I'm wondering if anyone can tell me does cording eventually disappear with just excercises? I have cording down to my elbow for last few months, lately it's horribly tight again despite doing excercises and about a month ago a new cord developed in what's left of my breast, creating lots of discomfort/pain there's no excercise I can do for that one. Today while having chemo I talked to the breast care nurse who is going to try to get an app with physio for me ASAP, she mentioned sometimes the cords can be cut to loosen them off, what does that look like? Is it done with a local or a general? And does it help? What are the odds more develop? Ugh! thanks

Hi, I had cording after my mastectomy and axillary dissection in June. It started about 3 days after surgery and I couldn't move my arm in any direction forward without pain/pulling. I had to wait 2 weeks until I could get a physio appointment, due to school holidays (all physios away), and then I had sessions twice a week for about 5 weeks (10 sessions total). This has worked fantastically well, and I have got almost full range of movement back. I still do my stretches once per day, in order to keep flexibility. I created more cording when I got stuck into the housework (scrubbing and mopping = bad). So now I have to remember to use my other arm for those jobs. I also had tightness across my chest muscles and cording in this area, as it felt like a pulling on my sternum (centre of chest). I recommend seeing a physio who has had training in post breast surgery care and lymphodema training. Cath :)

Hi Flutterby I had cording following my mastectomy and was sent to a physio. This was not fantastic as she managed to 'crack' one but the others were not to good - at the huge cost each time I could not afford to go regularly. I then found a masseur (at less than 1/2 the cost) who is trained in lymphodema etc and she works wonders, often using the Chinese 'cupping' to assist if I am bad. I find once every three weeks keeps both pretty well under control, unless of course I do things like wood splitting and vacuuming etc which means I may need to go more often. One happy thought is that if there is time to spare I get a pleasurable massage as well ! Hope this helps - anything which prevents more surgery is a good thing ! Good luck Summer :-)

Hi Flutterby, I'm currently seeing a specialised physio for cording that got worse with rads. The cording was restricting my arm movement,straightening up on my side, and pulled all the way down my arm past the elbow. The physio, with massage has broken the cording in my elbow, and I have much more flexibility in my shoulder and arm. The cording down my ribs has also broken, and is a lot more comfortable. I'm now doing light weights with low reps, and stretches, and I'm now starting to get a bit of strength in my arm. The physio and rads oncologist has told me to keep going,as the cording may be a problem for many months. Keep your eye on the target Flutterby, and be persistent, make it part of your lifestyle and it will pay off in the end. Sending you a big cuddle, Trace ????????

Thanks Cath, Oops maybe I've been doing to much and that's why it's gotten worse, note to self be more careful! xxx

Thanks Summer, i had a lymphatic drain massage last week cause my arm got a but swollen, I told him about the cording but he didn't seem to have any idea, maybe I need to find somebody more experienced! take care xx

Cording | BCNA Online Network

13 Replies

mingi
Member
10 years ago
Hi

I had a mastectomy & 19 lymph nodes removed. I developed cording down my right arm after 2 weeks. The breast cancer nurse gave me a name of a physio who specialises in Lymphoedema..She gave me a massage on my arm & showed me exercises to do.

A few days later, I got an appointment with a physio at the hospital. She tried to crack the cording which was such a painful experience. The next week I went back to the private physio & asked her about cracking the cords. She said that method was not done anymore as it could cause more harm. She did more massaging. She suggested I use a tense machine on the arm. I'm using a small hand held vibrating machine up the arm as well. Doing stretch exercises. The physio said it would take time to heal. It has improved compared to a few weeks ago.
Flutter_By
Member
10 years ago
Thanks, still a bit far away from me, hopefully can find someone near Berwick
Anonymous
Not applicable
10 years ago
I see Kate Rogers in East Melbourne, she is lovely ??
maryroset1
Member
10 years ago
Hi again.

I see jodie at victorian lymphodema practice cnr warrigal and Canterbury rds surrey hills. I can highly recommend her. I always leave feeling so good...

Take care????

Maryrose
Flutter_By
Member
10 years ago
I'm out SouthEasternsuburbsMelbourne,Iwaitingonurgentappathospita.Pyshio

a breast care nurse is going to call me Monday hopefully with name of a private one close by! Fingers crossed! Thanks for suggestion lady's xx
maryroset1
Member
10 years ago
Hey there. A lymphodema physio will show you how to stretch it out till it pops. Sounds freaky but doesnt hurt. I still do arm stretches and massage the area twice a day in the shower. Its important to see a physio that specialises in lymphodema unfortunately there arent many around. I can highly recommend one in Melbourne not sure where you are though.

Take care

Maryrose
Anonymous
Not applicable
10 years ago
I reckon that your breast care nurse could show you some gentle massage to help stretch that scar tissue out in the meantime. I know what you mean about over using the arm, my mastectomy is on the right side, and that's my preferred arm. It's just natural for me to use that arm first, need to tattoo "go gently" on my wrist to remind me LOL. Take care, Trace ??????
Flutter_By
Member
10 years ago
Thanks Trace,

Ughh I'm starting radiotherapy in two months once I've finished chemo note to self get cording sorted before then!

The last measure of movement I'd lost about 30% range! I seemed to get it back with excercises! but then it's flared up again I'd say I've lost more movement this time! I'm terrible at remembering to go easy on the arm! I need to be mindful!

im hoping the breast care nurse will get back to me with a pyshio and massage person close to me who's recommended very experienced as driving into see the hospital one can be next to impossible with distance and feeling to tired to drive so far. Fingers crossed!

take care! Xx
Flutter_By
Member
10 years ago
Thanks Summer,

i had a lymphatic drain massage last week cause my arm got a but swollen, I told him about the cording but he didn't seem to have any idea, maybe I need to find somebody more experienced!

take care xx
Flutter_By
Member
10 years ago
Thanks Cath,

Oops maybe I've been doing to much and that's why it's gotten worse, note to self be more careful!

xxx

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Cording

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