Arm movement after axillary clearance

Thanks everybody for sharing your experience and tips.

At least I know this is quite 'normal' and what to look out for.

Hi

My physio did show me how to massage and I have also done that diligently. Perhaps I am not doing it right. She also mentioned the cords popping but unfortunately for me, no cords popped. Having said that, it has improved somewhat albeit slowly. Still waiting for popping :). Will continue with exercise.

Thanks for that. At least I know this is quite normal.

Cis

I had cording after my Lumpectomy & a couple of nodes taken out..It felt very tight & painful under my arm & couldn't move it to full range.. So my breast care nurse organised physio for me, so I went twice a week for about 5 weeks, she did loads of stretching exercises with me, I also had bad nerve pain as well, I still have a little tightness under my arm when reaching up but not as painful as it was.. Keep up your stretching... I am halfway with radiation & it has stired up the nerve pain so I'm keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't stir up the cording...good luck & take care(( hugs )) Christine:) x

Hello, I had my first operation(axillary clearance)in May 2011 and more than 2 years later can not lift my arm up straight out in front higher than (hope I don't offend anyone) if I was doing a "Heil Hitler" salute.

If I lie down I can get it over my head, after many many physios and also if I use my other  hand to lift it.  I have not had cording and no expert can really explain what has happened,  is there a tendon or something cut that stops me raising it.

Julia

Hi Chris

Sorry to hear about your broken arm. Hope it is on the mend.

Guess I will continue with my exercise for a while but will go to a physio if it continues. It has been improving although rather slowly, well in my opinion.

All the best with your physio.

Cis

Hi Cis, I didn't have cording, but remember really struggling with the exercises. I had to have 2 surgeries 3 weeks apart. One was lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy, followed 3 weeks later by mastectomy and 10 more nodes. The exercises made me feel sick, so I left them for awhile, but continued to use my arm as much as possible (R arm). This did the trick, and very soon I realised that my arm was better. I am sure that was well after the stage you are at. Now, I am reminding myself of this, as it is now 6 weeks since I broke my upper right arm in 3 places. I have been given the all clear to work my arm, and it doesn't want to move. It is the shoulder and muscles giving me grief, plus the unfounded fear that I could break my arm if I push it too much. My physio will straighten me out, as she is a no nonsense person, and is looking after my fracture as well as the lymphadema. Just keep using your arm and it should sort it self out. A physio is a great help though. Good luck. Love Chris xx

Like you, I did all the right things, including daily exercises recommended by my Physio, but still developed cording after my mastectomy, too. Luckily for me, a session with my Physio, although painful rectified the situation.....I think of it as small time pain for long time gain. Good luck on your journey. All the best

Like you, I did all the right things, including daily exercises recommended by my Physio, but still developed cording after my mastectomy, too. Luckily for me, a session with my Physio, although painful rectified the situation.....I think of it as small time pain for long time gain. Good luck on your journey. All the best

I don't remember it taking that long to be able to move it but mine wasn't excessive.  But if you are still concerned another trip to physio wouldn't hurt.

Good luck hun.

Mich xooxox

I am at 6 or 7 weeks post surgery. Initially I had several large ropes in cording, really uncomfortable into the armpit, but I also have had finer sheets of cording turn up as well. Some is easy to massage out yourself, the bigger cords needed work on by a physio though. The physio can show you how to work on it. I needed to stretch my arm overhead, and find the cords under the skin and gently pull them towards the shoulder, or the elbow.

If you are lucky, you hear a little pop as some of the finer cords separate. I am still having some fibrosis turning up, and if I can't reach it I'll take it back to the physio. The big cords have broken down with work and I don't have the big rope pulling into the armpit anymore. I've been to the physio three times about it and it was worth it for my cording which was quite extensive. Others have only fine cording, some have none!

Hope this helps.