Only had lump/lymph nodes removed but was 7 weeks ago. Have been exercising
but still have pain and tightness underarm and down to my elbow. Spoke to my BC nurse today re another matter and she said is your arm back to normal and I said no not really. When I exercise it is still painful and feels like its going to snap. She now wants me to go Monday for her to look and maybe send me for physio. I feel like a real letdown as so may of you have had far worse than me and are much further ahead in this field and now I feel down in the dumps. Has anyone else had to have physio?
Hi, first dont feel wimpey everyone heals differently and makes varying amounts of scar tissue.
I have had a full mastectomy and the a second op for auxillary node clearance, Before my diagnosis I was a pilates teacher with a huge range of movement in both arms and felt quietly confident that I would recover better than most!! However my body decided differently, and like you I not longer have a pain free full range of movement Ialso have that pulling sensation you have described. I went to see a physio and I am having on going tretament, my second op was mid August so similar to you.
I have found masaging the scar with Aloa gel twice a day really helpful in softening the skin enabling me to do much better stretches. This has improvede matters hugely in the last week and I am doing my exercises really slowly and holding the stretched position for at least 30 seconds, which again has helped.
The most useful exercises for me have been standing facing a wall and reaching up using the “good” hand to stretch out the “bad” side, combined with the two lyin stretches taking extended arms over your head reaching for te floor, and hands behind head reaching elbow tips towards the floor.
I hope some of this helps, but expect progress to be slow and not constant, try exercises after a warm bath or shower for maximum effect and repeat them as often as you can each day ( at least 3 times if poss) without rushing !!
Will take on board all you said with effect from NOW. I feel better already and will get the Aloa gel tomorrow.
Thanks again and best of luck to you also
Sorry cannot help you with your problem, but just wanted to wish you well and hope that you feel better very soon. It is a tough journey we are all on, but with the support on here, it helps us all.
Let me know how you get on but i’m sure you will see a big improvement over the next few weeks, especially if you use the aloa gel it is amazing stuff. I have been told if you need radio it is as good as using the steroid cream for keeping your skin in good condition.
I had my mastectomy in May, I’m also a physio, (no pressure there than, to make sure I had full range of movement in my arm!).
Don’t worry about going to see the physio, she will probably give you advice on pain relief, and check you are doing your exercises correctly, but most of all (hopefully), encouragement to keep going, it will improve.
On a personal note, I found the exercises easier in the shower also. Keeping my (good) hand on my lower ribs, when I was reaching up on my affected side, was much more comfortable, and trying not to arch your back, (this one is called cheating!! I did it often).
I too have had that awful tightness and pulling in my arm and down into my side where drains removed and arm also. I have been doing my exercises religiously that the physio showed me in the hospital and have had review appointment also where she gave me new ones. I can honestely say that it is only within the last week or so that I feel the exercises have helped. I also had some cording which the massage recommended helped immensely so feel that although bad arm isn’t as good yet as other one it is improving. Don’t get down hearted as everyone keeps telling me its only early days. 5 weeks and 2 days exactly since surgery.
Cheers girls and thanks for the advice. Thonk I needed that push. Also OH suggests I do them in front of a mirror as I often think I have both arms at the same level cos I can’t see them both and OH is there and says no Norma they aren’t, so I spat at him until I did go and look and he was right - DAMN!
I think 7 weeks on is still very early days. After six weeks I would say I had reasonable movement back, but 12 weeks was more realistic for say 95% movement.
Wendy
I hav cording too, now six months on from mast, and it doesn’t seem to want to go away despite daily exercises. (I’m hoping swimming will help when I’m allowed to do it again after rads). What massage was recommended to you for this? should I be going to see a physio? I mentioned it to my onc some while ago but he wasn’t interested.
Just got back from BC nurse. She says I have cording and is arranging physio ASAP which will also reduce risk of Lymphodemia when I have my Rads. Said I half blamed myself for not excercising enough but she said no its not easy and with everything else we are going through should not burden ourselves with these thoughts. Am feeling better about it now but am applying the Aloe Gel and increasing my 'walking up the wall ’ excercise even though it feels like it go ‘twang’ any minute. However the nurse said it won’t do anything horrible and try and persevere so will do. Maybe seeing the BC nurse might give you better info then the onc.