Chest tightness is one of the most common things women report post mastectomy. It is important to learn that stretching alone may not be enough. Over 60% of women report sensory changes after mastectomy, and 25-60% report chronic post mastectomy pain even years later. (Juhl et al., 2020; Andersen & Kehlet, 2011).
Superficial nerves may be cut, stretched or damaged during mastectomy. Many of us are left with decreased or absent sensation across our chests if we've had a mastectomy. There isn't much in the literature about sensory re-integration for the mastectomy patient but there is a large body of research available for other amputations.
If you look at the size of amputation of mastectomy there is no surprise that the feeling of tightness or even phantom limb pain, or more specifically phantom breast pain can exist.
The good news is that our brains and our bodies are neuroplastic, which means we can make new connections to attempt to minimize painful sensations and try to reintegrate normal sensory input.
Pulling from my knowledge of sensory reintegration, I would unwrap chest and expose my incisions to the air early on (day 3). I would lie on my bed for 5 minutes (or longer as I became less sensitive). The sensory feedback was definately distorted, my chest did NOT feel like my own. It was a bit scary at first but I focused on being curious about what I was feeling. I would actually speak to my body, I would tell it, "okay body that does feel different", but "it is not painful, just different". I would do deep breathing to full expand my chest from the inside which helped with central nervous system regulation.
This initial technique of just exposing to the air can then be expanded upon with gradual reintroduction of touch with different textures (cotton, silk, gentle vibration or tapping) to help the nervous system reinterpret non-threatening stimuli. Movement practices like yoga that incorporate breath and movement can also be beneficial (yoga was a big part of my healing!)
Sensory re-training is rarely mentioned in post mastectomy recovery, it is something that I am passionate about and quite curious about as well. I have noticed that even 10 months after my double mastectomy, if I am having a high stress day I do notice more chest tightness than on a day where I feel more relaxed. This is another interesting finding of how our brain and our cortisol or stress levels can impact our healing and change our body sensation.
Myofascial release and massage can help. You can do this on your own or seek out a skilled practitioner.
Do you have changes in sensation?
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