Hi everyone. I’m one week post op with mastectomy and auxiliary lymph node removal (16 were taken which I believe could be a lot???). My movement is slowly getting better everyday - I have a little puffiness under the armpit and my tricep area was quite numb and touchy but that is getting better unless I have a busy day and it flares up a little. I know it is different for everyone but what have other people’s experiences been like on recovery times. I’m doing my exercises and can now use both hands to wash my hair and can raise my arms higher but I still couldn’t get into a non stretchy T shirt and still would be hesitant to drive. I’m so paranoid about lymphodema and I keep comparing my arm sizes and have taken to wearing a ring on the affected side incase of puffiness.

I had 11 out and got good mobility back pretty quickly but used to get a feeling like I was being tazered down my arm every so often. That only lasted a few weeks. Am nearly a year since op and have good feeling back in my tricep now so the weird numb feeling is nearly gone. Arm pit still feels a bit odd and have some tightness still from cording but all manageable xx

@kezmusc. I drove today for the first time today - feels like a major achievement 10 days post op.

@lrb_03. Thanks for that. I would also be tempted to stop exercises when my range of movement good as I am normally very active. I will be going back to yoga when I’m healed which should help a lot but will have to be careful with some of the poses.

Thanks @Afraser. I found this on this site”Swelling and “odd sensations” soon after surgery are not lymphoedema. After surgery, it is normal for there to be some numbness of the armpit, upper arm and the breast or chest wall and there is often some swelling. As the nerves begin to repair, it is also normal to experience a number of odd and uncomfortable sensations, often described as tingling or the feeling that the skin has been sunburnt or grazed. These sensations can occur in the breast or chest wall, armpit, upper arm and upper back. The swelling and odd sensations usually settle down during the weeks or months after surgery.”Made me feel better they what I’m feeling is normal. I’ll keep doing my exercises and keep using my ring as a swelling guide.

Too right. After surgery, my surgeon, a lovely and cheerful man, said " you will feel all sort of pinging and strange sensations. Just ignore them all!". Possibly unwise to carry to extremes but I got his drift. I get an occasional twinge (no pain) even now - scar tissue occasionally creaks! One of the sort of funny things about this little caper is what we rewrite as normal! But normal is as normal does. Best wishes

Recovery Post Lymph Node Removal | BCNA Online Network

23 Replies

Kiwi_Angel
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8 years ago
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@Sanra I’m the same - feel numb on a certain patch of my chest and round part of my armpit. My tricep area feels quite weird - almost like that touchy skin feeling u get when u have fever with the flu. Also feel tight round the chest and upper arm/armpit. Slowly getting better but a little bit of wound has opened up so I’m trying to do my exercises but not stretch that area too much. Good luck with your recovery and your results. Xo
Sister
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8 years ago
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You'll probably keep the numbness for a while. Mine's not showing any sign of leaving me and it's been nearly 3 months. Sounds like you're doing the right things - resting and basic exercises. Good luck for the results.
Sanra
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8 years ago
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Hi, i am a week after double mastectomy with nodes removed, no results back yet, sent for more extentive pathology apparently. Still have one drain in. Trying to get used to the ‘new’ me, as no reconstruction with my cancer. Numb. My arm is still feeling very odd too, but just doing basic physio & resting as i was told to do. I see a lymphodema physio next week for more info, guess one just does as told lol.
lrb_03
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8 years ago
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Hi @"Kiwi Angel". I'm glad you're seeing a lymphoedema physio next week. They'll be able to assess if you do have cording (just read your other post, too) & perhaps give you some specific exercises to help. Keep up with your current regime in the meantime.

In terms of treatment plan, a lot will depend on a variety of things like what receptors the tumour had, extent of any lymph node involvement, signs of aggessive behaviour of the tumour as well as size of the tumour. You may or may not need radiotherapy as well, depending on the above.

Glad you had steristrips to put on this morning, sorry this has happened. They're unlikely to put another stich in, instead will use steristrips, as long as there are no signs of infection. Yes, take a bit of care with the exercises but don't stop.

Take care,
Lyn
Kiwi_Angel
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8 years ago
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Just got out of the shower and noticed a small bit of my wound has opened up where it was very tight. Have put 7 steri strips on the area which I will leave on till the community nurse comes on Monday. Hope I don’t need another stitch out in and have to be even more careful with my exercises.
Kiwi_Angel
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8 years ago
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I’m also going to see a lymphodema specialist on Friday to get some advice and be proactive. Busy week with appointments next week - seeing the oncologist on Tuesday to find out treatment. I’m hoping since my CT scan and lymph nodes were clear I won’t need chemo.
Sunshine0206
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8 years ago
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I had 9 nodes removed and my range of movement returned very quickly. I was back at the gym and doing yoga with my oncologist/surgeon/exercise physiologist blessing. I was very active at gym with quite heavy weights prior. x
lrb_03
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8 years ago
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Yoga will be really good for maintaining your range of movement, @"Kiwi Angel". And from what you said, you've done it before, so you'll know how it should feel. Down the track, you should be able to get back to all you were doing :)
Kiwi_Angel
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8 years ago
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@lrb_03. Thanks for that. I would also be tempted to stop exercises when my range of movement good as I am normally very active. I will be going back to yoga when I’m healed which should help a lot but will have to be careful with some of the poses.
lrb_03
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8 years ago
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Whatever you do, keep going with the exercises. I had great range of movement and did all the exercise for 6 - 12 months, after finishing radiotherapy then gradually stopped, although I've still been fairly active. Another 12 months on, & I've got a pec like a rock, and reducing range of movement. So now I embark on a whole new set of exercises to get back what I didn't realise I was losing.
Take care everyone