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janinaj's avatar
janinaj
Member
12 years ago

Cording?

Hi guys, So it has been just over two weeks since I had my mastectomy and axillary clearance and I am still experiencing some pretty severe pain. I've been seeing my GP on by regular basis but she really doesn't seem to know much about this situation. For example, about half of the questions I ask her, she writes on a piece of paper to ask Dr Elston (my surgeon who I won't be seeing again until May next year). So, I've been doing a bunch of reading and I think what I'm experiencing is "cording" in addition to the usual healing internally. The pain goes from my chest over to the underarm and all the way down to my forearm. I will ask my oncologist when I see them in two weeks. The pain is worse after every set of physio as you would expect but I think it's just more intense than it probably should be. The burning feeling on my chest and under my underarm is intense and my mobility after stringent physio for the past two weeks is really depressing. I still can't get my elbow up past my shoulder :(. I keep reading about these wonder women who are walking around happily after a few days and having mobility back in their arm after a couple of weeks and it's just slightly distressing, Is this normal? Am I worrying about nothing? Have you experienced cording and does this sound like what you experienced? I feel like I'm just continually whinging and I haven't even started chemo yet :( Thanks in advance for any insight or advice, Janina

11 Replies

  • Hi Janina,

    I  had my clearance in June 2011 and still can't lift my arm past eye level, but I don't think this is cording.  I have not been able  to get a definate answer from anyone, the usual response is that muscle and stuff has been cut.  But I know not everyone has this problem.  I have done lots of physio but am beginning to wonder if I can ever get the movement back.

    Hope yours heals well,

    Julia

  • Hi Janina Don't be sorry about having a whinge....that's what this site is for!! Who else is going to understand what's happening to you but us women who have been through what you have......now I remember what you are describing it's as if you have a tight cord inside your arm mine went from my armpit to just before my elbow.....now my physio gave me exercises to do and on my visit with her she would massage my arm yes it was painful but now I have really good movement in my arm.....I was really concerned about my left arm as I had previously had an AFE which affected the left side of my body ( but that's a whole other story lol) Now do you do exercise? Let me know if you want me to describe the ones I do.....you never know they may help :) Hope you can keep your spirits up...... Xoxo Sharl