I found the lymphodema physio great to help with the lump under my arm and in the other Lymphnode removal site in my chest near my shoulder. I also had laser and that helped with tightness and the cording that had developed across my mastectomy scar to my underarm. I do the lymph massage at night which helps keep the swelling under control, but as I am going through radiation it is swelling up again.
I found that by about the week 6 after surgery, before I started radiation, the post surgery swelling was mostly gone.
I do still have a bit of a lump under my arm, a fellow mastectomy friend told me that her surgeon said they left extra skin there so she could raise her arm properly, if they had taken it tight, it would have restricted movement.
I guess that could be so, it makes sense.
I am now 8 weeks after surgery and the numbness is also starting to go, yay!