Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome

About 2-3 in 10 women deal with the Post mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) which is characterized by pain and a tingling sensation over the chest wall, armpits, and the arm of the side where the surgery was performed. PMPS is more common in younger women, and is thought to be due to nerve damage inflicted during the mastectomy. It is more common in women who’ve had a full axillary node dissection. Since PMPS is thought to arise from nerve damage, traditional opioid painkillers are less effective against it. However, if you’re suffering from PMPS, talk to your doctor about specific drugs for nerve pain which would be more useful against PMPS.

Source:

https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/pain/post-mastectomy-pain-syndrome.html

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash