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Amy's avatar
Amy
Member
15 years ago

Cording

I have had a tight painful feeling up my right arm for the last couple of weeks.  It almost feels like it's bruised or something.  It hurts most when I try to stretch the arm upwards.  I saw the physio last Monday and she said it may be cording.  She took my arm measurements and there doesn't appear to be any swelling so not diagnosed as lymphoedema. 

Just wondered if anyone else has had similar?  I continue to do my exercises (given to me after my mastectomy) and have added a couple more stretches after reading that this may help with the cording.  I also read it may rectify itself but it may not - very helpful!

cording

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  • Bardoe's avatar
    Bardoe
    Member
    15 years ago

    hi there, I have had cording happen twice now,  seems to co-incide with the start of chemo for me.

    In Adelaide we have a specialist lymphodema clinic, who treat cording with laser therapy.  from my research it can take 6-8 weeks to reduce normally, and the laser treatment seems to speed that up for me to 4 weeks before it disappears.  I tried this because my elbow gets so tight that i can no longer straighten it, so makes it difficult to carry heavy items or use your arm normally and it can be stabbling like pain - ouch.

    A note - not all physio's are aware of this issue of cording also technically named AWS  Axillia Web Syndrome

    cheers bardoe

  • Amy's avatar
    Amy
    Member
    15 years ago

    Thanks Rachel

    The physio told me to keep up the exercises too.  So I'll keep doing that and stretches and fingers crossed it will get better!

    I hope you find the cause of the pain in your arm.  It seems to make sense it's related to the operation doesn't it?

    Take care

    Amy

  • Allicat's avatar
    Allicat
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Amy

    I had a right-side mastectomy four weeks ago & for the last two weeks I have had a sharp pain in my forearm when I straighten my arm. Also an aching wrist which is worsened by using the mouse.

    When I asked about this at the hospital they seemed to think it was nothing to so with the operation but it must be somehow related to the operation. The arm looks normal and since I only had a few lymph nodes out they said there was not much danger of lymphodema.

    After my previous surgery (wide local excision) I had cording - a pain on the inside of my elbow when I lifted my arm and a weird stretched flap of skin in my armpit which was like there was an actual cord in there which was pulled too tight. The surgeon said to do the exercises and it would get better in a few months & it actually got better sooner than that.

    Best wishes

    Rachel