your advice on post surgery arm pain

Katmy
Katmy Member Posts: 93
in Breast Cancer #1
I had surgery in November and physical therapy helped me get most of my rotation, nerve issues back to functional. Since Chemo therapy, I have noticed lack of motion and pain that starts at bicep, through joints, and runs to fingers. I think it is tight nerves. Could it be lymphodemia starting up? I have no swelling, yet. What are some of your experiences post surgery with arm pain?

Comments

  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #2
    Hi Katmy
    I had a lumpectomy with nodes removed and I still have arm pain. In my case I was told it was nerve damage. Alway check with your doctor. Also be careful with that arm.
    Kathy
  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #3
    Kat11 said:

    Hi Katmy
    I had a lumpectomy with nodes removed and I still have arm pain. In my case I was told it was nerve damage. Alway check with your doctor. Also be careful with that arm.
    Kathy

    I had a lumpectomy with nodes removed also
    Your pain could be nerve pain, but it could also be the very beginning of lymphedema. I had pain and a heavy feeling before any swelling started. My lymphedema is pretty well controlled now. If this is the beginning of lymphedema--it's best to start treating right away to keep it at bay. As said by Kathy--talk with your surgeon or PT about your symptoms.

    Hugs, Renee
  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    #4
    arm pain
    I had a lumpectomy and node dissection on 3/22/11. Mostly I have had stabbing pains in my arrm down to my elbow, and lots of numbness. But even this has decreased since surgery. At times I have felt as though my armpit had a lump in it but this too has reduced since surgery. I try to lay on my non surgery side each day so my arm and lumpectomy ar above my heart. I was checked two days ago by the surgeon to see if there was any liquid build up in my breast or arm. He stated all was good. I told him that I had been taking those measures since the surgery since I know this is the principle to reduce swelling from an injury under normal circumstances. I asked if this principle still applied with the lymp nodes gone. He stated yes it still was the principle to use. He also stated earlier that some of the numbness may not go away.

    It sounds like your pain is further down the arm. I don't know about that since I never had numbness or stabbing pains past the elbow. I would check with the doctor. The sooner, the better.
  • scaredagain
    scaredagain Member Posts: 4
    #5
    arm pain
    I had arm pain soon after my mastectomy and lymph node removal. I happened to be at MD Anderson to seek treatment advice for BC, and saw a physical therapist while there for the arm pain and limited motion ability. I was told I had cording inside my arm and the treatment was breaking the cords by the therapist applying pressure on my arm until the cords snapped. Once the cords were broken, I regain full use of my range of motion, with the help of physical therapy.

    I was told that cording after lymph node removal is not common, so I feel fortunate to have been at a big cancer center that had experience with this problem, since it might have been difficult to find a physical therapist who even knew what cording was, much less how to fix it. Apparently, the sooner the cords are broken, the better the outcome for regaining the most range of motion.

    Good luck!
  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398
    #6
    scaredagain said:

    arm pain
    I had arm pain soon after my mastectomy and lymph node removal. I happened to be at MD Anderson to seek treatment advice for BC, and saw a physical therapist while there for the arm pain and limited motion ability. I was told I had cording inside my arm and the treatment was breaking the cords by the therapist applying pressure on my arm until the cords snapped. Once the cords were broken, I regain full use of my range of motion, with the help of physical therapy.

    I was told that cording after lymph node removal is not common, so I feel fortunate to have been at a big cancer center that had experience with this problem, since it might have been difficult to find a physical therapist who even knew what cording was, much less how to fix it. Apparently, the sooner the cords are broken, the better the outcome for regaining the most range of motion.

    Good luck!

    Band or Cord
    Reason doing the exercises so important is so that these bands or cords do not become tight and cause loss of movement and pain. Once they form they take work to get rid of from my understanding. It is well known that this can occur and is not as uncommon as you think.

    Tara
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #7
    Kat11 said:

    Hi Katmy
    I had a lumpectomy with nodes removed and I still have arm pain. In my case I was told it was nerve damage. Alway check with your doctor. Also be careful with that arm.
    Kathy

    It could be lymphedema
    It could be lymphedema starting. I don't know. Ask your doctor. If it is, I bet he will get you started with a physical therapist. Let us know.


    Hugs, Angie

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