cording

Dear apple1997 I am sorry you are finding your cording uncomfortable.  Your breast care nurse should have given you a leaflet regarding cording which will have a few light exercise you can do - unfortunately if you don't do them the cording becomes more permanent and you may not have proper use of your arm, so its important to do the exercises and yes they do work, I do them and they also help with my lymphodaema.  Obviously, at this early time if you feel any pain stop just be gentle on  yourself and keep moving.  Don't carry anything heavy on your affected arm and good luck.  Please let me know h ow you get on.  Ann

Hi

As nutcracker says the exercise is the only way forward, and a I found a gentle massage of the area everyday helped, somedays more painful than others...

Good luck x

Hi apple1997, i had a lumpectomy 4 weeks ago and am still doing the exercises twice a day. I do have a slight cording sensation in my arm pit, but have to keep the exercises up as when i go to radiotherapy in a few weeks my arm has to be stretched back. My cancer care nurse gave me a leaflet set of exercises to do. I can send it to you if you need one.

Let me know -best wishes

Emma x

I probably wouldnt massage the arm as this increases lymphatic circulation and may cause excess fluid to build up in the arm.  Like the others said keep doing the exercises even if it really hurts as you will end up with permanent problems with movement in the arm.  Do things like putting boths arms out in front of you holding it for 10 seconds then relaxing, repeat 5 times. Another good one is putting boths hands on a door and 'walking' your hands up the door as far as you can go...repeat 5 times...you will be surprised at how far you get each time.  I did my exercises religiously following my mastectomy in 07 and I still developed cording which went away then came back so I just did the exercises again until it went away. I now have perfect movement in my arm and no pain at all now.

Best of luck love Chrissi xx

Hi Apple

it's been a year now since my lumpectomy and had my nodes removed aswell. i had cording, but trust me keep up with your exercises and it will go away. i have full use of my arm now and the cording has not come back either.

thanks for the friend request as well. xxxx