Cording

I had a bit of cording I phoned the physio and they gave me some exercises to do and also said massage helps. Hope it goes soon for you x

Hi Aly, 

Hi had full lymph node clearance in Feb following 2 sentinal lymph nodes removed in Jan. I got some numbness to the back of arm from the beginning and tightening in armpit. A few weeks later distinct cording one morning down to wrist even after gentle exercises had been started. I had already contacted my breast care nurse and had been sent an exercise sheet from breast cancer care called Exercises after breast cancer surgery. Suggest warm up and cool down ones. First week, second week, basic, more advanced. Particularly like the wall climbing,  with the arm...nothing else..... Nothing was forced or over pushed just done frequently for short periods. Cording has gone. Numbness to back of arm shoulder to elbow remains but tightness in armpit and where wide excision for removal down greatly improved. It my left and dominant side and using it mostly as usual now bar avoid heavy lifting. Will get a referal for physio at some point even if over the phone/internet advise. Been concentrating on chemo rounds so my thoughts went to other things.

Good luck with it all. 

I didn't have visible cording but did have strange pain every morning when I woke. I did all the exercises, but aching persisted and wasn't able to comfortably hold arm above head for radiotherapy. I found the physio brilliant, but had to persist hard to get a referral on NHS. Only needed one visit, given more difficult and specific exercises to do, and had some manipulation of the arm which helped immediately. I was told by Oncology Nurse to get the physio and not delay, as if nothing done, the problem could get worse later on when it would be too late to effect any improvement.

Hi 

I only had sentinel node removed. 4 weeks ago. I had a burning sensation across shoulder blade and crease of armpit. Shooting pain’s down inside of arm. And a hard lump in scar site. That looks like cording  I can move my arm freely. The side effects have lessened but the cording  is still there. Was told to massage which I do. Not sure how long it’s there for. 
breast is also still lumpy from op. 
I would mention it to BCN they will give you instructions 

x 

As others have said, speak to your BC Nurse and they will get your referred to physio therapy.  I got to see one within a week.  I had weekly sessions where she manipulated my arm and gave me exercises to do at home.  Within a month I had full mobility.  I still get a tingle in my elbow (as if I've hit my funny bone) when I rest on it but otherwise my arm is almost normal.   The physio also helped me with strength because I was finding it difficult to lift even a sensible bag of shopping or a basket of laundry.  Again some exercises and training to do at home.

Best wishes

Thanks all - I saw the BCN today and she has confirmed I do have cording though thankfully no Lymphdema and has given me some more exercises. No biggy really but it has made me really really sad and I don’t really know why. I cried in the radiotherapy planning session as well and I haven’t been really upset since I first got the diagnosis. Maybe the reality is starting to kick in

Hello hello. I'm with you. Whilst cording certainly wasn't the most serious or the most impactful aspect of my treatment long-term, it was definitely one of the most emotional. It was bloody painful, really weird to see my body a different shape, and it took a long time to resolve.

But: resolve it did. I perservered with the self-massages, drawing two fingers firmly down from wrist to elbow along the cords every night - that did help.

From surgery (lumpectomy + SNB) onwards I'd say it took 6+ months for my cording to completely resolve, but it did so. Chemo + rads does delay it because your body is trying to recover from so much. But generally with stretching and movement and perserverance cording usually does resolve, from what I understand. It's horrible, but hang in there.

1 month on from surgery I had several visible cords in my axilla and elbow.

12 months on from surgery I have no evidence of cording, and only a teensy tiny bit of stiffness.

Totally agree. I’m yet to start radio therapy but have slight cording. Each morning and night I gently massage area. It does seem to have gone down a bit in 3 weeks. So hopefully it will be ok by radium 

emotions are funny I’ve had a few tears but kind of moved on very slowly. 
hope you feel better tomorrow x

That sounds promising. Glad you are on your recovery route x 

Thank you for that response - it’s made me feel soo much better. I didn’t expect to react so emotionally to it - as you say in the scheme of things it’s relatively minor but it also feels like one more insult to the body!!