Ideas for relief of armpit pain after a double mastectomy?

Does it just hurt to touch or even when nothing is touching it? Have you tried physical therapy? My armpit is like one big knot. It doesn't bother me anymore, but I've gone through PT for a couple months 3 different times to work out painful knots that were in the lymph system. It never brought that area back to normal, but it really did help and get rid of some if it. Only the side that had lymph nodes taken out has knot issues, but range of motion was affected on both sides. The PT really improved my range of motion as well. If I do any heavy housework like hard scrubbing the knot gets bigger. I hope PT might help you.

I had a single mastectomy in 21 and have had scar tissue issues and cording both in my under arm and in my chest. Physical therapy with a lymphedema specialist helped immensely I'm mostly pain-free but exercise as prescribed and have great range of motion. Best of luck to you.

I had a previous lumpectomy on right breast in 89 (fibroadenoma) a lumpectomy of right breast in May 2025 (atypical ductile hyperplasia and LCIS ) and a prophylactic DMX in July 25. I am 63. I was injected to be able to find the sentinel lymph nodes at DMX, but that wasn't required. I believe they decided I was clear doing small path in the surgical suit and my path report on the DMX came back benign -but nonetheless my armpits were puffy and sore as hell! I chose no reconstruction and I'm remaining flat. I began lymphatic massage about a week postop and continued religiously despite the pain because I did not want to have cording or lymphedema. My PT was a lymphedema specialist and I saw a lymphedema OT preop and postop. I did have some cording on the right hand side, which the PT helped resolved - it took several visits and myofascial massage. One month out I had full range of motion back in both shoulders - but I have residual lymphedema in both arms! At my six week OT check up I was up 9% up on my right limb and 8% on my left - despite this increase I'm still in the "good range". My OT lymphedema specialist thought it was very odd because I had not had axillary dissection, and that I have residual fluid in both limbs. Has anyone else had this happen? And if yes, did you get back to your preoperative, or close to your preoperative range - and how long did it take? I will see my OT this coming week and I see my surgeon in another three or four weeks.

What I have heard from both offices is to just keep up with the lymphatic massage and range of exercises (of course keep the diet low in salt, etc.) - and I swim daily. I go to bed I'm puffy and somewhat painful in both. I wake up in the morning and puffiness and pain have gone down - and I think my chest looks beautiful; well almost because the left side is more puffy than the right! I am presuming it just takes a long time for the lymphatic system to heal/replumb - if I didn't move/exercise/do massage, I would have higher residual lymph in my limbs. So my best advice is keep moving to help reduce pain and swelling - and if you don't have a lymphedema specialist, ask if your surgeon can refer you to one.

I’m calling PT Monday morning for sure. I appreciate you getting back to me. ❤️

That’s great. Someone else mentioned cording. That was the word I couldn’t think of last night when I said knots. It’s cording that PT/OT worked out for me and helped drain the lymphatic system. Let us know how it works out for you. I believe you’ll do great! It made me a believer in hands on PT. Some therapists are better than others so when I found one I really liked I scheduled the remaining visits with her.

When I first went to PT/OT after my mastectomies I couldn’t even move my arms away from my body. My arms all the way to my elbows were frozen against my body and I was only moving my arms from the elbow. It reached that level 5 days post-op. Try driving that way. I could only reach the bottom of the steering wheel. Pretty freaky but PT started loosening that up pretty rapidly. I, as most people just thought a DM was a cosmetic issue, but I was stunned by the functional impact it had. I did not have reconstruction.

Thank you.

How long do you think it took you to get back to some semblance of regular activity? I’m the girl on the cough not moving while the drains disgust me. I’m very bad at milking so that scares me too. I’m scared about everything. I didn’t used to be until my world flipped upside down.

When could you wash your hair? I’m so nervous about those drains that I’m even scared to shower. I don’t think I’m handling this like all the strong women I see in breast cancer ads. I’m so not there yet.

Don’t worry about how you’re measuring up to an ad (ever). Get through a day and you’ll get through a week and soon this part will be over. Take the serious pain meds then shift to the OTC stuff but still take it — it does help.

Do take a shower and slowly reach your arms up to your hair, don’t worry about perfect. I used a lanyard for the drains in the shower. They are your buddies. Everything they remove helps you heal.

I found it easier to strip the drains using the same alcohol pads that you use to clean them, to give it some slip. Or a damp paper towel. I also did it with some body wash in the shower (with the drains closed). Get a little routine and it goes quickly.

You can do this! I kept thinking that other women got through it, so I would too. Then go back to the couch and rest up. 🩷

p.s. The pain will change and improve as you heal. I had terrible armpit pain after a biopsy and thought I would lose my mind if it all was going to be like that. I’m a couple of years out, and there’s still discomfort but it’s absolutely bearable. With time, you adapt and it’s not great but it’s okay and it’s worth it to be here. There are many avenues to deal with discomfort too.

I’ll suggest to call your breast surgeon or plastic surgeon for an OT/PT referral.
I had double mastectomy on July 25th, they didn’t remove lymph nodes but they did a biopsy in three of them.
I have what is called cording in my armpits and pain in my right shoulder. My breast surgeon sent me to OT. I started OT/PT two weeks ago and with the stretching exercises that they gave me to do it two times a day I’m feeling so much better.
My breast area still very tight, even with the stretching exercises. I know it will takes time. I will see my plastic surgeon next week.

Wishing you all the best❤️!

Cool pack/ warm packs for brief periods. Every couple of hours. Helps with swelling everywhere else.