Hi.
Before my diagnosis a year ago, I did a lot of ballet (5 classes a weekplus teaching). I am now 57 and have danced for 54 years. It is my language. The Macmillan nurse called it a hobby, which I found so offensive.
I have had chemo, 2 surgeries, radiotherapy, now on more chemo. I want my body back - I need it. The muscles on that side of my body just don’t work.
I’m desperate.
@sparrow_and_fig how insensitive of the nurse! I wonder if physio might help with strengthening your muscles?
Yes, physio and/or pilates might help, once Iam able to move at all again. It’s all just demoralising at the moment, especially in the middle of the night. I really want some answers about specific muscles that were affected by the surgery.
@sparrow_and_fig would a Sports Physio know about dance and the muscles involved? I’m afraid I’m not a dancer, but did have help a few years ago from a physio when I could barely walk with terrible sacroiliitis.
I hope someone who understands about dance posts…I wish I could help more, and I hope you find relief and the right support x
Thank you. I appreciate your reply
While not at your level, I take daily adult ballet classes and pointe once a week. Ballet has and continues to be my mental and physical therapy. If you can find a good physiotherapist, even if they are not dancers, they can be a great help. I am in the States at Memorial Sloan-Kettering and I also have a neuromuscular therapist who is invaluable from Memorial’s Integrative Medicine dept. ( I had chemo, right sided mastectomy, and radiation). I had right arm lymphedema and unbearable left sided neuropathy. These therapists have helped me work through this. It has taken 3 years. I also informed my ballet teachers that I would progress slowly. They have all been so helpful. I hope you find your body worker team. All blessings and good health to you.
Thank you so much for your reply. A good physio seems necessary and I need to be realistic in my expectations. I’m so glad to hear that you are finding the way to progress in dance, even if it’s more slowly than before
Gosh, that is offensive. I am sorry. I have found a lot of what the teams say to me slightly disrespectful tbh.
I am not a dancer, but was a big yogi and did a lot of reformer pilates - i am slowly dragging myself back to this & have found the loss of strength incredibly difficult to accept / manage… However, I can slowly feel very small improvements. X
I’m so glad you are finding improvements. As you say, it’s so hard when you have been strong before and want to be back there
I can understand your anger - I’m not a dancer but feel passionately about Yoga. When I wasn’t able to take part in the stronger classes I found some comfort in Somatic Yoga which uses gentle movement and breathing whilst lying down to release tension and help to rebalance the body . After every class the pain and stiffness I was struggling with would be easier for several days and I had better ease of movement . I have had Physio but 20 years ago started seeing an Osteopath who has helped me twice with fatigue as well as well as MSK problems ( coincidentally she is a dancer ) . I’m so sorry that you are having such a long and difficult time - it’s beyond frustrating and all I ended up I juri g myself a couple of times trying to do too much too soon but I got there . I hope things improve for you too - do t give up. Xx
What an insensitive nurse! I have danced all my life and taught Arabic dance for over 20 years prior to diagnosis so I feel for you. I’ve found some aspects of dance are more accessible now after surgery, chemo, radiotherapy and now targeted therapy, especially simply moving with music to recapture the dopermine injection of dance and I’m using my balance board for at least 10 mins a day to keep my core strong so that when I have the energy to dance more I’ll be able to. I also stretch regularly which isn’t always comfortable with all the scar tissue.
I’m not convinced that most yoga or Pilates teachers will understand the physical limitations of post breast surgery on our bodies so you may get better results initially if you have a somatic dance practitioner nearby?
my biggest concern is that I may not be able to perform southern Egyptian folk dance anymore as I also have permanent damage to my right hand after a chemo leak so can’t hold the heavy bamboo staff that’s important in that dance, even when I have the stamina for the footwork.
I hope you find a way back to the joy of dance x
Thank you so much. This is just the understanding and advice I need. Now you have said it, I think it’s the dopamine that I am addicted to, along with the artistic expression. I’m in withdrawal.
Great ideas about the balance board (I could get one) and stretching. I am finding the scars restrictive as had lymph nodes removed too. I also can’t even lift my leg to a vague arabesque on that side at all. Hopefully stretching exercises will help and will benefit everything else too.
I will research somatic therapy
Thank you so much. It has helped so much to get replies from people who get it. I was just feeling so alone and desperate.
I will look up somatic yoga. I hadn’t heard of that before.
The chemo leak in your hand sounds like a real blow. I hope someone can find a way to help with that