Women need to understand that it is usually a manageable pain, but needs to be reported to a health care provider to be treated appropriately. No single pain-relief method controls phantom pain in all patients all the time. Many methods have been used to treat this type of pain, including pain medicine along with other added drugs which have been found to be effective. Occasionally, physical therapy and nerve stimulation is used, along with massage therapy and acupuncture in some women. Nerve blocks to the painful area have also been used.
Unreported pain can cause unnecessary suffering, anxiety, and depression.
The pain becomes frightening and women become fearful of more advanced breast problems. Phantom breast pain is a challenging problem faced by many women with breast cancer. Understanding the reason for the pain, the pain options, and the management of the pain are important to all women so that their path to recovery continues smoothly. References Dini D, Bertelli G, Gozza A, Forno G. Treatment of postmastectomy pain syndrome with topical capsaicin. Kwekkeboom, K. Postmastectomy pain syndromes.