Sequelae of benign breast cancer surgery

After breast surgery, paresthesia, pain and discomfort on the same side are common, and there may even be phantom limb pain after surgery. If the symptoms persist, local massage or desensitization and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation can be used to solve them. In addition, attention should be paid to whether there are local soft tissue lesions, such as supraspinatus biceps tendinitis and frozen shoulder on the affected side.

In addition, some superficial venous thrombosis and thromboembolism, as well as neuropathy caused by radiation therapy, can all cause pain. Therefore, for patients with persistent pain, it is necessary to see a doctor to determine the cause. It also includes joint stiffness: it is often caused by reduced activity after surgery, coupled with the fear of movement caused by pain. The degree of activity can be maintained through positioning techniques and joint range of motion exercises. When joint stiffness and atrophy have occurred, heat therapy from the superficial to the deep layer, deep friction massage and some traction exercises can be used to soften the rigid fibers and connective tissues.

Muscle weakness and poor posture are also postoperative sequelae of breast cancer: due to the removal of some tissues and the reduction of activity, muscle strength often decreases. Some activities can be used to gradually train muscle strength. When the patient's weakness persists, it is also necessary to rule out whether the arm nerve is injured, so as not to delay the patient's breast cancer treatment or even cause secondary injury. Lymphedema: Because the lymph nodes in the affected area are affected, the lymphatic return is blocked, which causes pain and swelling in the affected upper limb and even affects the movement of the joints. Clinically, it can be measured simply by measuring the arm circumference. If the increase reaches two centimeters, it means that it is meaningful and needs to be actively intervened in rehabilitation. In the early stage of lymphedema, the affected limb can be raised, or the patient can be instructed to massage in the centripetal direction and cooperate with muscle pump activities. When the swelling intensifies, elastic bandages or air pumps can be used to pressurize to promote the return of lymph fluid. However, when there is secondary infection or tumor cell spread in the affected area, this type of treatment is absolutely contraindicated, so the root cause should be carefully evaluated by the doctor before this type of treatment can be adopted.