After having a biopsy, you won't usually feel any pain. But if you have had a tissue sample taken from your bone marrow or a major organ, such as your liver, you may feel a dull ache or some slight discomfort. Your doctor or surgeon may recommend painkillers to help relieve this.
Some mild pain can be expected after needle biopsy, though it is usually controlled with over-the-counter pain relievers. Call your doctor if you experience: Fever. Pain at the biopsy site that worsens or isn't helped by medications.
The biopsy site may be sore and tender for 1 to 2 days. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to feel better as quickly as possible.
Pain After a Biopsy
If you can take ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®), take 400–600 mg every 6–8 hours or as prescribed by your doctor. Ibuprofen will help with pain relief and as an anti-inflammatory. If you cannot take ibuprofen, then 1–2 tablets of regular Tylenol® should be taken every 4 hours.
People may experience soreness, tenderness, and bruising for several days after a breast biopsy. The type of biopsy can influence how long recovery takes. Breastcancer.org reports that surgical biopsies may require more recovery time than nonsurgical types.
Rest as much as you can in the next day or two. Limit using the body part, if this is possible. For example, if you had a biopsy performed on your arm or leg, try to rest and raise the limb for the next day or so. Avoid vigorous exercise and lifting heavy objects.
Recovery Biopsy
In most cases, biopsies are outpatient procedures, so you won't need to stay in hospital overnight. But occasionally some types of biopsy, such as those where a tissue sample needs to be taken from an internal organ, may require a general anaesthetic.
A surgical biopsy is a procedure that involves the surgical removal of tissue from a lump or mass for examination under a microscope.
The biopsy site may be sutured (stitched) closed, depending on the size of the skin defect. The area often heals with a small scar. Your doctor may ask you to return in 5 to 14 days for removal of the stitches. You will be given instructions on how to help the biopsy site heal.
The bra will provide comfort and support after your procedure. Please wear a bra for three to four days following surgery, even while you sleep. This minimizes post-operative bleeding and will make you more comfortable.
You should receive any special care instructions after the procedure. After most fine needle aspiration biopsy procedures, you can drive yourself home and go back to your normal activities right away. Sometimes, the biopsy site may feel sore. In rare cases, infection or bleeding can occur.
Most biopsy sites heal within 2 to 3 weeks.
Needle biopsies are often done using CT scan, MRI, mammogram, or ultrasound. These imaging tools help guide the doctor to the right area. An open biopsy is surgery that uses local or general anesthesia. This means you are relaxed (sedated) or asleep and pain free during the procedure.
You might hear the needle click as each sample is taken. You will feel some pressure on the breast and it can sometimes feel uncomfortable, but it isn't usually painful. Do let the doctor know if it is painful, you may need a little more local anaesthetic.
A hollow, circular scalpel is used to cut into a lesion on the skin. The instrument is turned clockwise and counterclockwise to cut down about 4 millimeters (mm) to the layer of fatty tissue below the dermis. A small sample of tissue is removed to be checked under a microscope.
After having a biopsy, you won't usually feel any pain. However, if you've had a tissue sample taken from a major organ, such as your liver or bone marrow, you may feel a dull ache or some slight discomfort. Your doctor or surgeon may recommend painkillers to help relieve this.
After your biopsy
You might be able to go back to normal activities as soon as the test is over. Or you may need to rest at home for some time or stay in the hospital to begin your recovery. If your anesthesia includes a sedative, you need someone to drive you home afterwards.
Avoid sticky, hard (such as ice cubes, nuts, popcorn, chips), brittle, spicy, highly seasoned, or acidic foods in your diet. Foods such as soups, pasta, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese etc. are best. Be sure to maintain adequate nutrition and drink plenty of fluids.
An office-based procedure is a minor surgery, such as a biopsy, that is done an office setting on an outpatient basis, usually with some level of anesthesia.
The most common types include: (1) incisional biopsy, in which only a sample of tissue is removed; (2) excisional biopsy, in which an entire lump or suspicious area is removed; and (3) needle biopsy, in which a sample of tissue or fluid is removed with a needle.
Showers are fine starting the day after the biopsy. Leave the band-aids in place while you shower and change them after you dry off. During the time period of daily band-aid changes, do not soak in a bath or swim. If you need to clean the wounds, you can use hydrogen peroxide.
Avoid eating hard, crunchy, or spicy foods. Take the prescribed pain medication before the numbness from the local anesthesia wears off. Restrict your activities on the day of surgery and return to normal activities slowly. Place ice packs on the outside of the face where the biopsy was performed.
Your doctor may ask you not to do certain activities for a while based on where you had the biopsy and whether it was open or closed. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, you can do your normal activities when you feel ready. Be active. Walking is a good choice.