Pain Following a Mastectomy — What Causes It?
After a mastectomy, it is not uncommon for there to be pain. Many people experience neuropathic pain into the chest wall, armpit, and into the upper arm. This pain may resemble burning, aching, shooting, stabbing, tingling, itching, and/or pins and needles that are aggravated with arm movements. It is called Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome (PMPS) when these sensations continue beyond 3 months post-operatively.
The American Cancer Society reports that 20-30% of people develop PMPS post mastectomy and lumpectomy. There may be additional pain secondary to lymphedema from after the removal of lymph nodes. There are stretches, exercises, and manual techniques that can be used to improve symptoms. Below are some examples of techniques used to increase arm/chest mobility, improve upper extremity strength, and help desensitize incisional pain.
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Post Mastectomy Exercises
- Wall ball crawl ups: place your figure tips on a ball and crawl the ball up and down the wall. Repeat 20 repetitions.
- Wall ball circles: Place both hands on a ball to the left of you and crawl the ball up and overhead to the right side of your body. Perform again starting on the right and ending left. Repeat 10 repetitions.
- Lateral wall ball: Stand perpendicular to the wall and place the pink edge of your hand on the ball and roll it up and down the wall. Repeat 20x
- Scapular squeezes: sit in a tall posture. Squeeze shoulder blades together and hold for 2 seconds. Perform 2 sets of 20 repetitions.
Post Mastectomy Stretches
- Apley’s stretch: place a towel in your right hand and bring it up and over your head. Then grab the towel low behind the back with the left arm and hold for 30-60s. Repeat on the other side.
- Corner stretch: go to a corner of a room, place one hand on each wall. Press the chest towards the corner of the room. Hold for 30s.
- Seated cane stretch: Place a broom/cane into your hands and push the right arm into external rotation. Hold for 30s. Repeat on the opposite side.
Post Mastectomy Manual Treatments
- Skin desensitization: Find 3 different textured items. Gently rub 1 of the fabrics on the affected area for 30s – 1 minute. Repeat with the other 2 fabrics. Perform this for 3-5 minutes a day to desensitize the nerve pain.
- Scar release: Gentle scar mobilization. Can perform small circles, parallel friction, and transverse friction for 5 minutes daily.
