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Single mastectomy, three lymph nodes removed, and as SherrieB said the lymph node incision was the more uncomfortable of the two! They cut through so many nerves during the mastectomy, that a lot of the area is numb. For the lymph node area, having a small U shaped pillow that goes under the arm, helps reduce the amount of pressure/friction from your arm against the incision site! Highly recommend! Our center had volunteers that made the pillows, if you don;t want to purchase a commercially made one, a similarly shaped neck pillow or even small folded towel under the arm will work! Hugs!
I had a double mastectomy at age 60. I had 2 nodes removed on each side of my chest. The lymph node removal/incision site was the most uncomfortable and took the longest to heal. I spent one night in the hospital. I used only over the counter pain relievers but I took them on schedule so as to stay on top of the pain. I followed doctors orders and limited arm use, even when I felt good. The pain was much less than what I had imagined in my head.
How painful is a double mastectomy with lymph node removal?
During the surgery itself, you won't feel pain because you'll be under general anesthesia. The procedure typically takes between two and three hours.
After surgery, you can expect some discomfort as you recover. Your chest muscles and arms will likely be sore Show Full Answer
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