Scar Tissue after breast reduction, does this cause pain

[apt]

I had a breast reduction surgery about four years ago.  I just recently began to feel one of my breast sentative and painful.  I have examined my self but don't feel any lumps, but I am worry that I my have breast cancer.  I was told that it might be scar tissue but I just don't know.  Can anyone tell me if this is what could be happening to me?

[blackrose]

Hi,it could be scar tissue.Have you seen the surgeon that performed your breast reduction?You need to seen by the surgeon that performed the reduction,and him/her check it out.If it is scar tissue,the surgeon will do another surgery to remove the scar tissue.You need to make an appointment tomorrow.Take care.Happy Holidays.

[VickiInVegas]

I would think if it was related to your breast reduction scars you would've been having soreness/pain MUCH sooner.  Its been 4 years since you've had it done.  

You are having pain/soreness localized in one breast.  It sounds more like you may be developing something like a cyst. Determining the appropriate treatment for this type of breast pain is difficult, not only because it is hard to pinpoint where the pain is coming from, but also because the pain is not hormonal.

You need to schedule an exam and mammogram.

[dee572]

Subject: Breast Reduction Pain Four Years Later!

Question
I had breast reduction almost four years ago. My left breast has been hurting so much .When I get cold , the nipple starts to hurt and it sends excruciating pain to the breast. In order to relieve this pain if I am at home I will warm up a heating pad and the pain will start to subside.  However, it does not diminish completely. I also experience itching, sometimes the itching is excruciating . Sometimes numbness and always feels swollen. There are times when I also feel sharp very uncomfortable pains which just come.
I am so apprehensive to be put under again and have them not fix what it is.  ...but every waking breath of every day my left breast hurts.   I have been online looking and looking and have never found anything that might answer my question.  This is the first place I am hoping you might be able to shed some light on this.  AND...the saddest news of all is that my breasts are still size DD and the one that hurts is much bigger than the other one.  
Any suggestions for me?
thank you,
Dee572

[trixie222]

does scarlet fever cause any scarring or loss of pigmentation?  Does anybody know if tanning would help or make worse?

[junebug56]

I had a breast reduction june 08 after the surgery the healing process began. I developed a greenish brown infection on my left breast which was treated by my doctor. Now my left breast is hard like a rock with two lumps inside them. Could thiis be scar tissue? It is really painful and I can feel the lumps really good.

[pennybox]

I have had chronic pain in my right breast since a breast reduction 10 years ago.  It is either from neuromas or nerves caught in scar tissue.  It sounds like you may have something similar.  My nipples are still sensitive, but not at the level you are talking about.

[dawnderella]

I had reduction 12 years ago. I have always had some degree of pain in my left breast which I was always told was scar tissue. There is also sutures or something that can be felt in there. It's very tender when I have brest exams. But, it is becoming excruciating pain the past 3 months. The pain is in my chest, my rib cage, through my back and to my shoulder. It hurts sometimes when I take a deep breath. I have been checked for all cardiac and blood clots and everything is normal. So, I really think it's my breast that is causing all this pain.  I am wondering if anyone has ever had this problem and how do you get it taken care of? My primary doctor gave me percocet for the pain and it helps the pain but, I think I am allergic to it because it makes me itch really bad and I get nauseous so, I hate taking it. I can't get an appointment with my Obgyn until December. Ugh.

[cynwake]

I can relate to your response the most.  I also had a reduction 15 years ago and it has been over the past 4 years that I have major pains through out my chest.  No problems elsewhere so I have to conclude it's comming from all the scar tissue.  The pain radiates all through my chest and back.  Some days it's so bad I can hardly stand it.  I finally asked my Doctor during an annual routine physical and he said it was very possible the scars are causing the pain.  The Doc who did the reduction is in another state from where I'm living now so I can't go back to him.  I'm really at a loss for what to do. Taking pain pills doesn't sound pleasing so I've just been living with it.  But it's been progressively getting worst.  I really don't know what to do !!!

[littlestephyb]

I had the surgery back in 2001 only 7 years ago and have felt the pain through my chest back and shoulders. sometimes making feel sick it hurts so bad... i'm glad to hear i am not the only one.

[jone6671]

I had a breast reduction in 2003 (removing a total of 15 lbs.)  I discovered a lump in my right breast about 3 months after the surgery.  I went back to the surgeon and he said that it was scar tissue.  My OB/GYN indicates that it feels like scar tissue be it that my breast were sooooooo large prior to the surgery.  In the last 4-6 weeks (2008), I have been having really bad pain (sharp) in the same breast where the scar tissue is located and my nipple is often tender and sore.  I am glad that I am not the only one who has experienced this sharp and sometimes dull pain associated with the reduction and scar tissue.

[mona911]

I am glad I found this website as I know exactly what you're going through. I had breast reduction in Feb 2005 and have had pain every single day in my right breast since the surgery. I take pain meds daily (Tramadol and Neurontin) and like you, get sharp pains in my nipple in the cold and use a heating pad for relief.. My surgeon says it is a neuroma in the scar tissue and he has not had any patient besides me who is experiencing this problem, making me feel so alone with this extremely painful condition.   I wear a Lidoderm patch under my right breast during the day so that I can function at work. It is agony to wear a bra, but I have found that if I wear a lacy camisole underneath my bra instead of over it seems to help alleviate the pain.   I tried cortisone injections (very painful),  acupuncture, TENS unit, nerve blocks - all without relief. It is so frustrating, but knowing that there are others out there makes me feel like I'm not crazy.
Maybe a pain clinic could help you.  YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!

