Postmastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS)
Recovery after any surgery is difficult; however, a mastectomy may leave some patients like me with longer-term pain beyond the recovery stage.
When postoperative pain in the chest, armpit, or arm doesn’t go away after a few months, it probably is postmastectomy pain syndrome or PMPS.
Here’s how to tell whether this may be happening to you.
It’s normal after a mastectomy to deal with stiffness, swelling, or a wound that drains fluid as the patient recovers, in addition to the mental toll the procedure may take.
Of course, pain immediately after surgery is normal. However, prolonged discomfort and pain could mean more than a lengthy healing process. It could signal PMPS.
Despite its name, it’s possible to develop this condition after breast-conserving surgeries, like lumpectomies, as well.
There’s no standard agreement on how long a woman experiences pain after breast surgery for it to be considered PMPS.
Experts are looking at how to define and diagnose PMPS better.
Despite its name, it’s possible to develop this condition after breast-conserving surgeries, like lumpectomies, as well.
There’s no standard agreement on how long a woman experiences pain after breast surgery for it to be considered PMPS.
Experts are looking at how to define and diagnose PMPS better.
For instance, research clinicians in the Canadian Journal of Surgery have proposed that PMPS be defined as moderate to severe nerve-like pain in the breast or underarm area that lasts more than six months and feels about 50 percent of the time, sometimes brought on by shoulder movements.
The exact cause of postmastectomy pain syndrome isn’t known, but the most common theory is that it happens when a nerve—or nerves—becomes damaged during surgery. If left untreated, PMPS may not only be painful, but it may also affect the use of a woman's arm and its range of movement and also affect her mental health.
The exact cause of postmastectomy pain syndrome isn’t known, but the most common theory is that it happens when a nerve—or nerves—becomes damaged during surgery. If left untreated, PMPS may not only be painful, but it may also affect the use of a woman's arm and its range of movement and also affect her mental health.
