Left arm pain months after Breast Lift. Surgeon says it is unrelated to surgery. Is he right?

Question

4.5 mos since BL, still have pain in left arm. Left breast had multiple delays in healing - went back into surgery 1 mo ago to clean and re-suture. Pain starts above breast, through armpit and into upper arm. Feels like circulation is compromised, fingers tingling. Surgeon says unrelated to surgery. I have read that arm position during surgery could result in nerve swelling that takes months to resolve. GP sending me for X-ray, suggests PT if nothing skeletal. Please help!

Clark Schierle, MD, PhD, FACS · Answer

The pain may or may not be related. A second opinion from another board certified plastic surgeon in the area may help. You may have some lymphatic cording or irritation as a result of the delayed healing.

Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD · Answer

It is unusual for a person to have arm pain following breast surgery.  Certainly a blood pressure cuff or the arm placement during surgery may lead to some transient discomfort, but should not be the cause four months later.  Further investigation is probably warranted.

Jason Hess, MD · Answer

Sorry to hear about your discomfort following mastopexy.  It is not unusual to experience discomfort in the arm following a breast procedure.  Additionally, a blood pressure cuff circulates up and down during surgery.  This often leads to post operative pain.  However, pain in the arm that exists following surgery for months is unusual.  X rays are unlikely to yield any findings that will help.  Hopefully, with time, this will resolve on its own.If it fails to resolve, a neurologist may be asked to perform nerve conduction studies.I have had patients with transient arm pain following surgery.  This is "referred pain".  It means that pain originates elsewhere and is referred to a different site.  I believe you may be experiencing referred pain or it could be unrelated.  I would give it time, and if it fails to resolve, see a neurologist.  Good Luck!

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD · Answer

Without an exam I don't think anyone would want to say that your surgeon is right or not right. An x-ray may not be helpful since it will only show abnormalities in the bone, and it is not likely that you have had a fracture and not known it. If the pain is due to nerve injury from positioning, better would be an EMG (electromyography) and/or NCV (nerve conduction velocy).  AN evaluation by a neurologist might be helpful. All the best.

Robert Drielsma, MBBS, BSc, FRACS · Answer

There are be many causes of your ongoing arm pain and its impossible to determine without formal consultation.  Its unusual to experience this type of pain four months after surgery so you should discuss with your plastic surgeon and pursue further investigation if you are concerned.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

There are many reasons to have arm pain whether it is related or not to surgery is difficult to determine in a form such as this. If you feel the answers you received from your surgeon were not adequate, then perhaps you need to seek  second opinion.

Left arm pain months after Breast Lift. Surgeon says it is unrelated to surgery. Is he right?

Answers (6)

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