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

Afraser
Member
8 years ago
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
Kiwi_Angel
Member
8 years ago
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.
Afraser
Member
8 years ago
Hi
Sounds like you are doing well. I had 17 lymph nodes removed but I have heard of more. 17 was enough for me! I had remarkably good mobility straight away as everyone remarked on it but most get it back as you are doing, gradually. Numbness can last - five years on I still find it hard to detect hot and cold under the affected armpit. Might be a problem if I waxed there but I don't! I wish paranoia would deter lymphoedema - the stats are on the side of not getting it but, as one who has, the best advice I can give is treat it early and with the best professional help you can manage. My tight wristwatch was the first giveaway! If you can keep it in its box it's OK. Keep up your exercises! Best wishes.

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Recovery Post Lymph Node Removal

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