Dear Lactnetters, I had a young woman from Russia come to me today. She had surgery on one breast in 1992 for what appears to have been an abscess (thru her interpreter). She has large (approx. 3in. by 1in) scars at 1o'clock, 4 o'clock, 7 o'clock and10 o'clock. There is no scar tissue around the nipple or areola area. Her breast has a concave appearance on that side except over the scar tissue which is very firm. She is currently nursing a 6 month old on one side only although giving about 4 supplemental bottles per day. Baby eats about every 1-1-1/2 hours and twice at night and is doing well by report-the baby was not with her at the visit. She has breastfed 2 previous children on one side exclusively for 1 year each. She has accepted that she is not able to produce as much on the affected side and at this point is not nursing at all on that side due to the severe pain, although did feel fuller after birth. The problem is the severe pain she feels in the affected side when she nurses on the other side obviously from the oxytocin effect. She wants to have surgery to "open the ducts again" (most likely impossible unless that guy with the little wire probe that's been talked about on Lactnet is around!), release the scar tissue or do "something so it won't be so painful". She does not care if more ducts are affected making production nil on that side if the pain will go away. Does anyone know of any procedures that could help her? Is it possible to use a TENS unit for this type of pain? She is planning to have more children and "wants to be a good mama which to her can only involve breastfeeding." I love hearing these moms from other countries be so adamant. There are a lot of bad feelings about the way she was "mutilated" without being informed of what was being done. If there are any procedures, are there any that would not be considered cosmetic-she is on medical coupons. Please E-mail me at [log in to unmask] or post as others may be interested. TIA Denise Stuart, BSN, IBCLC Kent, WA [log in to unmask]