Mastectomy 18 months ago w/ expander. Hot to touch and still really uncomfortable (not red) - Help

Question

I have had a mastectomy 18 months ago with expander, always hot to touch and really uncomfortable. All that time I blamed my worsening pains in feet, knees, hips all on my cancer meds. Implant replacement 6 weeks ago, that one week after surgery I had zero pain! ... thank God, but gradually the pain has come back. I have asked all the specialists about it and no one knows, do you know ? Could my implant cause body pain? Could the antibiotic solution covering implant have helped with pain ?Please help I am desperate for answers. Am I going mad ?

Lewis Albert Andres, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question!  Your signs and symptoms sound very concerningand not common, especially for 18 months.  Both warmth and pain are signs and symptoms of the most dreaded complication following implant reconstruction - infection.  I would recommend seeing your surgeon and describing your symtpmos as well as for an evaluation.  Without knowing your history (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation, etc), it's difficult to tell you other things that may come into play.  While medications may in fact cause some of the other pains that you describe, it is also possible that infections may contribute as well.  Regardless, I would recommend evaluation by your surgeon.  Hope that this helps and that you begin to feel better.

Robert Whitfield, MD · Answer

I cannot tell you but if the pain has returned then you need to look at other options.Three
basic forms of breast reconstruction exist. You can use your own tissue,
implants or a combination of the previous two techniques. Your own tissue can
be used in the form of the DIEP flap, PAP flap, SGAP flap or fat grafting.
Implants can be done in one stage or two stage. Two stage reconstructions are
started by placing expanders at the time of mastectomy. Once they expanders are
placed they are able to be inflated as determined by wound healing. The final
time consists of combining any of the above techniques.

If
you are interested in being seen in Austin please give us a call.  I know
this is a difficult time for you.  The majority of my practice is devoted
to reconstruction for women with breast cancer or who are BRCA+

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

If you have warmth and pain you m ay have an infection. You may also have a strange pain syndrome. Best to see your surgeon.

Mastectomy 18 months ago w/ expander. Hot to touch and still really uncomfortable (not red) - Help

Answers (3)

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