POST MASTECTOMY PHYSIO EXERCISES
Starting the day after surgery, complete the first 5 exercises. Repeat each one 5x gently, for 7 days.
1) circle shoulders 5x forward and 5x backward
2)place fingertips on shoulders of same side and slowly raise elbows upward until they are in line with the height of your shoulders.repeat 5x (you may not get very high to start with)
3)sit on the edge of a chair,clasp hands with arms out locked in front of you and slowly lift to shoulder height.repeat 5x
4)raise each arm individually as if combing your hair from front to back.repeat 5 times each side(i found this one painful to start with)
5)reach around and walk your fingers up your back.repeat 5x each side.
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From day 7-14, add in exercises 6-9, Repeat each one 5x.
6)stand about 1 foot away from the wall but face it. put both hands on the wall in front of you and slowly walk your fingers up the wall.Mark where you get to so you can copare daily.repeat 5x
7)stand so the wall is to your side.place fingers on the wall and slowly walk your fingers up the wall as in (6).repeat 5x each side.
8) lay on the bed with kness drawn up and feet flat.Put your hands behind your head and VERY gently let your arms drop as far as they will go.Repeat 5 times,(this also hurt alot but it does get easier!)
9) hold a towel diagonally behind your back and see-saw it up and down in a drying action.
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From day 14-21,add in the rest of the exercises,repeat each one 5x
10)lay on your back with enough head room to lift both arms upward and over your head as far as you can.Do 1 arm at a time and assist with the other arm.go as far as you can and hold for 5 seconds.repeat 5x each side.
11)lay on the floor with 1 armout to the side,palm facing up.slide the arm away from you and upward as far as you can hold for 5.repeat other side.
12)stand in a doorway with your elbow and forearm against the frame.face straight forward.feel a firm but comfortable stretch.Then with the opposite leg,step fwd and lunge slightly,feeling the stretch on the chest and underarm.hold for 5 and repeat 5x each side.
13)reach over your headand try and reach down to your shoulder blades.Aim to point your elbow to the ceiling.use the other hand to push a little further.Hold for 5.repeat 5 x
Now there is an arm-swinging exercise recommended for those that had node removal which should be done BEFORE numbers 11,12 and 13.
Place the unaffected arm on the back of a chair and lean fwd resting your forehead on your arm. Allow your other arm to hand loosely and swing the shoulder fwd,backward,side to side and then in a circular motion.**** the arm relaxes,increase the length of the swings and size of the circles.
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PLEASE REMEMBER I AM NOT A PHYSIOTHERAPIST AND AM JUST RELAYING WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY SURGEON AND THERAPIST.
EACH PERSON WILL DIFFER IN WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO.
Hope this is of some help to you and anyone else reading this
ps.
these exercises should be repeated 3-4 times daily.I have done my religiously and in 22 days have almost got my full range of movement back already.The only restrictions i have are caused by my expanders
Comments
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Bump
Just a bump for the newbies.0 -
my doc did not want me toCarrWilson said:Bump
Just a bump for the newbies.
my doc did not want me to exersize my arm after surgery (implant inserted.) I am post surgery and just started gentle pilates it helped.0 -
was that your PS that saidcarkris said:my doc did not want me to
my doc did not want me to exersize my arm after surgery (implant inserted.) I am post surgery and just started gentle pilates it helped.
was that your PS that said that?
The surgeons here (uk) insist that we start that list of Physio the DAY AFTER Mx/BMx. If not,the scar tissue will form and can keep you with permanent limited moevement in the arm/shoulder. The stretching also helps prevent the skin healing down and sticking to anything inside.
I guess each PS is different,but i started my exercises the day after surgery and do them 3 times a day and i have my full range of movement back.
I know you have to take it a little easier if you had node removal.0 -
This is great for theCarrWilson said:Bump
Just a bump for the newbies.
This is great for the newbies. Thanks Mstar!0 -
bumping up for genieMegan M said:This is great for the
This is great for the newbies. Thanks Mstar!
bumping up for genie0 -
Also,if you go to my 'aboutDawne.Hope said:bumping up for genie
bumping up for genie
Also,if you go to my 'about me' page and click on my 'expressions', there should still be the photo's on there showing how to do each exercise (foto's out the book,not of me doing it! lol)0 -
Bumping as someone wasCarrWilson said:Bump
Just a bump for the newbies.
