2 weeks ago I had to have another operation Auxiliary Lymph node clearance, unsure of how many were removed I shall find out when I see my consultant next week, I am getting worried now as since having the drain out 10 days ago my arm is still painful, numb in places especially in the armpit.
Last night I noticed from the elbow up it is puffy , feels like fluid.
I have rested the arm lots but not done any exercises as I wasn’t sure what I was to do it was a Saturday when I was discharged from the hospital so I didn’t see a physio.
I feel I should be doing something to help with recovery?
Scared this could turn into Lymphedema or I could have infection.
It’s all so scary isn’t it? The important thing is not to overreact and not to Google because that’s even scarier.
I had full axillary clearance with 21 nodes removed, including the sentinel. Maybe there’s something in my experience that may help you. I hope it doesn’t add to your worries! I experienced numbness from the elbow up, worse on the outside (still no feeling after 18 months) but weird on the inside because it makes the area feel puffy and heavy. When I check, it’s no different from the other arm! Nerves get severed in surgery and it takes a long time for them to repair and for your brain to interpret the changed signals properly!
Do your exercises, no matter how painful or uncomfortable. Don’t overdo the stretching - that will build up gradually - but constant movement is good.
Massage your arm in firm, long sweeping movements from the elbow upwards, inside and outer side. After a few sweeps on the outer side, do a few sweeps across from the top of your arm past your shoulder to your spine. This will shift any fluid to a working lymph area. If sweeping up from your inner arm, gently pass round your scar and then sweep down your ribs in the direction of your waist, again to a healthy lymph node area. You can do this skin to skin (best) or through your clothes when it’s inconvenient.
Sadly, I suspect FAC is a life sentence! Your breast care nurse will give you fuller advice, particularly about cording (likely) and lymphodoema (avoidable). This is why it’s so important to exercise in the early stages and never stop! This is the voice of experience speaking - I stopped my exercises once I had a good range of movement and am now paying the price
If you can see any sign of infection or if your arm swells or you experience unexpected pain in the meantime, contact your breast care nurse immediately of course. Meantime, if what you have matches my experience, start your sweeping and do your exercises several times a day, and you should avoid the dreaded lymphodoema. I only know one person with it out of a large number of BC friends so it’s not something to expect; more something you can prevent.
All the best with your results. This is a tough enough time emotionally without having to faff about with the body but (I hate saying this) it is what it is and we all get through whatever rubbish is thrown at us! It’s amazing what strengths we find hiding among the fears. Take care.
I had axillary node clearance done yesterday and was given a drain. I was told to do exercises every day until the drain is out, and then to continue with previous exercises given after my lumpectomy. I downloaded the BAPS app, developed by Breast Cancer Cymru and it shows the exercises you need to do with drains and upto four weeks after surgery. Any worries, contact your breast care nurse though.
Sorry this is probably a bit late for you but I felt that I should write anyway. I also had lymph nodes removed I was fortunate that I did not have swelling of my arm but I have suffered from odema in the breast that was operated on. It is a tricky situation but I insisted that I be referred to the odema nurse.
The nurse showed me exactly how to massage to help keep the lymph moving, She also made me pads that sit inside my bra [a bit and hit to get it in place] The idea is that the pad is made from corrugated foam and your movement encourages the foam to massage the collection of lymph and helps to disperse. I actually chopped up new cotton pants to make covers they can now be washed without fear of the foam corrugations coming undone.