hi, gosh i seem to be moaning such a lot at the moment - sorry. Starting to feel a bit better in myself following infection fear (had a virus apparently nothing to do with Mx) but struggling with back since Mx. I am not a big girl and had recon using all my own muscle no implant but it has left me with a very tight back - very tight scar and an overhang of tissue that may go down a bit but may not go altogether. Really hard to describe but I have a sort of long lump going the length of my scar (above it) as if the stitching is too tight and has pulled my back out of shape. I am just wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar and if it settled down a bit - I am five weeks post surgery. I am not desperately worried about it as if I have to live with a lumpy back well that’s nothing compared to what I might have had to live with. I am so lucky as I had DCIS and no invasive so no further treatment needed.
Hi Bunnies
I had an mx and immediate LD flap recon last Jan.
Five weeks is no time at all since your op - it does take time to all settle down. Re the scar/tightness on your back, check it out with your team, but my advice would be to do your exercises everyday and to gradually increase them. You want to gently stretch the tight bits - GENTLY is the operative word - until you are 10-12 weeks post op you do need to be careful that you aren’t disrupting healing tissue. My physio also recommended gently massaging the area with the flat of your hand - again it’s to keep the scar tissue mobile without causing any damage. If in any doubt, get shown how to do it.
I’m nearly a year on and, although I have nearly full range of movement, it does still feel quite tight and ‘different’ - not at all painful though. Chemo and rads haven’t helped - but I’ve got a new set of exercises (again stretches) and I’ll try and take my own advice and do them more often!
Take care - be gentle with yourself.
DX
thanks very much DX - I do wonder if i am being a little impatient. i did show it to the team at the hospital and they said it will hopefully go down a little (the “shelf” or “ridge” - can’t think of best way to describe it) but i might be left with some residue tissue that won’t disappear but there are ways it can be sorted later on (I assume that’s with more surgery)but of course if it’s not too obvious I won’t bother with that.
It would be obvious in a tight top but not able to wear those at moment anyway as so swollen under arm etc and recon bigger than good side (getting a prosthesis for good side soon so at least i’ll look even lol). thanks so much for your advice and for helping me to feel less anxious. x
Hi
I had MX and immediate LD recon 5 weeks ago also due to DCIS and to reassure you i also have tightness in my dack and a small ridge under my armpit . I am doing my exercises daily but when i went to the physio she said my spine was slightly pushed out of place not uncomman in these sort of opps . A friend of mine who had the same opp 6 years ago said it was a good 12 months before her body felt normal again . hope this helps !
Keep me posted on your progress x
thank you kids2 - that is very helpful and i will keep you updated x x x