Bumping as someone was asking about this post. Thanks for it Mstar!
Sue
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Grape Ape
Hi MStar!
Would you be willing to post this on my website? Let me know.
Your fan,
SamuraiMom0 -
Doing themSamuraiMom said:Grape Ape
Hi MStar!
Would you be willing to post this on my website? Let me know.
Your fan,
SamuraiMom
I am so grateful to have full movement in both my arms with little lympnodema and I swear it is due to doing exercises faithfully from the moment I woke up out of surgery. I continued to do more and in a month I was washing walls and painting remembering that kid that that did the wax on and wax off from a movie. Now a days your leg is in a machine when u wake up already moving after knee surgery so it cannot be bad. Sooner the better and I actually needed little physio.
Great information to have at our finger tips thanks
Tara0 -
HI YA!SamuraiMom said:Grape Ape
Hi MStar!
Would you be willing to post this on my website? Let me know.
Your fan,
SamuraiMom
Yes of course you can post this on your website! Knock yourself out! (not literally of course!=D)0 -
Tara24242 said:Doing them
I am so grateful to have full movement in both my arms with little lympnodema and I swear it is due to doing exercises faithfully from the moment I woke up out of surgery. I continued to do more and in a month I was washing walls and painting remembering that kid that that did the wax on and wax off from a movie. Now a days your leg is in a machine when u wake up already moving after knee surgery so it cannot be bad. Sooner the better and I actually needed little physio.
Great information to have at our finger tips thanks
Tara
I totally agree. I
Tara
I totally agree. I don't understand though how some PS's dont even tell patients about doing PT exercises to regain mobility!
The sooner you start,the better.And it has to be kept up . I rarely do any now as my range of movement is 100% and has been for some time. I just stretch for 48 hours after a fill cus this helps it to stretch the skin quicker and it relieves that awful presssure and tightness you get after a fill.
Ha ha ~yes, Karate Kid movie! wax on-wax off! its funnt cus i mentioned this to my hubby in the first weeks after surgery! Thats what it felt like i was doing!0 -
My surgeonm-star said:bumping for any
bumping for any newcomers
xxxx
My surgeon already told me he would have someone help me start raising my arms the day after surgery. I already have limited shoulder movement. No left humeral head and reverse total shoulder in the right arm. Having double mastectomy next Tuesday and bum shoulders is a bit scary. I don't want to lose what little range of motion I have now. I will definitely be asking about PT.0 -
bumpingcahjah75 said:My surgeon
My surgeon already told me he would have someone help me start raising my arms the day after surgery. I already have limited shoulder movement. No left humeral head and reverse total shoulder in the right arm. Having double mastectomy next Tuesday and bum shoulders is a bit scary. I don't want to lose what little range of motion I have now. I will definitely be asking about PT.
wonder if you can get a thread pinned to the top??0 -
Hi SallySally5 said:Thanks m-star
Thanks so much for the helpful info. I've been only on for two days but I have found your insight so helpful.
I also found Michele's site - Courage is my strength. Thanks to you I found her site.
Take care
Glad you found
Hi Sally
Glad you found my stuff helpful! Michele's site is really taking off now! We dont keep in touch as much now as she is SOOOOOO busy,but thats fine,i know she cares and she has done(and is doing)so much good.
I 'advertised'her site in every way i could and on every website im a member of.It certainly paid off. Did you take a look at her youtube vid's? Mine are on youtube also (username: jkkj12).
This is also a great site,as it breastcancer.org. Lots of lovely,caring,helpful people 0 -
That is a good site toom-star said:Hi Sally
Glad you found
Hi Sally
Glad you found my stuff helpful! Michele's site is really taking off now! We dont keep in touch as much now as she is SOOOOOO busy,but thats fine,i know she cares and she has done(and is doing)so much good.
I 'advertised'her site in every way i could and on every website im a member of.It certainly paid off. Did you take a look at her youtube vid's? Mine are on youtube also (username: jkkj12).
This is also a great site,as it breastcancer.org. Lots of lovely,caring,helpful people
That is a good site too M-star, breastcancer.org. I have been there too and posted. Lots, and, I mean lots of information.
Hugs, Leeza0
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