› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Recovery from lymph node dissection?
- This topic has 15 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 4 months ago by
Marianne quinn.
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- September 16, 2015 at 2:42 am
I recently had two malignant melanomas removed, a SLN biopsy in my right groin, and what turned out to be a full dissection of the lymph nodes under my left arm. This was intended to be a biopsy as well, but as soon as they got in, they could see the cancer had spread. In addition, the melanoma on my leg was large and deep enough that I needed a skin graft. I am currently stage 3 but waiting to do an MRI and PET scan once I heal more from the surgeries
My question is this. How have others who have had the full dissection under an arm recover from it? My arm is part numb and part "prickly" – as if my arm was asleep and is waking up to pins and needles. The surgeou says it "might" get better – but it may not. It drives me crazy
Is there somethng I can do to ease the discomfort of the numbness and tingling? .
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- September 16, 2015 at 3:01 pm
Christine – I am 10 months after full dissection and still have pain. The pain was actually pretty modest (except for the 8 weeks with the drain tube) for the for first several months…hardly felt anything around the surgery site.
The pain actually increased as I recovered around the dissection area. (the actual melanoma site gives me no pain…just a 5-6 inch battle scar) I now have increased feeling (but not normal in much of the dissection surgery site periphery out to 5-8 inches) but that is a double edged sword in that I now have more pain albeit it is now more localized to about 3-4 inches. I also suspect that a relatively minor case of lymphodema is playing a part as well.
To be honest…once you reconcile that the feeling will never be the same…you get focused on the treatment side affects and the implications of the scans etc. and the pain at the surgery site becomes a rather minor but annoying inconvenience.
BTW…once you get the tube out they will give you stretching exercises. DO THEM…they are simple (maybe 3-4 minutes) and they help immensily with the pain…much more so than OTC pain meds even 10 months later.
Best wishes
Michel
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- September 16, 2015 at 3:01 pm
Christine – I am 10 months after full dissection and still have pain. The pain was actually pretty modest (except for the 8 weeks with the drain tube) for the for first several months…hardly felt anything around the surgery site.
The pain actually increased as I recovered around the dissection area. (the actual melanoma site gives me no pain…just a 5-6 inch battle scar) I now have increased feeling (but not normal in much of the dissection surgery site periphery out to 5-8 inches) but that is a double edged sword in that I now have more pain albeit it is now more localized to about 3-4 inches. I also suspect that a relatively minor case of lymphodema is playing a part as well.
To be honest…once you reconcile that the feeling will never be the same…you get focused on the treatment side affects and the implications of the scans etc. and the pain at the surgery site becomes a rather minor but annoying inconvenience.
BTW…once you get the tube out they will give you stretching exercises. DO THEM…they are simple (maybe 3-4 minutes) and they help immensily with the pain…much more so than OTC pain meds even 10 months later.
Best wishes
Michel
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- September 16, 2015 at 3:01 pm
Christine – I am 10 months after full dissection and still have pain. The pain was actually pretty modest (except for the 8 weeks with the drain tube) for the for first several months…hardly felt anything around the surgery site.
The pain actually increased as I recovered around the dissection area. (the actual melanoma site gives me no pain…just a 5-6 inch battle scar) I now have increased feeling (but not normal in much of the dissection surgery site periphery out to 5-8 inches) but that is a double edged sword in that I now have more pain albeit it is now more localized to about 3-4 inches. I also suspect that a relatively minor case of lymphodema is playing a part as well.
To be honest…once you reconcile that the feeling will never be the same…you get focused on the treatment side affects and the implications of the scans etc. and the pain at the surgery site becomes a rather minor but annoying inconvenience.
BTW…once you get the tube out they will give you stretching exercises. DO THEM…they are simple (maybe 3-4 minutes) and they help immensily with the pain…much more so than OTC pain meds even 10 months later.
Best wishes
Michel
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- September 16, 2015 at 5:27 pm
Christine,
Sorry to hear this. The pain will probably get better. I think I have had All possible side effects from a CLND and while none fun all can be coped with. My pain was from a damaged nerve, and yes they do heal themselves (or try to). 6 years later, I still have occasional sharp pains for no apparent reason but that's a pretty minor annoyance.
What you really need to watch for is lymphedema. If you didn't get a RX for massage therapy already get one next time you see your surgeon. As soon as you feel a swelling get to a masseuse that specializes in lymphedema. Also get fitted for a sleeve. Don't wait on either of these, if it gets out of control it can be a pain but managed early it really isn't bad.
Good Luck,
Mary
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- September 16, 2015 at 5:27 pm
Christine,
Sorry to hear this. The pain will probably get better. I think I have had All possible side effects from a CLND and while none fun all can be coped with. My pain was from a damaged nerve, and yes they do heal themselves (or try to). 6 years later, I still have occasional sharp pains for no apparent reason but that's a pretty minor annoyance.
What you really need to watch for is lymphedema. If you didn't get a RX for massage therapy already get one next time you see your surgeon. As soon as you feel a swelling get to a masseuse that specializes in lymphedema. Also get fitted for a sleeve. Don't wait on either of these, if it gets out of control it can be a pain but managed early it really isn't bad.
Good Luck,
Mary
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- September 18, 2015 at 3:52 am
My husband had the same experience. He saw a lympedema physical therapist who ordered a compression sleeve for him. He is a lot more comfortable and his edema is reduced.,ask your doctor for a physical therapy consult.
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- September 18, 2015 at 3:52 am
My husband had the same experience. He saw a lympedema physical therapist who ordered a compression sleeve for him. He is a lot more comfortable and his edema is reduced.,ask your doctor for a physical therapy consult.
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- September 18, 2015 at 3:52 am
My husband had the same experience. He saw a lympedema physical therapist who ordered a compression sleeve for him. He is a lot more comfortable and his edema is reduced.,ask your doctor for a physical therapy consult.
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- September 16, 2015 at 5:27 pm
Christine,
Sorry to hear this. The pain will probably get better. I think I have had All possible side effects from a CLND and while none fun all can be coped with. My pain was from a damaged nerve, and yes they do heal themselves (or try to). 6 years later, I still have occasional sharp pains for no apparent reason but that's a pretty minor annoyance.
What you really need to watch for is lymphedema. If you didn't get a RX for massage therapy already get one next time you see your surgeon. As soon as you feel a swelling get to a masseuse that specializes in lymphedema. Also get fitted for a sleeve. Don't wait on either of these, if it gets out of control it can be a pain but managed early it really isn't bad.
Good Luck,
Mary
Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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