pre-rads exercises causing pain

Hi all

Doing exercises pre-rads but have shooting pains afterwards and concerned they’re doing more harm than good but obviously need to get arm above head for 15 mins for rads in 3 weeks’ time.

Can do exercises and get arm above head and for increasing amounts of time so will prob be ok when the time comes.

Anyone know what’s causing the pain and should I be worried.

Had SNB and lumpectomy end Nov)

Thanks

C x

You will be fine by then. I found lying in bed and gently stretching the arm to by the head. Dont force it but it will get easier. I say this cos I had planning three weeks after mx and although I had one exercises the position they put your arm in for rads was unfamiliar and it pulled on my side a bit. Since planning I did that exercise and have now started rads. So far so good
X sarah

I get shooting pains and really bad aching pain in my nipple area when I do stretching etc -really puts me off tho I know I have to be ready for rads.

Will try your sugestion CC - what was the unfamiliar position?

Thanks

C x

It was the lying down and stretching arm above head so armpit can get rads. Have been exercising sitiing or standing previously

Did the exercise list you got from the hosp tell you to do the exercises sitting or standing as mine does? Seems silly not to suggest doing them lying down now you mention it as rads will be lying down.

C x

I really struggled to stretch to get my arm mobilised post surgery in time for my rads to start, but in the end it was nothing like as demanding as I had been told: from lying flat on my back on the floor - I had been trying to get my elbow out at 90% from my side and flat back onto the floor as per the pictures, Oh what a challenge :(( then when I got for the planning session they had this contraption to support the arm well in front of the lateral plane so yes, the elbow was still level with the 90% angle up from my waist, but it was considerably forward, and it was a piece of cake. It was also bent at the elbow which is much easier that trying to reach it straight out. 18months down the line I can now do “the position” (and several others, LOL) fine, but it took nearly a year, and a very patient instructor at the gym, to get me there.

If you think in terms of being able to “stick-em-up” as per the old wild western movies, rather reaching to the ceiling or hanging off a cliff, that’s more the position to aim for, we are not monkeys swinging from the trees! If you can fix your imaginary ponytail, you will probably be fine.

Thanks, Hymil - that’s good to know - amazing how many things in BC treatment aren’t quite as per instructions when you actually go for them!

Just worried because it hurts my boob and armpit and I wonder if that’s normal?

I’m such a wimp :slight_smile:

C x

I’m a year post-surgery (ANC & WLE) and still have to stretch several times a day. I find it pulls on my nipple and armpit and does hurt a bit when I do it, so yes, I’d say it’s normal.

I was told to take painkillers and hour or so before exercising so that I could do them properly and stretch a bit further. I have very good movementas long as I keep up the stretches - pretty much back to normal, although it does still feel “tight” on my BC side. I know my boob is still a bit swollen and hardened from rads so that doesn’t help.

Jane xxx

Hi chicci, I also had pain and felt really uncomfortable I was really worried I wouldn’t be abled to go for RADS so if you are still having problems go back to your physio mine was brilliant my arm still wouldn’t budge week before RADS so she worked for ages and stretched my arm - unfortunately I had cording, it didn’t hurt in fact it was such a relief after she had done it. I remember walking out of the hossie thinking my arm was 6ft long :-). So yep advice is back to physio and good luck with RADS!

Thanks for encouragement from all - sounds like I’m pretty normal :0)

All best wishes

C x