I have been absolutely paranoid about my right arm since surgery, thinking I would get Lymphoedema. Today I saw my physio at the hopsital for my post radiation arm measurements and I was so happy that my arm has actually got smaller!
So now I will try and relax about it and just get on with treating it "normally".
Just thought I'd share !
Sarah x
Hi Manda, I had my op in late November last year. I started lymphatic drainage massage 2 weeks after to help get the circulation going again. Then 2 weeks later I went to a physio & she stretched out the muscles & tendons & this helped tremendously with my movement. It was very painful, but I felt so much better after each treatment. She was quite dissapointed in my last treatment that I wasn't cringing anymore, sadist! Then back to the lymphatic drainage massage for another 2 weeks. It took 6 weeks before I had full movement back in my left arm, but I was hanging out my washing & playing with my friends 1 year old long before that. I'm sorry you'll just have to be a bit more patient, but going to physio on Monday is a great start.
Take care,
Wendy
Hi Manda, I had my op back in late November & my arm's still not 100%, but it's getting there. I had lymphatic massage as well as physio on my arm from mid December through to mid January. The lymphatic massage helped to smooth out all the lumps & got the circulation going. The physio was quite painful, but helped stretch out the muscles & tendons that needed stretching to give me more movement. After that I felt great. I was just like you & getting cranky about the limited things that I could do with my left arm. So give it some more time & it will be back to normal. I'd say I had full movement by 6 weeks after surgery, but I was hanging out the washing long before that & playing with my friend's baby. You can't rush your recovery & it's great that you are off to physio, just what you need now.
Take care, Wendy
Hi Sarah
I am the same too. Had my operation on 21 December and am just finishing radiation (last session tomorrow - hurrah!). I keep feeling my arm and waking up after dreaming it has swollen to elephantine proportions! See the physio on Monday to get measured. Fingers crossed!
Amy x
