Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome

WHAT IS IT AND HOW IS IT TREATED?

If you have recently been through breast cancer treatment and have started suffering from chronic pain – you’re not alone. Unfortunately, some patients who have undergone a mastectomy or lumpectomy in the fight against cancer may have painful and chronic effects from the surgery. This post-operative pain is called Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome (PMPS).

PMPS is caused by damage done to nerves during a mastectomy or lumpectomy. Patients who undergo a full lymph node dissection or receive radiation or chemotherapy treatment after surgery are more likely to have PMPS complications.

Symptoms

While symptoms may vary depending on the person, patients (typically women) suffering from PMPS have described their symptoms as:

Pain in the chest, armpit, or arm
Tingling in the chest, armpit, or arm
Pain in surgical scars
Numbness
Shooting pain
Severe itching
Phantom breast pain

Treatment

Our neurosurgeons are experts in the treatment and management of complex pain disorders like Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome. They will review your medical history and learn about your specific pain experience. This allows them to correctly diagnose your symptoms and discuss all the treatment options available to help control PMPS pain, including: