Chronic post-mastectomy pain

Posted by eezee @eezee, 7 hours ago

Hello all, I am a 30 y/o male. I went through a gender-affirming double incision mastectomy around 6 years ago, and everything went very well except that I wound up developing very thick, itchy, and painful hypertrophic scars as a result. I was given some steroid injections after the 6-week recovery period to help soften the scars and it did relieve some of the tightness and restriction of movement (along with entirely getting rid of the constant, insane itchiness), but even years later I still find the area around my chest very tender and sensitive to pain or pressure.

I frequently feel a lot of pain around my chest wall, my armpits, shoulders, and the backs and insides of my arms, though sometimes it feels like it gravitates up my back to my neck. Sometimes it's a dull ache, other times it feels like a very sharp, stabbing cramp or an electric shock, especially in the area where my nipple grafts were done. Sometimes it's difficult to even raise my arms or turn my wrists without feeling pain or discomfort. As my surgery was not done due to a cancer diagnosis or family history of breast cancer, I feel somewhat out of place going onto other mastectomy forums, but I would just like to know if anyone else has experienced this kind of long term post-surgical pain (regardless of why you had your procedure done) and how you cope with it/how to approach your doctor with concerns.

Thanks.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

I don't know, but I am wishing you well. Hopefully someone here can advise you. Has your surgeon or MD been able to provide any suggestions? Big hugs.

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