Hi there!
Has anyone been affected by cording after mastectomy? Had mine 10 days ago and have been doing the exercises the physiotherapist showed me but have developed cording under the armpit. Can only move my arm out to shoulder height. If I attempt to stretch it up to my ear it’s agony. have arranged to see physio again on Wednesday and am wondering what she can do for it. Whilst I’m here can I get advise from anyone on seromas? I didn’t have any drains in after surgery but have been going back to hospital every 3/4 days to get the site drained. It looks like my boob has regenerated itself! Any thoughts as to when the fluid build up should start to settle down? And as for post op bras- I haven’t found one yet where waistband is low enough not to dig in and press against swollen wound. I just want to be able to wear something that supports the other breast but doesn’t hurt the mastectomy side. Ooooooh just feel uncomfortable!
Mateface 67
Hi Mateface 67,
I experienced cording after my mx and node clearance, and whilst painful it can be manipulated out eventually by a physio.
I also had super-sensitive skin at the time from nerve regeneration pains (which was worse than cording for me) and the physio struggled to manipulate the cording out.
If I had 3 hands, I could’ve manipulated the cording myself.
Take painkillers before going to the physio and try not to push yourself too far too soon.
Bev
Hi I had cording after my WLE and lymph node clearance. It ran from my armpit down to just below be elbow. Had massage and manipulation from physio weekly for a few months and I can hardly feel it at all now.
I didn’t have any cording but did have a little bit of fluid build up. I had 2 drains in and the fluid collected after they were taken out. But it dispersed on its own after about a week or so. I had the first stage of reconstruction with my mx, (tissue expander ) and couldn’t find a comfortable bra. I bought a pack of those Genie bras advertised on shopping channels, similar products, Ahh bra, plus others. I bought mine from BHS. They were about £36 for 3. They are comfortable but I do find as the day goes on, my expander/ mx side does start to ache. I would also advise you to try all 3 on in the pack as I found ( and I think others have as well) that the different colours were not all the same size. The beige fits the best, the black is quite tight. Boots do something similar from JML in single packs, haven’t tried them but may be an idea to try one of those as not as much outlay for something that doesn’t fit very well or is uncomfortable, about £12 I think.
As you are having problems lifting your arm you can also step into these like you were putting on a swimming costume. Will have to stretch it a bit but they bounce back well!
Hope this has been of use.
Good luck, hope the fluid settles down, must be a real nuisance having to keep going back to have it drained when you just want to concentrate on getting better.
Love,
Gaynor x
Hi - I had cording after mastectomy and node clearance. My hospital had a specific women’s health physio team who advise specifically on issues affecting women e.g. during pregnancy, obs/gynae and breast problems. They were fantastic and recommended a armpit massage technique which really helped and eradicated the problem. It’s virtually impossible to do on oneself so they showed my mum and my partner how to do it so that we could carry on the good work every day at home between appointments.
Best of luck.
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. Went to see physio today and even after one session I feel I have more movement. I could actually hear the “cords” snap, which although uncomfortable was oddly satisfying! Maybe I should get hubby to come along to a session so that he can learn the technique. Will look into the Genie bras too - just hanging loose at the moment until everything has settled down.
Wishing you all well,
Mateface67
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. Went to see physio today and even after one session I feel I have more movement. I could actually hear the “cords” snap, which although uncomfortable was oddly satisfying! Maybe I should get hubby to come along to a session so that he can learn the technique. Will look into the Genie bras too - just hanging loose at the moment until everything has settled down.
Wishing you all well,
Mateface67
ya it is very uncomfortable to feel.
Dear All
I went to breast care nurse recently as chording got so bad after lymph node clearance to the point where I could not straighten my arm. I was told that it was the worst chording she had seen but that the local physios at the hospital would not be able to help. I was told to just keep up the stretching. It got to the point where the chording ran all the way to my wrist and any straigthening of the arm and I got this cellulite effect all down it.
I decided to start stretching it overnight and starting sleeping with my arm straight by my side, which was painful for the first 5 minutes but slowly died off until I was able to go to sleep. Each night I would strecth it a bit further and within a week I was able to sleep with my arm above my head and the chording just disappeared completely after doing that for 2 nights. I now have full movement back and am very pleased!
It may have jsut been a coincidence but I feel that having the arm stretched overnight really helped.
Claire