Pain after Lymph node removal

Hi there, 

Unfortunately, I think what you describe is very normal.  Theses porcupines are horrible! 
it’s very early days yet.  Your wound is doing fine, you have no fluid. Keep gently exercising and by next week I’m sure you will notice some improvement and you can mention about different pain relief at your appointment if you need. 
it takes a while to settle xx 

Hi I’m sorry you going through this. I had 20 nodes out and 5 weeks later it’s so much better. It was like an elastic band ran the length of my arm and moving was also v painful with fluid at my elbow. I pushed through the pain to keep extending my arm and it really is much better. Still v little feeling in armpit so using an electric razor. Keep up the exercises and keep checking in with your BCN if worried. I have cording, they said to massage it and despite my being a bit freaked out and not wanting to it works. I think we forget it is quite big surgery. Your body needs time to heal… big hug xxx

As others have said, it's very early days. I had lumpectomy and 3 lymph nodes removed and I felt really tight in my armpit for many weeks. Range of movement didn't return to normal for many months, even with doing the exercises 3 times a day. I was quite surprised by how long it took. Radiotherapy made it stiffen up again too.

It takes a really long time for everything to settle from breast surgery - my surgeon said that breast tissue doesn't like to be disturbed. The older you are, the longer it takes as well.

As others have said, keep up with the exercises.  If you do start to experience the "elastic band" symptoms or it becomes tender further down your arm then you could have cording.  I had this and was referred (very quickly) to a physio therapist.   The cording doesn't go away but she was able to increase the mobility in my arm to near normal.