Full Node clearance and very painful! Am I being soft?

Hi LollyP welcome to the forum and sorry to hear how painful things are for you right now.

You are not being soft at all pain is pain and it can wear you down. That pain is maybe some cording which can happen but even though its sore please keep doing those exercises as not doing them will make your arm even stiffer and that can be more difficult to get rid off. Its the nerve endings knitting together and sending pain signals down your arm.

Have you used one of those V shaped pillows before at night as If I remember rightly lots of ladies swear by them for easing the pain when in bed.

If this persists and doesnt seem to be easing off do get back in touch with the breast care team as they can suggest other exercises for you. 

Hope this eases off soon for you and in the meantime I'm sending some huge big hugs your way for now. Do keep in touch and let us know how you are. xxxxx

Hi Gail,

Thanks so much for your reply and advice. I haven't tried one of those pillows but will do.

Take care and I will keep in touch x

Hi Lolly  According to my exercise leaflet you shouldn't be doing the walking up the wall exercises until at least 2 weeks after your op.  Perhaps the pain is caused by doing them too early. 

Hi. Lolly P, i found the ANC op the worst re discomfort so answer is NO!

I promise you that it will get better and doing the prescribed exercises will help.  You may also find that some massage on the area (when you're more recovered may help the numbness but its funny how we get used to it after a while.  I still noticed some 'annoyance' in my armpit area 9 months after, I think its just one fo those things unfortunately.

The walking up the wall and hands behind head & arms out to the side were my nemesis but gradually got better after a good number of weeks, I can still see the marks on the wall from the former!

If you take paracetamol before exercises/sleep may help with pain during but don't push it too much...still early days,  Patience is not something I am good at but it will serve you well...

Sam X

Hi Sam, thanks so much for telling me that, I was beginning to think there was something wrong with me. It's 2 weeks tomorrow since I had the op and I feel in more discomfort now than I did at first. I am the same as you with the wall exercises. They are killing me . And I also feel the same impatience as I'm used to being so active with not a thing wrong with me. I feel as if I've gone from 56 to 96 in 2 weeks! You sound as if things are progressing well for you now and I'm really pleased. I hope I head in the same direction. Take care x

HI Lolly on 29th i had my axilliary node clearance up to level three, i had a lumpectomy on the 8th December so feel like this month has been full on with two surgerys in one month, i totally get feeling older than your years i felt like that today, i had only just done really well with my arm exercises from the lumpectomy and had good range of movement to go back to square one again, and trying them again from scratch today, was more difficult than before, thought i was doing really well with my drain and thought that i maybe be able to have it out early, however its been filling up with a vengence later today. so NO there is nothing wrong with you, your body needs time to adjust, and recover its been through some tough times bear with it, and totally agree with what some of the ladies say, in regards to the triangle pillows mines a god send, and take it steady with the exercises but bear with it, and if need be take some pain relief before you are due to do them. if you need to natter to anyone there a lovely supportive bunch on here, and my ears always open xxxxxx

I'm not sure if your hospital has them   but I was given a small heart shaped pillow after surgery (I was still on thr trolley in recovery!) Buy my macmillan nurse.  It was the best thing ever, and I used it after my mastectomy,  then level 3 clearance a few weeks later.  It really helped do much that I'd fall asleep at night with it under my arm. I think that it's possible to buy them too, or easy to make one. They ate small enough to tuck discreetly under your  arm and cover with a shirt or cardigan. 

Hi, thanks for your reply and advise. That's a shame they couldn't have done both if your operations at the same time then you would have just had the one to get over.  I had my mastectomy and node clearance together. What does level 3 mean? I should hopefully find out more about mine when I go back on the 5th. What painkillers are you on? I'm on codeine and paracetamol but don't really find them strong enough. Take care x

Hi, thanks for your reply and advice. I wasn't given anything from the hospital but will see if I can purchase one x

You can get one for free from Jen's Friends  Just pay postage.  Or get them from Flat Friends www.flatfriends.org.uk/.../