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Wide-margin Excursion site sore!!
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Wide-margin Excursion site sore!!

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Wide-margin Excursion site sore!!

  • Post
    • December 13, 2015 at 8:54 am
    Kare83
    Participant
      It’s been over a week since my WME on my right shoulder blade (back) and I haven’t had to take pain killers for around 7 days, though it is still quite painful. Putting any pressure on the area hurts and I’m still unable to sleep or sit back on a chair properly. How long could I expect the pain and discomfort to last?
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    • Replies
        • December 13, 2015 at 8:57 am
        Kare83
        Participant
          Sorry my phone has auto-corrected the “excision” to “excursion” somehow.. Oops!
          • December 13, 2015 at 8:57 am
          Kare83
          Participant
            Sorry my phone has auto-corrected the “excision” to “excursion” somehow.. Oops!
            • December 13, 2015 at 8:57 am
            Kare83
            Participant
              Sorry my phone has auto-corrected the “excision” to “excursion” somehow.. Oops!
              • December 13, 2015 at 3:16 pm
              Janner
              Participant

                The WLE took a large chunk of skin out down to the muscle.  You have both internal and external stitches.  Nerves were cut and blood vessels cauterized.  This is going to take a significant amount of time to heal and probably won't be completely healed for a full year.  Basically as long as the area isn't red/hot that might signify infection, you just have to go with it.  I've had three excisions on my back (largest on my right shoulder blade) and yes, they can be uncomfortable.  But you just have to give it some time.  I don't do pain pills but an occasional ice pack can help calm things down.  I used pillows to try and keep me and my arm in a position that let me sleep some.  Just need to be a bit creative.

                • December 13, 2015 at 3:16 pm
                Janner
                Participant

                  The WLE took a large chunk of skin out down to the muscle.  You have both internal and external stitches.  Nerves were cut and blood vessels cauterized.  This is going to take a significant amount of time to heal and probably won't be completely healed for a full year.  Basically as long as the area isn't red/hot that might signify infection, you just have to go with it.  I've had three excisions on my back (largest on my right shoulder blade) and yes, they can be uncomfortable.  But you just have to give it some time.  I don't do pain pills but an occasional ice pack can help calm things down.  I used pillows to try and keep me and my arm in a position that let me sleep some.  Just need to be a bit creative.

                  • December 13, 2015 at 3:16 pm
                  Janner
                  Participant

                    The WLE took a large chunk of skin out down to the muscle.  You have both internal and external stitches.  Nerves were cut and blood vessels cauterized.  This is going to take a significant amount of time to heal and probably won't be completely healed for a full year.  Basically as long as the area isn't red/hot that might signify infection, you just have to go with it.  I've had three excisions on my back (largest on my right shoulder blade) and yes, they can be uncomfortable.  But you just have to give it some time.  I don't do pain pills but an occasional ice pack can help calm things down.  I used pillows to try and keep me and my arm in a position that let me sleep some.  Just need to be a bit creative.

                      • December 14, 2015 at 5:31 am
                      Kare83
                      Participant

                        Thanks Janner! My brother mentioned his WME site was sore for a really long time, though his was on his lower back so it was easy for him to over stretch and hurt it.. Just thought where mine is might not hurt that much but it makes sense when you think about nerves and blood vessels etc.

                        I've had over 20 moles removed (all reports benign) and although those scars are a lot smaller than this one, I don't remember them hurting like this. Do they always cut down to the muscle for a WME?

                        Thanks again!

                        • December 14, 2015 at 5:31 am
                        Kare83
                        Participant

                          Thanks Janner! My brother mentioned his WME site was sore for a really long time, though his was on his lower back so it was easy for him to over stretch and hurt it.. Just thought where mine is might not hurt that much but it makes sense when you think about nerves and blood vessels etc.

                          I've had over 20 moles removed (all reports benign) and although those scars are a lot smaller than this one, I don't remember them hurting like this. Do they always cut down to the muscle for a WME?

                          Thanks again!

                          • December 14, 2015 at 5:31 am
                          Kare83
                          Participant

                            Thanks Janner! My brother mentioned his WME site was sore for a really long time, though his was on his lower back so it was easy for him to over stretch and hurt it.. Just thought where mine is might not hurt that much but it makes sense when you think about nerves and blood vessels etc.

                            I've had over 20 moles removed (all reports benign) and although those scars are a lot smaller than this one, I don't remember them hurting like this. Do they always cut down to the muscle for a WME?

                            Thanks again!

                            • December 14, 2015 at 5:55 am
                            Janner
                            Participant

                              Not sure what WME stands for, it is usually written WLE – wide local excision.  And yes, they always take all the skin tissue down to the muscle fascia.  They don't want to leave any skin or fat depth in case a cell is trying to travel downwards toward lymph or blood vessels.  The goal is at least 1cm all around the entire lesion in 3 dimensions.

                              • December 14, 2015 at 5:55 am
                              Janner
                              Participant

                                Not sure what WME stands for, it is usually written WLE – wide local excision.  And yes, they always take all the skin tissue down to the muscle fascia.  They don't want to leave any skin or fat depth in case a cell is trying to travel downwards toward lymph or blood vessels.  The goal is at least 1cm all around the entire lesion in 3 dimensions.

                                • December 14, 2015 at 5:55 am
                                Janner
                                Participant

                                  Not sure what WME stands for, it is usually written WLE – wide local excision.  And yes, they always take all the skin tissue down to the muscle fascia.  They don't want to leave any skin or fat depth in case a cell is trying to travel downwards toward lymph or blood vessels.  The goal is at least 1cm all around the entire lesion in 3 dimensions.

                                  • December 14, 2015 at 8:07 am
                                  Kare83
                                  Participant
                                    Sorry.. I was writing WME as in wide margin excision. OK, going as deep as the muscle definitely explains it! Thanks again for your time to explain things! 🙂
                                    • December 14, 2015 at 8:07 am
                                    Kare83
                                    Participant
                                      Sorry.. I was writing WME as in wide margin excision. OK, going as deep as the muscle definitely explains it! Thanks again for your time to explain things! 🙂
                                      • December 14, 2015 at 8:07 am
                                      Kare83
                                      Participant
                                        Sorry.. I was writing WME as in wide margin excision. OK, going as deep as the muscle definitely explains it! Thanks again for your time to explain things! 🙂
                                      • January 2, 2016 at 11:25 pm
                                      MichelleNz
                                      Participant

                                        Hi I had wide excision surgery on my thigh 2 years ago and still get occasional tenderness and sharp nerve pain. I remember it took about 3 months until I was able to lay on that side in bed. Nerve damage takes a long time to heal and while you may appear to be healing quickly on the outside it has a long way to go on the inside but you'll get there 🙂

                                        • January 2, 2016 at 11:25 pm
                                        MichelleNz
                                        Participant

                                          Hi I had wide excision surgery on my thigh 2 years ago and still get occasional tenderness and sharp nerve pain. I remember it took about 3 months until I was able to lay on that side in bed. Nerve damage takes a long time to heal and while you may appear to be healing quickly on the outside it has a long way to go on the inside but you'll get there 🙂

                                          • January 2, 2016 at 11:25 pm
                                          MichelleNz
                                          Participant

                                            Hi I had wide excision surgery on my thigh 2 years ago and still get occasional tenderness and sharp nerve pain. I remember it took about 3 months until I was able to lay on that side in bed. Nerve damage takes a long time to heal and while you may appear to be healing quickly on the outside it has a long way to go on the inside but you'll get there 🙂

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