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Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome

What is Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome (PMPS)?

For many women, breast cancer surgery is only the beginning of a much longer journey. Even after healing from a mastectomy or reconstruction, some patients experience persistent discomfort that doesn’t go away with time. This chronic nerve-related condition is known as Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome (PMPS).

PMPS affects up to 30% of women following mastectomy, lumpectomy, or radiation. Symptoms often include:

  • Persistent burning, shooting, or stabbing pain
  • Numbness or hypersensitivity in the chest wall, underarm, or arm
  • Pain that interferes with sleep, mobility, or quality of life

The cause is often linked to nerve damage during surgery or radiation, especially to the intercostobrachial nerve, but PMPS can be difficult to diagnose and frequently misunderstood or dismissed.

We know the impact this condition can have on your life. That’s why we take a multidisciplinary, algorithmic approach to your care, working with therapists, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, pain physicians, and surgeons to pave the way to lasting relief.
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Understanding Your Options

Living with chronic pain after breast cancer surgery isn’t something you should have to accept. PRMA offers advanced surgical options specifically designed to address PMPS, including:

Conservative and Non-Surgical Treatments

  • Medications: Over-the-counter pain relievers, prescription nerve medications (like gabapentin or amitriptyline), muscle relaxers, and topical creams.

  • Physical Therapy: Targeted exercises, myofascial release, and TENS therapy can ease nerve compression and improve mobility.

  • Nerve Blocks & Injections: Steroid injections, intramuscular Botox, or nerve blocks can offer temporary relief.

 

Advanced Surgical Options

These interventions are often the most effective at providing long-term or permanent relief:

  • Neuroma Excision: Removes painful scar tissue on damaged nerves.

  • Nerve Reconstruction (including targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) and regenerative peripheral nerve interface (RPNI)): Reconnects two ends of damaged nerve or redirects damaged nerve ending to healthy nerve or muscle targets for regeneration. Sometimes utilized as part of a TruSense breast reconstruction, this procedure can reduce pain and improve sensation.

  • Nerve Decompression & Wrapping: Releases compressed nerves and protects them with healthy tissue.

  • Implant-to-Flap Conversion: Many patients with PMPS find relief by converting from implants to autologous (natural tissue) reconstruction.

 

Complementary and Supportive Therapies

  • Lifestyle Modifications: Diet, gentle exercise, and stress management

  • Acupuncture, Massage & Relaxation Techniques

  • Counseling & Emotional Support

  • Support Groups: Connecting with others facing similar challenges

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Real Patients. Real Stories

Behind every condition we treat is a woman searching for answers—and hope. We’ve helped countless patients move beyond pain and reclaim the quality of life they thought they had lost.
Explore All Stories
real-stories1
DIEP Flap Reconstruction
“Dr. Chrysopoulo answered any questions and offered suggestions. I always felt supported. I was never worried or concerned. The responses were almost always instant, so it was very helpful.”
Christina L., 38
San Antonio, TX
real-stories2
DIEP Flap Reconstruction
"From my first appointment with Dr. Nastala to the ladies calling me over the phone, everyone was so amazing and so welcoming through the whole process."
Kelsey C.
New Braunfels, TX
real-stories3
DIEP Flap Reconstruction
"I am so happy with my results. You don’t know what to expect going into this. PRMA has been so good to me and my doctor was so skilled. I have a few scars that are healing but they are my battle wounds!"
Wendy G.
San Antonio, TX

Why Choose PRMA

When it comes to complex conditions like PMPS, experience matters. PRMA is one of the few centers in the nation offering advanced nerve reconstruction and pain-focused microsurgical solutions tailored to breast cancer survivors.

What Sets PRMA Apart: 

  • Specialized PMPS Expertise: Our surgeons are leaders in treating chronic post-mastectomy pain through targeted nerve procedures and innovative microsurgical approaches.
  • TruSense® Sensation Restoration: PRMA’s proprietary technique restores lost breast sensation and may relieve associated nerve discomfort in qualified patients.
  • Dual-Surgeon Microsurgical Care: Every flap and nerve procedure is performed by two expert microsurgeons, maximizing precision and minimizing risk.
  • Holistic Healing Approach: We address both the physical and emotional toll of post-mastectomy pain through comprehensive, individualized care plans.
  • Trusted by Patients Nationwide: With over 15,000 reconstructions and patients traveling from across the U.S., PRMA is a destination for advanced post-cancer recovery.
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Refer a Patient – Nationwide

When your patients need advanced care, PRMA is the partner you can trust. Our team is a referral destination nationwide for advanced breast reconstruction, sensation restoration, lymphedema surgery, and more—offering seamless coordination, groundbreaking techniques, and outcomes that consistently elevate patient satisfaction.
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Your journey toward pain relief and renewed confidence starts here.

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