Post-op arm pain

Don't panic - it's still early days, everyone is different but I guess it doesn't feel right for you.

 Wonder if it would help to speak to the physio who gave you the exercises? Mine gave me her number and said it was important to call if I had difficulty with my exercises (especially getting into the position for radiotherapy and tightness down my arm). 

Hi

I’ve had different surgery to you, I’ve had a mastectomy and lymph node clearance last week. The hospital discharged me without seeing a physiotherapist but gave me leaflets detailing which physio exercises I need to do 3 times each day, and they change as the weeks go on. I feel exactly the same as you, it causes me pain to do my exercises. I don’t have a physiotherapist as a point of contact so I thought I might call the breast care nurse to see what she suggests, as I know I’m not doing the exercises correctly and this is playing on my mind because I know how important they are. Hopefully someone can give us some good advice, good luck with yours. We must persevere for recovery.

Hi,I had my opp yesterday,same as you but not sure on the node number yet.Started my exercises 3days prior to opp just to know my pre opp range really,so now can judge what’s going on.Could you get the arm above head before opp?I don,t have pain,just a little tenderness in right inner arm,my scar isn,t actually in the armpit,I thought is was going to be,it,s more at the front of arm pit,and quite big,boob scar is nearer the nipple at side of,no problem with that,but can feel my arm starting to tighten already,and it is also inner arm after exercising,I am waiting for a call back from the nurses as I am a bit worried about my wound opening with the pressure,my guess is they won,t,just need reassurance,am wondering if the pain is to be expected as the scarring kicks in,maybe we have to work with it,but know if painful you stop at the pain point,and carry on with the next session,think it will start to easy in time as we stretch the scar tissue.Don,t quote me on this,lol.

Reckon it will take 2/3weeks before it can be done with ease.

\Hello im into my 6th week,after having my op,  ive developed cording in the arm that had lymph nodes taken from... I have had a word with my bcn and she advised me to rub in nurofen gel into my armpit on an evening... But i think 3 days is a little early to be doing this, i would speak to your bcn.. Im doing the exercises, still in a little pain with this arm, but not as bad as it was to start with... Hope you get some relief soon.. I was told not to start doing my exercises until after the first week.. 

Hello Lovemygarden  Sorry that you find yourself on this forum and that you are experiencing pain when trying to do the exercises.  I have had a lumpectomy and auxiliary node clearance plus a second operation for remaining cells.  The exercises do get easier but that is not to say that some of them do not hurt.  I especially hate the ones where you are supposed to walk your fingers up the wall.  I think that you should tell your breast care nurse that you are experiencing pain when trying to do the exercises.  Unfortunately they are necessary and she should be able to give you advice.  Maybe you can skip the ones that hurt the most or reduce the number of them until it gets easier?  If you have to have radiotherapy i have been told that you will need to raise you arm above your head.  Let's hope you won't need that.  I think it is something that I may have to have, and I am not looking forward to having to raise my arm above my head and keep it there for a long period.  I had my first operation on 21st June so it is two months tomorrow and some of the exercises are still a bit painful but very much better than when I started.  I had numbness and a bit of pain running down my arm at first but that has gone now.  Good luck with them and do ask for help.  Take care

Hi thank you for replying.   Was told to start the exercises the day after the op but things are a bit better today so hopeful that this will continue.    Also been told not to put anything on/near the wound until after the follow up appointment in September, but it might be better by then.   Having radiotherapy soon  so I must persevere so that I can keep my arm above my head for that.   Hope the nurofen gel works for you. 

Ooh, I havent got to that exercise yet, still on the very basic ones but things are a bit better today and I will ask for advice if this doesn't continue.     Thanks for replying, it really helps to know I'm not the only one going through this.

This is a link to the exercises I was given.  They didn't expect me to move my arm above shoulder height in the first week after the operation https://patientinfolibrary.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/document/download/1413  Wishing you all the best.