nerve pain in first few weeks after recovery
Hi there! Sorry this is going to be longg…
TLDR: OWWWWWWWI!!!
I had lumpectomy and breast reduction on both sides on 10/9. I've ben having nerve pain which feels like a pretty bad sunburn in most places and in a couple spots like an itch. (at one point it covered my whole chest & upper abdomen down to a few inches above the navel., but less area now.) Plus a few of those "zingers" now and then which I was told to expect.
In retrospect I realize it probably started up a couple days after surgery as my breasts were hypersensitive from the getgo.
Compression bra was absolute torture because the band rolled up and dug into my incisions! Got that sorted out by using compression camisole. Healing seems to be going quicker now. At my 2 week followup I didn't recognize the issue of nerve ain because of the pain from the bra. (I now ask myself, why didn't I call earlier? I think maybe I thought it was "normal" and couldn't be helped for people with a build like mine.)
Hypersensitivity wearing off on its own. Started gabapentin after my 2 week followup and a few conversations with the surgical advice nurse. The mock-sunburn now covers just the area of a bra and a little bit on the backs of my upper arms. A nice side effect is I've now had 2 nights in a row of good sleep!
Radiation starting in a few weeks I guess—meeting with the radiology oncologist on Halloween which feels quite appropriate (think glow-in-the-dark Frankenboobs…).
Starting dose of gaba is 300 mg at bedtime for 5 days, then start adding if needed. Cold packs and "cat kneading" self massage help during the day. Luckily I'm retired so can rub on my boobies without causing shock and scandal to the faint of heart around me…
Just curious to hear from others with a lot of dispersed nerve pain soon after surgery—if you took meds, for how long? any other non-med remedies that helped? I'd like to discontinue the gabapentin as soon as I can, I fear I like it far too much.