I had a bilateral mastectomy three weeks ago and had a planning appointment today in the radiotherapy department. They wanted to do a scan whilst I was in the radiotherapy position, but it was so painful I couldn’t do it. I have been doing the post-surgery exercises, and generally I have a good range of movement, but I just can’t put my arms up high enough to comfortably lay on the bed with my arms in the rests. So, does anyone have any other tips for helping to regain full movement after surgery? They want to try and do the scan again next week.
You are doing great, keep doing exercises, I put a sticky dot up the door each day so I could see progress of reach and it helped a lot being able to visualise daily improvement, it might help you so just thought I’d mention. Also speak to you bcn to see if there is any physio you can have 
Your range will come back just carry on doing exercises, I did mine 4 times a day little by little. Just ensure you don’t over do it your body is healing ??
Shi xx
Hi Dawn
I’m surprised the radiotherapy team didn’t refer you on. I saw the rehabilitation physio and she showed me how to massage my scar to loosen it. You didn’t say if your armpit was affected (eg. Axillary clearance) but that needs loosening too. If there’s no time to see the physio before your next radiotherapy, firmly massage your breast muscle round the scar with circular movements and sweep across to the nearest healthy lymph nodes (centre chest, centre back…) Keep moisturising twice a day with Aqueous or E45 cream (no oil - that will mess up radiotherapy).
These are the two exercises I had to do (and still do to maintain movement) but remember they were recommended for my specific problems. I don’t think they can do any harm though?
Lie on the floor or bed and place a pillow under and above your shoulder. Gently raise your straight arm over your head and lower it towards the pillow. If it hurts, use your other hand to hold onto your breast muscle. Hold for 6 seconds. Do that 5 times. Eventually you’ll be able to do it without the pillow and without clutching your chest. You can also stretch the arm and move your blended knees to the opposite side, adding a bit more stretch. Every day you don’t do the exercises, it will tighten again.
If your arm hurts because of cording (tight line running down the inside, you can feel it when the arm is stretched and maybe see it), you definitely need to see the physio but meantime, you can do circular massaging, very gently but firmly (it hurts at first) to loosen that. Start at the lowest point and work up. Again, sweep across to your healthy lymph nodes. Then you’ll have better arm movement.
Don’t overstretch but do massage that scar because it restricts your arm movements. Best of luck - hope the radiotherapy goes well for you x