Theraputic exercises

bakerette
bakerette Member Posts: 74
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Thank-you so much M-Star for posting the list of exercises. I have been doing them regularly ever since. I am doing pretty well with them and it feels good to be doing something good for myself in my recovery. It is odd though, that I still have gotten no instruction on this from any of my doctors.
I saw my plastic surgeon and got tubes out and bandaids off. I asked him "is there a list of exercises I should be doing now?" He just looked at me blankly and said "If you feel a need to exercise, go ahead, just take it slow and don't do it if it hurts."
Wow! That was so not what I was expecting.
So, thanks again for the therapy exercises. I'm enjoying getting back my range of motion expecially in my node removed arm.

Comments

  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #2
    I had the same reaction.
    When I told my oncs. and surgeon about the tightness, pain and swelling, I also got the blank stare. I love my surgeon, but all he said was, "yes, that could go on for a while!" Then, I took matters into my own hands and found a PT who specialized in breast cancer patient rehab. She has shown me massage techniques and exercises to do. Seems these docs are great at their individual jobs, but don't have a clue as to what we ladies need for after-care. However, I realize I'm generalizing and there are probably some docs who do. Just another example of--even after the surgeries, chemo, radiation--we're not done!

    Hugs, Renee
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #3
    My surgeon didn't tell me
    My surgeon didn't tell me either. It wasn't until my arm was frozen and then he sent me to a physical therapist that specialized in lymphodema. Got my arm moving again but very painful!
  • bakerette
    bakerette Member Posts: 74
    #4
    missrenee said:

    I had the same reaction.
    When I told my oncs. and surgeon about the tightness, pain and swelling, I also got the blank stare. I love my surgeon, but all he said was, "yes, that could go on for a while!" Then, I took matters into my own hands and found a PT who specialized in breast cancer patient rehab. She has shown me massage techniques and exercises to do. Seems these docs are great at their individual jobs, but don't have a clue as to what we ladies need for after-care. However, I realize I'm generalizing and there are probably some docs who do. Just another example of--even after the surgeries, chemo, radiation--we're not done!

    Hugs, Renee

    O.k. so it's not just me.
    O.k. so it's not just me. You know if it wasn't for the folks on this site I would be really sitting in the dark. Dang! Thanks all for being here, and for sharing your knowledge and experience. I'd be so lost without ya.
  • m-star
    m-star Member Posts: 441
    #5
    Marcia527 said:

    My surgeon didn't tell me
    My surgeon didn't tell me either. It wasn't until my arm was frozen and then he sent me to a physical therapist that specialized in lymphodema. Got my arm moving again but very painful!

    wow i really can't believe
    wow i really can't believe your surgeons didn't either give you a list of PT exercises to do,or to refer you to a physical therepist!!!!!

    My surgeons (and breast care nurses) all drilled into me from about 3 months before my surgery,how important it was to do this list of exercises.

    They also had me there in the hospital bed the day after my BMX,watching me do some of them to make sure i could do it. They also reffered me to a PT as STANDARD practice who i saw for 3 sessions and if my range of movement hadn't reached a certain level by then,they were reffering me for further PT until it was.

    I have spoken to women from other sites who were not told the importance of exercising the arms, and they had cording,stiffness in the shoulders,numbness,little range of movement etc.... Most of which could have been avoided if they had started PT straight after surgery.


    The least i could do was pass this knowledge on so it helps others =)

    Kay
  • GregStahl
    GregStahl Member Posts: 188
    #6
    m-star said:

    wow i really can't believe
    wow i really can't believe your surgeons didn't either give you a list of PT exercises to do,or to refer you to a physical therepist!!!!!

    My surgeons (and breast care nurses) all drilled into me from about 3 months before my surgery,how important it was to do this list of exercises.

    They also had me there in the hospital bed the day after my BMX,watching me do some of them to make sure i could do it. They also reffered me to a PT as STANDARD practice who i saw for 3 sessions and if my range of movement hadn't reached a certain level by then,they were reffering me for further PT until it was.

    I have spoken to women from other sites who were not told the importance of exercising the arms, and they had cording,stiffness in the shoulders,numbness,little range of movement etc.... Most of which could have been avoided if they had started PT straight after surgery.


    The least i could do was pass this knowledge on so it helps others =)

    Kay

    Same for my wife
    The surgeon and the ACS lady that came by all gave instructions on what to do. Everytime we went in to see the surgeon he made her stretch so he could see her progress. The excercises helps you avoid so many complications, and you have so much more to deal with to add going to PT on top of it.

Discussion Boards