Arm pain after mastectomy.

[patsyann]

I have a very dear friend who had a total mastectomy a year ago and removal of lymph nodes from armpit.She is fine and did not need radiotherapy or chemo but after initially having fluid removed twice at the hospital from her arm she was reasonably comfortable but over a period of time her arm has become quite stiff especially first thing in morning and she cannot lift her arm very high.It is also very painful but has been told that there is nothing wrong.she is trying acupuncture but I dont think it is doing much good and I wondered if anyone else has found a better solution.She doesnt want to resort to painkillers.I wondered if any form of massage would help.

[raysparx1]

Patsyann, she has got to stretch that arm as much as she can, it will hurt her, but if she doesn't she will not even be able to lift her arm above her head in a year or so,she has got to get through this pain barrier, it will get easier, but without regular stretching exercises she will be in trouble, she should be under a physio, if she isn't she should ask the hospital about it, I speak from experience, my wife has been through it, so I am not making this up, it is very important, good luck to her, Ray xx

[patsyann]

Thank you Ray.My friend is coming to stay for a few days from thursday of next week so I am going to be able to show her all the replies that i hope to get .Hopefully she will be able to get help from your advice and others.

[raysparx1]

Hi Patsyann, I hope you get a lot of replies, but most people just seem to want to argue, so don't hold your breath, I will get my wife to come on here and explain exactly what she did, she will be either under my name or her own on here "ladywoman" take care, Ray xx

[Athley]

There's a lady at my gym with the same situation as your friend. She swims a lot and wears a compression bandage on her arm when she gets out too. I have heard this is quite a common side effect following a mastectomy operation particularly with lymph gland removal - can your friend contact the hospital and speak to a breast care nurse. She shouldn't be left alone to deal with this and needs to be followed up. Maybe bypass the GP and go back to the Consultant and his team.

Good luck xx

[raysparx1]

Hi patsyann

I dont think I can add much to what my hubby Raysparx has said. Yes it can be painful at first but she really does have to persevere. Do the ligaments under her arm feel like guitar strings - tight and protruding? ( They arent really protruding but really feel like it) She really must stretch them to gain full mobility again Can she, for instance, do things like doing up her bra behind her back? If not she must keep trying. Something else she can try to achieve is putting her bad arm up over her shoulder and clasping the other hand behind her back. Really, anything that can stretch it is worth doing. Hope this isnt too disjointed!
Please wish her all the best from me.

[patsyann]

Hello mrs raysparx 1
Thank you for contacting me .I will show my friend your advice next week.She is not the type to let it go on without trying to get better.Yes she cannot do her bra up.I am sure it will help her to know that you had to work through the same problem.many thanks to you both.

Pat.xx