[mel003]

O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O MY GOSH,
I am so glad that I found this web site.My reduction was done Oct.2003 and I was sitting here with all of the same pains .
It's so bad....under my left breast  it feels like a pin in sticking with pain under my arm,in my chest,back all of the same things that you guys are feeling.
Has anyone found a doctor to help or is there any help for us???

[pennybox]

You can get neuromas from breast reduction, they can sometimes be taken out if you have tinels signs.  This surgery has been done before, it is in the medical journals.  You can also get CRPS, or RSD from breast reductions.  That is a chronic pain condition resulting from nerve injury.  Most doctors don't know it is possible, but there have been 2 cases in the literature.  

Also, phantom breast pain has been noted in breast reductions.  Plastic Surgeons should tell people about this, but they don't, whether they are aware or not.  

You are best to find a Plastic Surgeon at a university hospital, or a neurologist who specializes in treating pain.  There are medications that may help, that treat nerve pain.

[booblady]

I thought I was going crazy.  I had breast reduction Aug 2006.  I had 12 lbs removed.  When it gets cold out, my breasts hurt so bad that I have to take something and put a heating pad on them.  I too asked the Dr what it could be and was told it was scar tissue.    I also get tightness.  The only thing that seems to help is a sports bra.  I do get the itching on my right breast.  I am not worried about any of this since the mammogram was fine.  I guess it's all part of the program.  Even with all of this, I would still do the surgery again in a heartbeat.

[lindy98]

I had a liposuction breast reduction in 2002.  It seemed like it went well until 2006 when I started experiencing pain in a spot in the right side of back and down my right shoulder, wrist, and arm. The pain was joined by burning sensations and hypersensitivity to the point that I could not even stand clothing to touch my right arm.   It quickly progressed so that I have not been able to drive, cook, clean or do any of my normal household or hobby activities for the past two + years. After visits to 13 different doctors, multiple scans, tests, medications, I did not know what to do next.  All of the doctors seemed clueless as to treatment if drugs did not work.  The last doctor(pain management) suggested medical massage therapy for treatment of possible myofascial pain syndrome.  We did some research and found a therapist that specialized in, and taught myofascial release treatment. She evaluated me and found a profusion of internal scarring in my breasts and surrounding tissue as a result of the breast reduction.  I have been working with her for the past four months and have found some relief, but have a way to go yet. I have had tears in my eyes as I have been reading your accounts of the pain and disrupted lives.  I will pray for everyone here and may God bless you all.

[Niki1995]

I have had a breast reduction with liposuction on the sides about 10yrs ago.  In the beginning I experienced a little tingling in the breast, but nothing like the pain now.  I have recently experienced pain underneath my arm that radiates to my left breast to my nipple.  These pains can be sharp at times.  Do you suggest that I use a warm compress to help with the pain?  It is also very sensitive to touch the skin.  Have you heard of these types of problems occurring years later from this surgery?  

[jennigirl98]

I used to work for a plastic surgeon this couold very well be just some scar tissue that has built up over time, However, you should call the surgeon that did the surgery just to be on the cautious side.

[Karen84]

I am so glad I found this site. I too had a reduction about 4 years ago.
My left pain grew and the pain was a burning pain. I placed ice cubes under my arm and the left side of the breast. The ice melted fast. Then my right breast grew and burned as well. I went to a breast doc which told me to lose weight and I went to a breast cancer doc and they turned me away saying they dont deal in breast pain.  I have taken Vit E, Black Cosh and Evening primrose oil. I do not want to take any more meds but would like to find an answer to this issue. The pain stays for months and then I dont have amy pain but alwys comes back.  I now have the pain with the swollen breast but this time the breast do not burn.  I found a doc that will not pass it off as menopause or something stupid. She is sending me to a specalist which she says is very good and if that doc cant help then she will send me to a reduction doc. I am in a different state so maybe there is hope.  I really thought I was alone in this matter.    Thanks for all your stories and good luck to all.

[Ktender]

I am glad that  found this site and that I am no the only one who is having this problem. I had my breast reduction about 3 years ago.The pain is primarily in my right breast, sometimes in both. I thought I was having upper back pain but have come to the conclusion that it is from scar tissue that may have adhered to nerves or musles. I have a mammogram and it came back ok. I have had physical thereapy and that has not help. The pain is progressively getting worst and sometimes unbareable. I hope and pray that we ALL find some relief.

[sweetpeacj]

Like most of you, I'm so glad I found this site.  My reduction was over 12 yrs ago and luckily I do not have "excruciating" pain like some of you do.  I was starting to think recently that I might need to go get my heart checked, because sometimes I get a dull pain in my left shoulder, chest and upper arm.  I've always had numbness and itching on that side and I knew that was from the surgery.  Every once in a while I do get a sharp pain too.  I'm almost 40, so I should have my heart checked "just in case", but it sounds like maybe it's just par for the course.  I'm still glad I had it done though.