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Chapter 29 - Breast Pain

from Part VI - Misc

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2023

By
Taylor Witten  and
Corey Moss
Edited by
Omar Viswanath  and
Ivan Urits
Omar Viswanath
Affiliation:
Creighton University, Omaha
Ivan Urits
Affiliation:
Southcoast Brain & Spine Center, Wareham
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Summary

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in males and females and the most common overall in the female population. Cosmetic breast surgery is commonly performed in the United States with 520,000 procedures of the total 1.8 million cosmetic procedures in 2018 being related to the breast. Post-mastectomy pain syndrome is a specific etiology following cosmetic breast surgery. Where patients feel their chronic pain is dependent on the incision site for the procedure and the type of procedure performed. Initially, each patient following a cosmetic breast procedure experiences some level of acute pain. The nerve injuries that are associated with chronic pain can be masked by this initial presentation. Initial management includes a trial of medical management (NSAIDs, neuropathic pain medication) for at least three months.

Keywords

breast paincosmetic breast surgeryincision painnerve injurychronic painpain
Type
Chapter
Information
Cambridge Handbook of Pain Medicine , pp. 234 - 239
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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References

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