Carol in Cal. Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 A dear friend of mine has breast cancer, and recently had a mastectomy. She reports that the scar area from the surgery is hypersensitive. She can’t stand rubbing on it at all, especially light rubbing. So it is very hard for her to rest comfortably or to wear clothes on her upper body at all. She is becoming extremely despondent over this as it’s so continuously uncomfortable. Is this common? What do people do to manage it? Does it dissipate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 It does happen. A friend of mind was unable to wear jeans after abdominal surgery. It was actually for a couple years in her case, though she's always been fragile as far as health goes. She switched to only elastic-waist pants and had to be very, very disciplined about using lotion and doing scar massage. When a different friend was struggling with burn scars, she wore only white, 100% cotton clothing next to the skin where the scars are. I wonder if a combination of wearing a loose, white, 100% cotton tank (perhaps even a large men's one to be loose enough) plus the lotion and regular scar massage might help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted February 19, 2022 Author Share Posted February 19, 2022 18 minutes ago, Harriet Vane said: It does happen. A friend of mind was unable to wear jeans after abdominal surgery. It was actually for a couple years in her case, though she's always been fragile as far as health goes. She switched to only elastic-waist pants and had to be very, very disciplined about using lotion and doing scar massage. When a different friend was struggling with burn scars, she wore only white, 100% cotton clothing next to the skin where the scars are. I wonder if a combination of wearing a loose, white, 100% cotton tank (perhaps even a large men's one to be loose enough) plus the lotion and regular scar massage might help? What kind of lotion did she use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 I don't know about a mastectomy, but the scar after each of my C-sections was tender and sensitive for a good long while. I can't remember exactly how long, though. I think a lot of it is from all the nerves knitting themselves back together, but I could be wrong about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbutton Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 I know someone that has an "electric" feeling near a surgery site. She sometimes uses a calming lotion--maybe Eucerin? Certain types of touch provoke it. I assume it's a matter of retraining the nerves. I wonder if an OT could help with something like therapeutic brushing? I hadn't thought of that until just this minute. They do a lot of sensory work, and while the basis is different, it's still a sensory issue and overlaps with hyperarousal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annandatje Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 I developed severe fibrosis in breast after oncological breast surgery and radiation five years ago. Early on, the shooting burning nerve pain was almost unbearable because the internal scar tissue would press on or wrap around nerves. Nothing helped, and my body cannot tolerate opioids. The medical team reassured me that THE THING (what we call what was formerly my right boob) would soften over time and stop developing scar tissue. It was only at my last follow-up appointment October 2021 that scar tissue "had not expanded since last visit." As a child, I got a nasty cut in arch of foot. The nerve discomfort of scar when touched lasted a couple decades. I hope your friend's issue is external scar tissue which is easier to deal with. Numbing creams may help her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 1 hour ago, Carol in Cal. said: What kind of lotion did she use? Both of the people I mentioned in my post used both Mederma and also a colloidal silver composition. The silver cream was unbelievably helpful with the burn scars--the difference was huge and could be seen/felt within days. If it were me personally, I would be tempted to use my son's prescription burn cream from a while ago that includes silver as an ingredient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 I had steroid injections in a very painful appendectomy scar. I would get electrical jolts of pain that were bad enough to make me yelp and the shots cured it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frances Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 I still get pain and sensitivity, on and off, in some scars I have from quite old injuries. These are on my hands and knees from falls, both walking and biking. It’s not unbearable like your friend and the affected areas are likely smaller. I find rubbing lotion into them helps. My mom recently gave me a peppermint scented lotion stick I really like, even though I use almost 100% unscented stuff normally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
City Mouse Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 After I had shoulder surgery last year (open surgery) my scar was quite sensitive. One of my tasks in physical therapy was scar massage. Sensitivity gradually decreased. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted February 21, 2022 Author Share Posted February 21, 2022 Thank you so much, everyone. This has been immensely helpful. My friend did not get any instructions for scar care/prevention from her surgeon, and thanks to you all she know how to start and what to ask for in support. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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