Cording

2 years on and have had quite a bit of release from cording by yoga, stretching and other exercises. I went to see a lympodema physio and she did some laser on it. But the best information was about aqua-aerobics, particularly deep water running. The bouyancy of the water combined with arm movement seems to allow the trapped  fluid to escape more easily. So what I thought was chronic cording was actually lympodema around my chest, so it had a remarkable effect on my range of movement. This was groundbreaking for me as I LOVE tennis and it was affecting my ball toss-very frustrating when you are trying to resume a"normal" life. You have to laugh though, as I was playing three times a week on hard court, walking, hiking the whole bit and now I have plantar fascitis which means I cannot walk let alone run- so more physio and a moon boot. Oh well it can always worse can't it.

2 years on and have had quite a bit of release from cording by yoga, stretching and other exercises. I went to see a lympodema physio and she did some laser on it. But the best information was about aqua-aerobics, particularly deep water running. The bouyancy of the water combined with arm movement seems to allow the trapped  fluid to escape more easily. So what I thought was chronic cording was actually lympodema around my chest, so it had a remarkable effect on my range of movement. This was groundbreaking for me as I LOVE tennis and it was affecting my ball toss-very frustrating when you are trying to resume a"normal" life. You have to laugh though, as I was playing three times a week on hard court, walking, hiking the whole bit and now I have plantar fascitis which means I cannot walk let alone run- so more physio and a moon boot. Oh well it can always worse can't it.

2 years on and have had quite a bit of release from cording by yoga, stretching and other exercises. I went to see a lympodema physio and she did some laser on it. But the best information was about aqua-aerobics, particularly deep water running. The bouyancy of the water combined with arm movement seems to allow the trapped  fluid to escape more easily. So what I thought was chronic cording was actually lympodema around my chest, so it had a remarkable effect on my range of movement. This was groundbreaking for me as I LOVE tennis and it was affecting my ball toss-very frustrating when you are trying to resume a"normal" life. You have to laugh though, as I was playing three times a week on hard court, walking, hiking the whole bit and now I have plantar fascitis which means I cannot walk let alone run- so more physio and a moon boot. Oh well it can always worse can't it.

Hi JanMac

My cording has gone. I havent had any more problems with it for about 2 years now.  I dont do any specific exercises but do lead a faily active life and try never to favour that side (even though my shoulder/arm feels tighter and is not as flexible as the 'good' side).  I do some yoga, play tennis and walk a lot.  I was advised by a physio who specialised in Lymphadema to try to keep the shoulder/arm as flexible as possible and not to favour it at all if I could help it.  The old saying "use it or lose it" is very true according to my physio.  I have met a couple of older woman who do not use the affected side to the point of letting the arm hang loose and not using it at all.  I hope I can continue to keep active and prevent this from happening to me.

Hope this helps someone. :)

Hi All, I hope your cording issues are resolving. I developed cording about 2 months after a left mastectomy and found it very difficult to get anyone to take it seriously. That was at the beginning of 2012 & it was actually a breast prosthesis fitter who diagnosed it!  I found a lymphoedema physio who knew how to treat it and have gone on to have many sessions of osteopathy & myotherapy which have all helped. My arm & chest area are now greatly improved after 2 years of pretty solid work on it. Like 'Yoga's' comments, it also affected my shoulder, back & neck.
I started doing Pilates about 9 months ago & have found this has helped me enormously although I have to be very careful as overdoing stretches or putting too much pressure on the area seems to set up a bout of inflammation that makes everything tighten up & contract again. Slow & steady has been the trick for me & now I have quite a good range of movement & much less pain.
Best wishes to all.

I have found yoga a god send, but trialled a few first. The ones that work the chest like plank and downward dog really good, and find the other exercises good for stretching the rest of the body out and relaxation. My scar released a little last month and that was nearly a year on . Although having said that it had come a long way before that. When it released a little it caused my back on the opposite side to spasm then have had problems with my neck. My physio said that over the year my muscles were counteracting the strech causes by the scar. I know if I haven't kept up my stretches it gets tight and I feel like I am hunching forward. I am also now going to the physio about once a month just to keep everything moving .

A friend and I used to call the relief from holding your arm up in the air the mastectomy salute.

cheers

majella

hi newbie,

I didnt find a lot of women had it but the ones that did all said the same things thank god for this sight, I actually found the cording the most painfull of everything as it seemed to go on forever, rubbing it also helped but that was only short term. and believe it or not L felt that tightning over the last few hot days where I seemed to have a bit of fluid build up and the stretching exercises made it ease of. The snap just happened I found the more i did the exercises the quicker they snapped and even sometimes just while showering very weird. And I hate exercising I cant remember how long I had it but it sure was a relief when it went xxxxxxadean

hi newbie,

I didnt find a lot of women had it but the ones that did all said the same things thank god for this sight, I actually found the cording the most painfull of everything as it seemed to go on forever, rubbing it also helped but that was only short term. and believe it or not L felt that tightning over the last few hot days where I seemed to have a bit of fluid build up and the stretching exercises made it ease of. The snap just happened I found the more i did the exercises the quicker they snapped and even sometimes just while showering very weird. And I hate exercising I cant remember how long I had it but it sure was a relief when it went xxxxxxadean

thanks adean, how long did it take for the "snap" you described. I'm 7 weeks post mastectomy? is this sort of thing normal do you think?

cheers

majella

Hi newbie.

Cording is also called lymphatic cording or also axillary web syndrome it is a common problem after breast surgery and lymph revmoval, Yes it is a cord like tightning that can even go down the breast and back into the entire arm, Exercises are so important at hopefully keeping it away, it can be extremelly painfull.

adean xxx