Hi all i have my lymphs removed 3 weeks ago they were all clear from cancer i am having pain under my ribs since this when i stretch i can see 3 funny looking cord things which feel bruised has any one else had this dont no wheather its all the exersises that i have been doing and stretched to much xx
Cording in the arm is very common. I had it and I only had the sentinel node removed. I found this explanation:-
“Cording
You may develop pain that feels like a tight cord running from your armpit, down your upper arm through to the back of your hand.
Cording is thought to be due to hardened lymph vessels and can appear six to eight weeks following surgery or even months afterwards. Cording usually gets better and the symptoms go away, though you may need physiotherapy to stretch the cords.”
The most important thing is to keep doing the exercises and I found it helped to massage it.
Ann x
Its under my rib same side looks like cord things my arm is not to bad but whem stretching hurts under ribs where these cord things are dont no if there tendons or something to to with removal of nodes
Hello
I’ve had cording twice, started a week or so after each surgery. Second time (clearance) it involved just what you describe: a pain under my ribs, awful bruised feeling. It still feels bruised nearly 3 months down the line, although it much better.
It’s basically hardened lymph vessels which are redundant - the nodes connecting them have gone. BCN told me to massage the cords (they feel like tendons) as they are dead tissue and need to dissolve and be absorbed back into the body. I found it really hard to stick my fingers in my armpit and rub as it felt so weird, but it really helped when I did, and rubbed the sore patch under my boob/ribs.
Was it under rib cage when i put my arms up in air you can see them and feel them
Hello mmummy78
I too had the painful cording following WLE in April, you could see and feel 5 cords from rib to wrist.I knew I needed to be able to get my arm in position for rads and plus I needed to get back to work using my restricted dominant arm. I kept up with all the exercises and kept badgering for physio which never happened. I asked the surgeon to refer me to a private physio, and to cut a long saga short; 3 sessions over 3 weeks I was swinging my arm around full circle with no pain 35 quid a session well spent. She pinched and massaged the cords whilst stretching the arm (yes painful) and I carried out the procedure at home in between my visits. You focus on breaking down these cords with hard finger massage and I can assure you the movement and pain becomes less each day. I wish you well with all your treatment.
I had a mx and treatment in 2007. I have suffered cording several times and have found pain killers and massage helped, I think it is one of the side effects of breast cancer surgery.
Take care
Carolyn x
Thankyou for all your advise