What is Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome
Post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS), is a type of chronic postoperative pain. PMPS is often neuropathic, meaning it is usually caused by nerve damage. Studies have shown that between 20% and 30% of women develop symptoms of PMPS after surgery. It’s most common after operations that remove tissue in the upper outside portion of the breast or the underarm area. Consult a doctor for medical advice. Back to conditions page.
Symptoms
- Numbness
- Pain and tingling in the chest wall, armpit, and/or arm
- Pain may also be felt in the shoulder or surgical scar
- Shooting or pricking pain
- Unbearable itching
Treatment
- Acupressure
- Acupuncture
- Massage
- Relaxation exercises
- Some pain medicines, even some as strong as opioids (narcotics) don’t always work well for nerve pain, but there are medicines and treatments that do work for this kind of pain.
- Talk to your doctor to get the pain control you need.
- Transcutaneous nerve stimulation
