“Post surgical, outpatient?”
Hi, 50 y/o female, good health. Had lipoma mass removed from the shoulder/neck area in February. I am healing fine except that I have no feeling on top of the shoulder, under the armpit, chest area, and parts of neck. It is mostly numb, chest area burns when touched. There has been no change to this feeling since surgery. Physical therapy for 6 weeks, no change. Aside from the numbness, the shoulder feels as if there is a weighted wet blanket covering it. Surgery performed by ENT & Thoracic surgeon at a teaching hospital. An intern performed.
Female | 50 years old
Complaint duration: 55 days
6 Answers
Your nerve was damaged. Consult Neurology.
My dear lady, I am very sorry for your problem but it is not unusual for a person to have trouble for several weeks like you are having. If you feel the doctor did not do there job then go to a different doctor and ask them to check you out and see what they tell you. I would not advise you with out seeing you. I wish you well. oledochouse
It sounds as though this was a fairly large mass and it may have involved some superficial nerves. Depending on the involvement of these nerves with the mass, they may have required resection with the mass. Nerve pain is extremely difficult to predict, as is the duration of any numbness to the area; sometimes it may not ever go away. Gabapentin may help control any of the burning sensations you are experiencing, but check with your surgeon or possibly a pain specialist.
I believe that you were done feeling well last anywhere from six months to a year. The sensation in the skin and deeper tissue should gradually recur over the next several months and it will be a slow process.
You likely had a sensory nerve to area injured during the tumor removal. Some or all of the symptoms may resolve, but if the nerve was taken as part of the specimen (especially if it was a big mass or deep one), it may be permanent. Best to talk to your surgeon and let them know of your symptoms and they would have a better idea if it is likely to resolve or not.
Interesting. A lipoma is a benign fatty tumor that generally lies just beneath the skin. These generally do not affect nerves unless they are the deeper version which lie within muscles. These are Usually removed by a general surgeon. The mere fact that both an ENT and he thoracic surgeon were present tells me this Was most likely much more involved than a simple lipoma. I would need to see the operative report to give you any additional information on your surgery and the outcome.
