Was wondering if anyone out there who had lymph nodes removed from under their arm had any minor pain after surgery, actually long after surgery. My surgery was May of 2008. The pain is not severe, just uncomfortable. Now, I have started back at the gym - maybe that's all it is. But I was just wondering if anyone else out there has or is experienceing the same thing? Please help!
FormerMember
Hi Lyn - Cording is when it looks like you have a piece of tight rope (cord) in your armpit - I think it's a tendon but I'm sure someone out there will be able to explain it better. It means that you can't move your arm far as the cording is so taut and restricts movement. I had it (I think I got all the bad things you can get with my lymph node removal!!!) BUT it does go with very careful stretching. My friend and Pilates teacher who is only early 40's and had a double mastectomy helped with exercises and it did go within about six months. Anyway welcome to the site and I hope all goes well for you.
thank you to all of you that responded to my question. I feel much better - i also read more into it today. I'm not uneasy anymore. I was scared because this is the first time i'm feeling this since my surgery - so i paniced!!! anyway - thanks - WHEW - I feel better now. :) Thanks again - Steph
Oh Crash was given to me because i was always getting hit by other automobiles!!! I seemed to attract them - 3 accidents in one year! My friend nicknamed me and I have kept it since! Tacke care all...
Hi crash,i still get uncomfortable in my arm, only when i stretch too high, i also have some cording (like a piece of string)but the more you use your arm, it should get easier....good luck betty
Hi Crash, thought I share my experiences. Especially as in lot pain at minute & lookin for distraction while wait for pain relief to help.
I had sentinal node removal with mastectomy. Also lost lot of flesh from chest wall as cancer in 3 places. I have some old whiplash injuries & back problems which add to discomfort & mobility problems. Physio & Lympheodema clinic helping. Have some swelling of arm & across chest. Told got nerve pain in neck area from old injuries. Plus pain as result of surgery nerve damage. Arm heavy feeling, aches, pain varies from slight discomfort to very bad. Can be ache but also sharp shooting pains. Physio says sharpe pains in armpit area are nerves healing. Areas under & around arm numb, how the hell such numb bits can hurt so much is beyond me. Additional to strong pain relief also recently prescribed low dose antidepressant, which is said to be helpful for nerve pain.
I dedicated to the post op exercises, slowly built up my activity levels. Proud of movement achieved. About 3 months after surgery tried to do more activities requiring strength & power. This when first experienced terrible ache under armpit. Drove after 4 months & terrible pain across chest, centre & surgery area & armpit. Which take days to settle, but still some pain even then.
Still very painful when drive or try to do heavier tasks, I'm not talking hard labour either. But things like pushing vac, opening bottle tops, mowing lawn,dog pulling on lead, opening heavy shop doors so on. Can not return to work yet, due to the physical aspects of my job, any job really beyond me at moment.
Friend who had mastectomy 11 years ago still experiences various levels of pain from armpit.
For me there is some improvement after 6 weeks of physio, but it very slow.
This not helping my finances, I need to get back to work, I want to get back to work, I am afterall trying to reclaim my life back after cancer. At moment settling for living in the moment.
