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I had partial mastectomy 2 weeks ago today; yesterday I tried doing some of the exercises I was taught prior to leaving the hospital. Well, I didn't sleep @ all last night, & today my chest is killing me. Not painful exactly, but very uncomfortable. Tylenol isn't helping a bit. I'm hesitant to do my exercises today but I want to avoid lymphedema at all cost. Can anyone tell me how long they waited to do the exercises?
My PS would not let me do any arm exercises for 4 weeks, then I started the stretching exercises. I had a ton of muscle spsms in my chest for the first few months. I then got a referral to a Lymphdemia PT and it helped a ton. I still do those exercises on a regular basis. Because they cut nerves you will continie to get tightness and muscle spasms for years.
@A MyBCTeam Member, I just want to add that I have had physical therapy four times since 2005 and it worked wonders for me and taught me things I am still using today!!
The first time was in 2005 to learn to walk and do pretty much everything again after being hosptialized for a month for a deadly pnemonia after successful treatment for non-hodgkins lymphoma. I was in an induced coma for three weeks.
The second time was for my back prior to bone mets somewhere between 2005 and 2010 because I was having unbearable pain in my lower back from over doing it at work and at home.
The third time was after the complete @ @ mastectomy and reconstruction to strengthen my upper body and re-gain the strength I needed to get back to work fulltime. I also did post surgical yoga at home once I received the go ahead from my plastic surgeon, so make sure you are more patient and listen to their advice. You will get there, you just need to take it slow!
The fourth time was in 2012 shortly after Stage IV with bone mets and my vertebrae had collapsed as a result of radiation in the mid spine. The absolute worst pain I have ever experienced in my life. This time I had the best PT in the world as far as I have ever experienced. She loved me so much and was kind enough to make a detailed book so I could take it home with me before my last appointment! She is a Doctor in Physical Therapy and absolutely an amazing gift to the medical profession and to her patients and family!
I almost went back for a fifth time in October 2017 to my favorite PT because my bone mets had a slight uptick and my back was flaring up again, but decided to use the wonderful book she gave me with all the things she taught me! I even have the therapy bands we used from start to finish and use them!!
Another thing to eventually consider are those rings you can buy at WalMart or Target. You can also google 3x3 fit rings out of the Minneapolis area and you will find a video to watch to show them to you. That is what I did and it has an instructional dvd to use which is so much easier than trying to do on your own!
Something to look forward to down the road!! Not today!!! I also encourage you to look at your local library for anything on post surgical yoga! You can probably just go online and reserve them or at least browse. I checked those out and read them before I could use anything so I knew what I could shoot for! I love books and reading instead of looking at my phone!
Just take baby steps and listen to your team of docs and ask any and all questions that you write down and keep track of!! Makes for a much smoother appointment and so much more productive for you as a patient.
I truly hope this helps you. If you have any questions or need help, please let me know! As always, consult with your Oncologist and Surgeon to make sure you are doing what is right for you!
Paula
@A MyBCTeam Member,
You are probably doing this way too soon. My plastic surgeon didn't want me to do much of anything for several weeks as to disrupt the healing process.
They should have told you that before you even went home! It is great that you are trying to get moving, but it can be detrimental to the whole recovery process.
I would call the Plastic Surgeon's office and ask the nurse or the Physician Assistant if they have one.
Let me know how you continue to progress, but take care of yourself and don't try to do things too fast.
Once you get down the road, I will recommend a couple things to do if you remind me.
Paula
I think probably my favorite thing is the fact that we are not judged by our fellow humans here and can express our concerns without having to wonder if someone is criticizing us!! The older I get, the more in touch I am about the faith, feelings, beliefs and hurts everyone goes through in spite of all of our weaknesses!! I have a long ways to go, but at least at makes me think before I speak anymore, or makes me feel bad when I opened my mouth too quickly with a harsh tongue or attitude. Thank you all!! Paula
By all means you should start with very gently stretches and if anything hurts or doesn’t feel right stop doing it until a later date when you maybe able to do it. Found few good videos on YouTube on beginners post mastectomy exercises and also prevent lymphedema. Slowly and gently you will be able to do more each day.
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