My arm feels really strange from the inside of the upper part of my arm down to the inside of the wrist. I’ve had full axillary clearance. It feels like someone has cut the tendon & sewed it back together too short so that i can’t straighten my arm out as it’s painful. I can get it above my head but can’t straighten at certain angles. I was just wondering if this was a sign of lymphoedema or something i should expect after the op. I’m nearly 3 weeks post ANC,thanks. x
Hi hjv123 - as you are only 3 weeks post op it is possible that it is something called cording. There is info on this site about it and how to help relieve it. Perhaps you should talk to your BCN about exercise to help and reassure you about it. It is 2years since my ops and I still have the altered sensation in my arm. Had similar to you but fell down a few stairs landing on that arm and the tight feeling disappeared(I am not recommending that as a cure! lol) Did my exercises everyday as well as a Pilate’s class and have full mobility back. Good luck . Marli x
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Hi hjv123
Here’s the link to the area of this website where ‘cording’ is discussed.
breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-breast-health/treatment-side-effects/surgery/after-surgery/
and the link to BCC’s excersise publication:
breastcancercare.org.uk/search-results/*/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/101/
Hope you find these helpful. Take care,
Jo, Facilitator
thanks ladies, i’ve had a good read up of cording now that u’ve told me what it is,lol. It does sound exactly what i have so i shall be doing some ringing round on tues & speak to my BCN to get some physio. Presume it’s better to be referred through her than to go to our local physio unit, would they have good knowledge of it?
Marli, i don’t think i’ll be giving your remedy a try,lol but at least it worked for u, i hope u didn’t hurt anything else!
I agree … sounds like cording … I had it and had lots of physio … better to be referred by bcn so you see a physio that has dealt with it before … they massage it and stretch and measure you each time to see how far you can stretch etc … they will sort you out x
I am having similar feelings in the arm. Had 1st WLE 8 weeks ago and have just had the 2nd WLE on Thursday, awaiting results… See surgeon on Weds so am going to ask him about my arm. I have particularly bad pins and needles in my little finger. Worried!
thanks Angie, i will definatly go through my BCN& can then hopefully get it sorted.
Wendels, i hope it goes well with ur results , i had pins & needles in my arm but they seem to have gone, still seem to have all the other stuff that goes with ANC though, the sunburn feeling, numbness & now tightness. Mind u i don’t think having sampling & then having full clearance a few weeks later as we have helps, it’s a lot for the arm to take. Mine had hardly recovered from the first op before they were digging around again! Hopefully someone else will know about the pins & needles or as u say u can ask on weds. Good luck.