Lymphnodes

[Jenny1410]

Lymphnodes how long does it take to get your arm movement back to normal after having lymphnodes removed

[Mandywilson]

Hi .. I think everyone is different. Depends on how many were removed .. Maybe how good the movement was before etc . Just keep up your exercises.. Things do get better X good luck xxx

[Jenny1410 in reply to Mandywilson]

Hello I had 21 removed 10weeks ago iam was right handed the left hand is in training learning how to do everything my right hand still keeps puffing up and under arm still swollen thanks for your advice

[Mandywilson in reply to Jenny1410]

I had 28 removed and the cancer was in 27 .. It was quite some time ago . But I do remember getting swelling .. But was diligent in doing the exercises I was given .. Also not letting my hand dangle .. If you were given a co tact person give them a ring .. .. X

[lovesradio in reply to Jenny1410]

Hi Jenny like Mandy I think you should ring your breast care nurse if you have one or GP or oncologist. If you have been doing the exercises recommended after surgery you should have seen some improvement, though as others have said, everyone is different and it depends on degree of arm movement before, what other exercise your arm gets and so on. Get checked for lymphoedema if you can as earlier diagnosis (while you are still in the system) more likely to give better outcome. I have lymphoedema but it was diagnosed early enough to mean that it was found to be mild to moderate, so relatively easy to manage.

[Jenny1410 in reply to lovesradio]

They all know about it I was told to massage myself and do exercise I've come a long way just can't get arm above my head still sore to stretch the annoying thing that gets me down is that it's my right arm I'm right handed if it had been the left side wouldn't have made a difference I would have coped things like reaching washing line holding kettle silly little things my fingers get locked on after a while of massage

[Rosebud1803 in reply to Jenny1410]

Hi Jenny , I was like you following my surgery. My shoulder was excruciatingly painful and I couldn't move it above shoulder height ( I was advised due to my surgery not to raise it above shoulder height for 6 weeks) this continued for months.

I was under Physio for 5 months with some improvements.

Anyway I was referred to an orthopaedic consultant and had a procedure called hydrodilatation, gosh it was amazing I have no pain now, can use my arm more freely now. I still have some restrictions with it but my physios think it may be due to scar tissue.

I am waiting now for all my appointments to come up to see what the consultants say.

I hope you get sorted with it , wishing you well xx

[Jenny1410 in reply to Rosebud1803]

Thank you I'm so sore today but I have to keep doing it

[Maz1965]

I had 16 removed about 16 months ago and still suffer from swelling under my arm and full movement has not returned. Movement could be down to the scarring as it is still tightnaround that area. X

[biddenden_sue]

I had all my nodes removed when I had my mastectomy in May 2014. I'd had chemo first before the op. I was given 6 weeks to recover before my radiotherapy so I had to get the arm moving before that. I did all the exercises all the time and I got there. Even now I can't fully extend the arm vertically, and it is much weaker than it used to be but it works. Luckily it was my left side that was infected and I'm right handed. I would have struggled if it was my main arm!

[Dmhaynes]

It's not necessarily the lymph nodes that have been removed but the whole op. I have full movement but I was quite flexible before and I have worked at it with the exercises. I still have a "numbness " on the underside of my upper arm and unfortunately now suffer lymphoedema but I find swimming ,yoga and Pilates classes help xx

[Jillyannepope28]

Hi x if you do the gentle excersises the hospital gave you it won't be long for movement to return , you may still have numbness for a long while but be gentle on yourself and all will return X Jill

[Nixh]

Hi Jenny,

I had my lymph nodes removed with my mx last August, and have to say my arm is still not back to pre op and i don't think it ever will be tbh. The nerves get damaged and some will never repair themselves. I play netball and continued through treatment and I think it helped me. I don't do the exercises religiously any more, but still do them when I remember.... just make sure you do them for a while after surgery and you should be fine, remember it takes a while to heal, the numbness in the back of my arm took the longest to go but it has now

Good luck,

Nix xx

[Jenny1410]

Thanks everyone for your advice I've come a long way with recovery my arm movement is now in a position that I'm comftable with but needs to be above my head for radiotheray I'm sure I'll get there soon xx

[Blueskye]

Doesn't take long but just keep stretching and doing the exercises. I had 12 removed and have full range of movement.

[Jennymary]

You don't say when you're starting your radiotherapy, all my lymph nodes in my right arm were taken during my lumpectomies in 2013, at the end of my first week of radio, in early 2014, I wasn't able to lift arm above head, I could before treatment started really struggled through that for 3 weeks, saw my breast care nurse when I finished, she referred my for physio, 2 sessions and exercises to do at home, and I did regain full movement, I know how hard it will be but if your arm is really stiff with radio, stick with it and movement will return (I know, i've been there) I wish you well x

[Jenny1410 in reply to Jennymary]

Not started radiotherapy yet that have given me three weeks to get my arm up I have first physio on Monday stiffness Is from breast and lymphnodes removed

[Lorraineam]

Mine also got worse after radiotherapy and I had cording so it was painful to stretch. I carried on with the exercises and it's ok again now, although I still do the exercises once a day to ensure it doesn't deteriorate again

[Abcdefghijkl60]

Hello ! Jenny I'm Kate ! Doing the exercises every day twice a day ! And swimming every day helped for me ! Was about four months it started to feel easier ! Take care and good luck !

[Jenny1410 in reply to Abcdefghijkl60]

Thank you I have a week before radiotherapy starts feels like I have strained my chest doing to much got as far as my shoulders tho