Pain after lumpsectomy/ excersise

Hi Etna, it's early days for you so although the exercises are important to your recovery don't over do it if they are causing you pain. My exercise leaflet said to stop doing the exercises and speak to the surgeon/nurse as soon as possible if pain gets worse during the exercises, or continues once you've finished them. Is that what is happening? Everyone heals at a different rate but it sounds as if you might need some stronger pain relief - have you spoken to your nurse about this? If they are fine with you sticking to the warm up and gentle basic exercises for longer than a week before starting the more advanced exercises that is fine, don't worry about having to follow the exercise schedule exactly to the letter if you're still in pain. Hopefully things will feel better soon but you've had major surgery so it will take some time for everything to settle.

Hi I have been getting on ok with the shoulder shrugs ,and have been trying to move my arm so I don't sieze up, not over doing it.

I tried a new excersise today just once not not even a full part of it but it made pain worse,.

I guess by the sounds of it I should just leave it a bit longer to try anything new.

I have troubles with meds , allergies , & the strong pain meds just make me feel ill as I've tried them all in the past for pain problems.

I just stick to standard ones, which I don't think help.

Mayb I can phone up before end of week if pain isn't easing.

They gave me something in the hospital after my op for pain. It sure what it was but it was good began with an A.

Exercises are important but don’t do them if painful. Sometimes having a painkiller and letting it kick in before you do exercises is good. I was given the attached website which may help

www.yoursurgeryandrehab.co.uk 

You have to think what you have been through as your breast tissue doesn't like to be messed with. I am 7 months post surgery and 4 months post rads and still have days of shooting pains in boob and achiness. It is a long haul but a little and often exercise should help. Like you my scars are side of left breast below armpit so not in a good place. If in doubt phone BCN and check x

I did take  the pain killer before hand an hour before, I'm going to just to shoulder shrugs, seems best option ,I think I may be having to take a while longer with these excersise, I took a long time just to recover from biopsies , so I think my body is just not good at recovery mayb , I have plantar fascitis for over 3 years even tho I do foot  excersise.

 Cheers will look at the link, 

Etna, I found the scar from the sentinel node biopsy far more painful than the lumpectomy and was told to take painkillers on a regular basis, every 4 hours, even if I didn't think I needed them. Once I did this, I found the pain more manageable. Also, strange, but I found the pain lessened after I had done the exercises. I took them easy at first and built them up. We're all different, so might not work for you, but I hope you're able to find some relief. 

Hi Etna, I found that the more advanced exercises made things worse at first and was advised to stop and just do very basic ones .

I  also had infection on my left side and needed a drain a few weeks after surgery . 

4 months on I am still receiving physio . It’s such early days for you post op but it may be that you need some physio sessions to build the mobility back up .

Wishing  you all the best.

Penelope x

Hi thanks , I think the pain killers are kicking in now , I found it was just to many pills after a few days  so reduce it from every 4 hours to mayb 6  but I decided to do every 4 hours again.  I started doing basic excersise thismorning ,but adapted it to what I can do , seems to be manageable.

Hi thanks, I did one extra basic excersise but maybe pushed it ,so I stopped,upped pain meds , went back to shoulder shrugs , did one basic excersise but adapted it seemed to be ok 

I did get told after a month if I'm struggling with excersise I can be referred to physio, which I may need.

I've never got on well with pain & injury ,I hold myself and sheild my body awkwardly which makes it worse. I will give it a month see how I am.

Hope you get better soon x

Hi thanks everyone for helping, it's been about a month and I've made big improvement.

I can use my arm for more things, pain has gone down dramatically I'm using 2 paracetamol a day ( still pain but bearable). The pain & icky sticky feeling in armpit is improving.

But I have to say thanks to everyone for your help, I don't know you but you helped me carry on.x