I had my lymph node op (7 nodes) and wle last week and now my armpit is very achey despite exercises and pain killers. Will it keep getting worse? i feel really bruised and although I felt well up to today and plan to go back to work monday, I feel rough today. Should I be using arm as normal or could I overdo it. My breast care nurse seems to be suggesting exercising a lot despite the pain.
Next question - now my results are in I need a mastectomy though shouldn’t now need rads or chemo. They said they would do immediate reconstruction with expander implant. Can anyone help explain what this means and if it is better than the op using muscle tissue from back or stomach? I don’t even know what to expexct from a mastectomy and yesterday when I got results I was in a fog. It wil be my 3rd op in 3 months and I feel a bit fed up of it all.
Can’t help you on the reconstruction Question but as far as the stiffness goes…use the arm and do the exercises… it will hurt ,ike nothing on this earth but the more you use the arm the less trouble you will have in the future.
I had a sentinol node biopsy done at the beginning of my diagnosis and was told to exercise my arm as much as possible afterwards, although I had the habit of holding it like a wing - if that makes sense, and using my right arm for everything. My BC Nurse told me off for this, and once I’d taken her advice and did my exercises, and started using my arm more, it certainly did start getting better (as much as it hurt at the time).
As for your op, it sounds as if you’re having the same as me - I’m going in for a mastectomy on 3rd October. I’ll be having a tissue expander put in, which will be injected with saline every two weeks, and about six months later, there will be space for an implant. The reason he’s not doing the reconstruction at the same time is because he said there’s not enough muscle/skin on my back to do a good job (I’m not that thin!!). In one way I’m quite pleased as the operation won’t be so long and also my back won’t be sore !! Best bit is, he’s offered to make both boobs bigger so I’m going up a cup size !
Hope this is of some help at least, but if I was you I’d ring your Breast Care Nurse to clarify things.
And don’t apologise for having a whinge - you’re entitled to !
I had my mastectomy on the right side, so I needed to use my arm. I was lucky, it was a very well performed operation - and the fact that I kept using my arms (can tell that putting up the laundry did HURT) definitely helped, because now - 2 months later - I have recovered 100% of my motion range, in all directions, and all the strength. Initially, after using it I would feel like the whole arm was made of lead, and it would ache deeply - for this, I took tylenol (paracetamol) whenever required, and asked others to carry stuff for me.
I have now joined a yoga class, and do all the stretches. It doesn’t hurt anymore, I just feel the scar stretching, but that’s it - so I keep doing them, as I guess it can only helps.
Good luck with your op. I had a skin-conserving one, but no expanders… will have recon later on. Can’t wait.
I had WLE and 12 nodes removed from right arm about 3 weeks ago. Like Julie I think I developed the habit of holding mine like a wing - I think you can’t help it for the first week. I expected it to be really sore directly after the op but it was worse in the second week - felt like I had a large hard ball under my armpit and the scar felt hard and the exercises were difficult and I felt like something inside was going to snap (breast nurse assured me nothing would) - patch on the back of my arm was numb and at times underarm felt as if it was raw but it must be just the nerves I suppose.
Now into week 3 and trying to do the exercises as I think that is the key - and using the arm as much as possible - can’t reach up high or out fully - but that will hopefully come in time. I am also using aqueous cream on my arm and hand - it is the boots own brand and it really smells awful but it sinks in quickly and massaging it in makes the top of my arm feel better. Underarm still feels a bit strange and still have numbness on patch of the upper arm (it doesn’t get any goosebumps) - tenderness below breast and at side of breast on ribs - not sure if that is fluid. Had appointment with consultant on Wednesday to discuss my mastectomy and reconstruction and he removed a large syringeful of fluid from under my arm - didn’t hurt a bit - didn’t know it was there although top of my back at shoulder had started to become tight.
It really all does start to get easier - although at the time you think it never will - even sleeping through the night quite comfortably. We probably all have different problems after the op - breast nurse said to me not to go at the exercises as if you were at the gym but to take it easy and hold the stretches and this will eventually get you back to normal.
Hope it all goes well - I am due to have mastectomy and imm. recon hopefully last week in September. Good luck with the exercises.
I agree with everyone else about the exercises - keep going. If you do too much you will increase the fluid but little bits often worked for me.
The sheet I was given was very good but I found that i added waving and imitating swimming movements and that got me some extra movement. I had op at beginning of July and have re-gained full movement. Still have a numb bit but you just get used to that and forget about it.
Keep trying - good luck with op.
everyone is different re how they are after an op but what has worked for me following a right mast. followed a month later by full auxillary node clearance in gentle repetioion of the exercises given at least 3 times a day, and like Babyboo said te shower is a good place as you are warm and more flexible. Also would REALLY recommend Aloa Gel to massage into scar tissue a cople of times a day it keeps the skin much more supple. Cant help you on rebuild as I didnt have one but was offered what you have been and have been told since that my surgeon is best in country for reconstructions so it sounds like you are being offered the best type of op.
Best of luck and if it helps at all I found the mastectomy op a breeze, I was home after 2 days and back to full fitness in about 2 weeks so dont worry you will be fine.
I am starting to feel less stiff though the skin at the back of my armpit/shoulder feels badly burnt even though you can’t see anything. Weird! Keep in touch ladies and I hope it all goes well
I had a full axillary clearance and more tissue removed from left breast nearly 2 weeks ago. I get pain on upper and lower side of upper arm and feeling tender across left breast and around shoulder area. I must say that the first week was the worst. If I extended the arm down to pick up something or wash my feet or legs in the shower, I would get a feeling of pins and needles shooting through my arm. I have been doing the exercises three times a day and don’t seem to get this any more. I find it very difficult to sleep through the whole night and can only lie on the other side or on my back. I feel more achy and painful towards the evening. I had been taking painkillers, Co-dydramol the first week after the operation which gave me constipation and then I changed to Neurofen which have given me an upset tum. I think I’ll try and manage without the painkillers now. I have definitely got more movement in the arm now and try to do the exercises and use the arm normally now. I have to go in a couple of weeks for my results. I am definitely having radiotherapy but have to see if I will need chemo as well.