CLND armpit pain

Between the infection, seroma which can press on structures and the nerves that were cut/stretched/disturbed – there could be many reasons for your pain.  All could be contributing but the seroma and/or could just be getting bigger and causing issues.

Between the infection, seroma which can press on structures and the nerves that were cut/stretched/disturbed – there could be many reasons for your pain.  All could be contributing but the seroma and/or could just be getting bigger and causing issues.

Between the infection, seroma which can press on structures and the nerves that were cut/stretched/disturbed – there could be many reasons for your pain.  All could be contributing but the seroma and/or could just be getting bigger and causing issues.

Anon – So start with the really good news…no cancer in your nodes…don't lose that perspective.  (I assume your scans were good as well).

I am 13 months out from a 3A diagnosis and honestly would find it hard to discern which sucked more the CLND (underarm) or the Interferon treatment for the next 12 months.  

Can't really address the infection portion of your question…but the CLND for me was very difficult for the first 2 months because of the drain tube that came out from the surgery site.  I lovingly referred to it as "the bitch with the hot ice pick that chose to send a random violent shot of pain every few minutes….24 hours a day".  It was last year's Christmas present to get that tube removed (this year's present was stopping Interferon last week).

But beyond that, expect very modest pain to start with at the surgery site (felt nothing) but increasing pain over the next few months as nerves began to wake up and grow back into that area.  What I have observed is that the diameter of the pain field was about the size of a softball has begun to shrink to something smaller than a tennis ball AND the intensity of pain has also begun to subside beginning at the 6 month post surgery.  It has continued to taper but there is still discomfort.

My strongest advise is to continually do the stretching exercises that they gave you when the tube came out.  It doesn't take much…just 3-4 minutes a couple of times a week will make a huge difference in the pain that I experienced.  

Best wishes…Michel

Anon – So start with the really good news…no cancer in your nodes…don't lose that perspective.  (I assume your scans were good as well).

I am 13 months out from a 3A diagnosis and honestly would find it hard to discern which sucked more the CLND (underarm) or the Interferon treatment for the next 12 months.  

Can't really address the infection portion of your question…but the CLND for me was very difficult for the first 2 months because of the drain tube that came out from the surgery site.  I lovingly referred to it as "the bitch with the hot ice pick that chose to send a random violent shot of pain every few minutes….24 hours a day".  It was last year's Christmas present to get that tube removed (this year's present was stopping Interferon last week).

But beyond that, expect very modest pain to start with at the surgery site (felt nothing) but increasing pain over the next few months as nerves began to wake up and grow back into that area.  What I have observed is that the diameter of the pain field was about the size of a softball has begun to shrink to something smaller than a tennis ball AND the intensity of pain has also begun to subside beginning at the 6 month post surgery.  It has continued to taper but there is still discomfort.

My strongest advise is to continually do the stretching exercises that they gave you when the tube came out.  It doesn't take much…just 3-4 minutes a couple of times a week will make a huge difference in the pain that I experienced.  

Best wishes…Michel

Anon – So start with the really good news…no cancer in your nodes…don't lose that perspective.  (I assume your scans were good as well).

I am 13 months out from a 3A diagnosis and honestly would find it hard to discern which sucked more the CLND (underarm) or the Interferon treatment for the next 12 months.  

Can't really address the infection portion of your question…but the CLND for me was very difficult for the first 2 months because of the drain tube that came out from the surgery site.  I lovingly referred to it as "the bitch with the hot ice pick that chose to send a random violent shot of pain every few minutes….24 hours a day".  It was last year's Christmas present to get that tube removed (this year's present was stopping Interferon last week).

But beyond that, expect very modest pain to start with at the surgery site (felt nothing) but increasing pain over the next few months as nerves began to wake up and grow back into that area.  What I have observed is that the diameter of the pain field was about the size of a softball has begun to shrink to something smaller than a tennis ball AND the intensity of pain has also begun to subside beginning at the 6 month post surgery.  It has continued to taper but there is still discomfort.

My strongest advise is to continually do the stretching exercises that they gave you when the tube came out.  It doesn't take much…just 3-4 minutes a couple of times a week will make a huge difference in the pain that I experienced.  

Best wishes…Michel

I had an infection when I had my cnld (prob partially bc I developed an allergy to my antibiotics)… and it was insanely painful!!! Was on 2 percocets every 3 hours for a day or 2 until infection got some what under control…. also, the infection caused my draining to last so much longer than expected. My advice: don’t worry too much, if you have a minor infection, pain and fluid is normal, you just need to be vigilant and work with your dr to get it under control and rest a ton. And don’t hesitate to contact your dr as much as you want!! With surgery infections, Dr’s want to know about it! Also, I highly recommend getting into physical therapy as soon as possible. It’s extremely beneficial for anyone with a CNLD, but I found that my initial range of motion was a bit more limited than expected bc of the infection. ROM is totally normal now, so don’t be scared about that. Good luck and Merry Christmas!!

I had an infection when I had my cnld (prob partially bc I developed an allergy to my antibiotics)… and it was insanely painful!!! Was on 2 percocets every 3 hours for a day or 2 until infection got some what under control…. also, the infection caused my draining to last so much longer than expected. My advice: don’t worry too much, if you have a minor infection, pain and fluid is normal, you just need to be vigilant and work with your dr to get it under control and rest a ton. And don’t hesitate to contact your dr as much as you want!! With surgery infections, Dr’s want to know about it! Also, I highly recommend getting into physical therapy as soon as possible. It’s extremely beneficial for anyone with a CNLD, but I found that my initial range of motion was a bit more limited than expected bc of the infection. ROM is totally normal now, so don’t be scared about that. Good luck and Merry Christmas!!

I had an infection when I had my cnld (prob partially bc I developed an allergy to my antibiotics)… and it was insanely painful!!! Was on 2 percocets every 3 hours for a day or 2 until infection got some what under control…. also, the infection caused my draining to last so much longer than expected. My advice: don’t worry too much, if you have a minor infection, pain and fluid is normal, you just need to be vigilant and work with your dr to get it under control and rest a ton. And don’t hesitate to contact your dr as much as you want!! With surgery infections, Dr’s want to know about it! Also, I highly recommend getting into physical therapy as soon as possible. It’s extremely beneficial for anyone with a CNLD, but I found that my initial range of motion was a bit more limited than expected bc of the infection. ROM is totally normal now, so don’t be scared about that. Good luck and Merry Christmas!!