Still having pain 6 months after core needle biopsy

I was beginning to think I was being dramatic, but after reading your post I'm not the only one with severe pain. It has been a month since my biopsy and the pain is very intense. It's not just the breast, but the nipple of that breast is so tender that bathing is painful. I cannot stand for clothing to touch the breast so I have to wear a bra 24/7. I a seriously considering calling my physician because I have not been able to find any form of relief. I also do not take pain medication because it irritates my stomach.

I have similar issues. I went to a top surgeon for the proc procedure on my other breast and I have no pain. My stereotactic biopsy from what I understand now was completely unnecessary. The breast hurts for weeks then stops. Then hurts again. I really hate being operated on but I hear more and more frequently that those markers can be the cause. I'm not surprised as I know I tend to be very sensitive to many things. But I still don't get it. Unfortunately I didnt use a goodbye surgeon for that procedure but my top notch specialist who did my surgery wanted nothing to do with this issue and completely dismissed it

marie - this thread hasn't been active since 2018 so it's not likely anyone will answer. However if you still have pain after 6 months, you really do need make an appointment with the doctor.

Is your pain at the site of the biopsy where the doctor made a small incision? Or elsewhere? It is possible that the compression from the mammogram paddles could cause some bruising (if that is how your biopsy was performed). I was very sore and tender in my my first few ribs for a good 10 months after my biopsy which, according to my doctor, was most likely from some bruising of the bone as well as deep tissue bruising resulting from being compressed so tightly and for so long. (My core biopsy took awhile because I had two spots that were very posterior and difficult to get into view and then difficult to access.) That pain lingered long after the pain from my lumpectomies had subsided. If the pain feels like it is more inflammation or irritation within the breast, or that your incision didn't heal properly, it can't hurt to see your doctor about it.

I had a biopsy 1 month ago and they hit a nerve towards the end of the procedure. I am in a significant amount of pain that is getting worse. Radiologist informed me that women don’t have pain longer than 4 weeks following the most extensive breast surgeries and my body was meant to take worse teams than the biopsy. My breast feels like it is on fire. I’m confident I have nerve damage but don’t know who to see next to figure out how to manage the pain and get my life back. Did you follow up eith your doctor? Did they recommend any specialists to help with breast pain? My biopsy was benign which is good but I really don’t know who to get help from as most breast specialists seem to be oncologists when I search providers. I feel stuck and could use advice on who to see next. Do you feel any better

(I have a friend from college who had similar issues w her biopsy and she had burning nerve damage for over a year and dealt with it. I just can’t live with this indefinetly)

Ugh it sucks! I'm having the same issue 10 months after 3 makings were left in my breast following q biopsy. I was told the same thing "sometimes breast pain just happens. If I could cure it I would be rich" those the words a doctor told me. I feel that my pain is caused by the markings because my body is super sensitive to metal.

I hope you were able to find answers.

Thanks,

Nia

I read your article and I have the same thing. I’m having lots of pain after a core biopsy to my breast. My pain is radiating down my arm, into my shoulder and all around that area. I’m on constant pain killers. I wish I had been told that there may be side effects. It has affected every aspect of my life and I cannot work and very depressed most of the time with this pain.

How are you doing? Do you still have pain. Have you had any treatment that may help?

Oct 29, 2021, I had a core biopsy for a very small spot, I was on the table when they discussed the titanium marker, scared to death, laying face down, I felt like they were selling a product? And made me feel I had to have this thing! I'm sorry to say, I felt the whole procedure was barbaric. Laying flat, head twisted, mask on, I was hyperventilating, they told me to stay still, the noise from the machine, the pain of the two needles, being squished in the mammogram vice. I was told to then turn over, that I had a small blood clot, I tried, I was still clamped in? The assistant ran over and apologized, I turned over, the doctor massaged my breast to get the clot moving. I was very sick after that, they did another mammogram to make sure the clip was in place, 4 mammograms in two weeks? I was in bed all the next day, in tremendous pain.

After 3 calls, and 2 months later in pain, they gave me an ultrasound, my breast was not healing and could see where the needles went in. I was told by the specialist that I had nerve damage and now 6 months later, still on gabapenton and swollen breast and pain. I was told the clip was not the problem???? I don't believe that. What to do?

The metal clip can cause allergic reaction and inflammation. I was in terrible pain after biopsy. And after 6 months of torture went privately to get the metal clip removed (my doctor didnt want to do it). The pain went away just to come back half a year later as cancer. I will never know what caused my cancer but I will always think it was inflammation from initial biopsy and metal clip.

Just recently I had another biopsy done. They inserted the clip again. But after conversion with my surgeon she agreed to have it removed. She also confirmed that the clip can cause pain or allergic reaction in women.

Hi Ilikedogs,

I have implants. I have had a stereotactic biopsy and a needle core biopsy. In comparison, I would not do the stereotactic again and request the needle core biopsy. I found the needle core biopsy easier physically and mentally. The bruising will go away in a few days. Honestly, I did not have any issue with pain. You can ice it if it is painful. I wish you the best of luck with good results. The waiting is probably worse than the biopsy pain and bruising.