching, shooting pains, or electrical shock sensations.
When lymph nodes are removal armpit side effects?
Lymph node surgery can lead to uncomfortable temporary side effects, such as lymph backup in the armpit, called seroma. Other side effects can linger, including mild armpit discomfort and numbness in the armpit and the upper arm.
Is shoulder pain common after mastectomy?
Chronic shoulder pain after breast cancer surgery was usually termed as post mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS). PMPS was a relatively common complication in breast cancer patients who underwent surgery and affects about 25–60% of patients4.
Do nerves grow back after mastectomy?
Nerves take time to regenerate, because they grow at a rate of about 1 mm/day. It may take several months after your surgery before you notice sensation returning, and the change in sensation can continue to develop for up to two years.
What does lymphedema in arm feel like?
Lymphedema signs and symptoms include: Swelling of part or all of the arm or leg, including fingers or toes. A feeling of heaviness or tightness. Restricted range of motion.
What causes pain in the armpit after breast surgery?
The pain is usually caused by bruising, stretching or damage to nerves during surgery or when scar tissue forms. It seems to affect more people who have had surgery to the upper outer part of the breast and the armpit. These areas are particularly vulnerable to nerve injury. Research suggests that lasting pain is more common in people who:
Can you have shoulder problems after breast cancer surgery?
The possibility for arm and shoulder problems depends quite a bit on whether any lymph nodes were removed during surgery and if so, how many were removed. Lymphedema (pronounced LIMF-eh-DEE-ma) is a condition that can happen after breast cancer surgery.
What happens to your arm after breast cancer surgery?
After breast cancer surgery, some women experience numbness, swelling, weakness, or tingling in the arm and shoulder area on the same side of the body on which surgery was done. These problems are more likely to happen after mastectomy surgery and less likely to happen after lumpectomy.
Why do I have shoulder pain after breast reconstruction?
Some breast reconstruction — especially those surgeries that involve moving tissue — may also result in shoulder issues. The nerves that control our hands and fingers go down our arms and travel through the axilla. If these are damaged by surgery or radiation, the result is pain.