Cause of tingling, tightness in affected arm?
Meet the Experts
Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a breast surgeon and clinical instructor at the Thomas Jefferson University Department of Surgery in Philadelphia, PA. She also maintains a practice in Cherry Hill, N.J. Dr. Brill is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. In addition, she has published breast cancer research in medical journals such as Annals of Plastic Surgery and Cancer, and she has presented research at the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Linda Miller, P.T. is the clinical director of the Breast Cancer Physical Therapy Center, LTD, a private practice serving the Philadelphia, PA and southern New Jersey areas. Linda specializes in treating post-operative complications of breast cancer surgery, including lymphedema.
Question from JeanJ: How does one distinguish strange tingling, tightness sensations in the arm affected (especially underarm) from either the surgery, radiation, or anything more serious to be concerned about?
- Answer —Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S.: Numbness and burning, tingling sensations from the armpit down to the elbow, especially the undersurface of the arm, is common after any sort of axillary surgery. For some women, this disappears after several weeks and for others, it persists more long-term. This is due to disruption or irritation of the nerves in the axilla that supply those areas. Typically, it is not a sign of any new problem. Any new sensations, though, particularly years out from surgery (meaning new pain or lumps) ought to be investigated.
On Wednesday, May 21, 2008, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called After Surgery: Short-term and Long-term Effects. Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. and Linda Miller, P.T. answered your questions about short-term and long-term side effects of breast surgery, and what you can do about them.
The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of Breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.
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