THE IRON BRA

sas-schatzi

Jessica, Haven't had time to read the above posts. Had the Iron Bra felling for years. forget how long. I got into swimming and it helped. I did the backstroke and modified breast stroke(minimal work). Both strokes were protective of an old neck injury. I relieved a lot of the iron bra stuff. Now I'm into a reverse problem. I stopped the swimming and the damn implants sink into my armpits. Every time I got back into swimming since that first experience the pectorals put those implants where the are supposed to be.

Not relevant to this topic , but one of the backstrokes I used which I haven't been able to find the name for. I was taught as a child. I call it the frog. Why I bring it up is it improved continence. I was reaching the phase that OMG all I had to do was think bathroom. Even a few episodes of no control, that sent me off to the doc to be eval'd for MS.

Anyways, this swim stroke is on your back. You reach up with both arms and bring both legs up at the same time in a frog position. Then you snap down with the arms and the legs. After doing it awhile I realized continence was way better. It's like Kegels. Oddly haven't done it for a year and I'm okay. Maybe a little bit will do good. DUH.

Sorry that you have the iron bra feeling. I still have it, but too much is in the arm pits particularly at rest.

VegGal

I think that's called the "elementary backstroke."

farmerlucy

I had the iron bra feeling too. Itwas just annoying at one year out, by year three or four my brain decided it was normal and I only feel the implants if I think about it or if I do some extended heavy lifting. I threatened to take them out a million times. Here is a thread where ladies actually had them removed.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/82/topics/823502?page=8#post_4347732

sas-schatzi

VegGal, Thanks, I'll try and see if I can find it. Yay

Jessrebb2

Hello Jessica .

Not sure if you will see this message as it’s been many years that you have been online since your surgery . Your story really is of interest to me as I also just had a double mastectomy with DIep Flap reconstruction on July 2018 and almost 4 months later having the “iron bra “ syndrome and PS has no idea why I am feeling like this and says I might be more sensitive to pain , but I don’t believe that . Been referred to a pain specialist and was given Gabapentin and Percocet for pain although I knew deep in my heart that it wouldn’t work. I was now referred to a neurologist and another pain specialist that besides medications has other procedueres like nerve block etc...I would like to know how you are doing and did they ever find a solution? Can’t wait to hear from you .

Best Wishes

Annie

Jessrebb2

hello kimba333. Hello , how are you feeling ? Reading your story reminds me of what I am going through right now . I had my surgery July 2018 and for a few month I have had the iron bra syndrome and nerve pain and difficult to move around . Been referred to pain specialist and everyone thinks it’s nerve pain and even my PS is stumped as he never heard of this complication. They have been constantly changing medications and none seems to help. Was wondering how you are doing today and if your pain was resolved .

macb04

Jessicarv

Please come over and read my story on my Prepectoral Thread. I had terrible tightness, absolutely miserable tightness. That's due to slicing open your poor, tortured Pectoral Muscle. Then having a foreign object stuffed under your Pectoral. A totally unnatural position for your chest muscles to be in. Skin stretches relatively easily, not so the Pectoral Muscles.

After I switched from subpectoral to Prepectoral Implant Reconstruction most of the tightness that I had dealt with finally went away. Lots of women on the thread switched over and most were much happier. A large number of women found out about Prepectoral and only did Prepectoral Implant Reconstruction from yhe beginning. The ones who switched over like me are glad no more loss of strength or freakish animation deformity. My pectoral muscle grew back together, not even sutured down. I have almost the same strength now that I had pre mx. Great bunch of women. There is also a thread about switching to Prepectoral from Subpectoral specifically, just look for it.

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Topic: TE/Implant OVER pectoral Can exercise, comfortable &NO RIPPLES!

Forum: Breast Reconstruction — Is it right for you? Discuss timing and various procedures and techniques.

Ensupar

i had a BMX in Sept 2006 and reconstruction with TE. I have never heard of the pain I suffer from as an iron bra but that is exactly how I feel. I had smaller implants put in to see if that would help but it didn't. I was sent to a pain specialist but the pain I was having did not go away with regular pain medication (thank god) I would hate to be addicted. I went to a chiropractor, acupuncturist and the pain specialist did intercoastal nerve injections without much help. I finally decided to have them removed but before I did I went to a neurologist. He told me that having the implants removed would not help and that I had nerve damage and put me on Lyrica and Cymbalta. This did indeed help but there are side effects from the medication. My pain never really felt like nerve pain, my pain is a tightness and does indeed feel like a very uncomfortable bra on. I recently learned about myofascial release. During the inital surgery my PS told me my pect. muscles were very thin and he had a hard time getting the TE in. What I understand happens is the fascia that surrounds the muscle contracts and causes that tightness. I am now seeing a physical therapist who specializes in myofascial release and I am hoping and praying this will make a difference. I am currently on a slow release gabepentin called Horizant that is crazy expensive so I really want to at least reduce the amount of medication I am on before I retire next year. I encourage all who have this problem to look into myofascial release.

Lula73

Ensupar-hoping the myofascial release helps! If you do opt to remove them, know that many women have found relief from explanting and they did an immediate recon using DIEP or SGAP flap during the same surgery. There is hope out there.🍀

SPDGirl

Ensupar: I just had my BMX 6 months ago and have had the Iron Bra feeling since day 1, but I did not have reconstruction. The local professionals continue to tell me to give it more time, but I continue to search for some relief. I am very curious to hear how your myo-facial treatments go and what kind you are getting. I have had 5 appointments so far over the course of a month and I am hard pressed to see any difference yet, but I am hoping. My therapist uses the John Barnes protocol and I am not sure what other options are out there. Am also curious how various therapists treat it. I was expecting more direct pulling and stretching around my chest, but my therapist does the majority with my neck, feet, pelvis, etc. As a side note, what are the side effects you experience with the nerve medication?

Ensupar

SPDGirl, The side effects from my nerve medication varies but I think I get tired easily and my blood pressure runs a little low, I also have trouble with constipation but not sure I can blame it on the medication. I know some people have no problem taking the medication and I am just so grateful that I found relief. I had tried so many different things before I went to the neurologist. My physical therapist works only on my breast trying to break up the fascia that is so tight around the muscle. She also does a cold laser treatment and a machine called a beemer that increases the circulation. I am feeling a little better but I can't say this has been a miracle cure. I am only half way thru my treatments with the physical therapist and I am praying after 8 weeks I can cut down on the medication. I have had this problem for 12 years so I know it will not go away easily. I am just so glad that I finally found others with this problem because I felt very alone and frustrated that no one knew how to help me. I encourage you to go to a neurologist and try Lyrica or gabepentin, I hope you will soon find some relief because it is a miserable feeling. I hated how the pain occupied my mind so much, I found that I seldom wanted to go out at night because by then I was just too uncomfortable to be social. Good luck my friend

SPDGirl

Ensupar: 12 years! I am so very sorry you have suffered this long. I cannot even fathom feeling this way that long. My heart goes out to you. I have just started with a different myofascial release therapist whose methods are entirely different than the 1st. He is treating only the breast area and it feels like it should be so much more productive. I have only had 2 sessions so far and I have not noticed a difference yet, but I am trying to be patient.

Dazzling58

I have the iron bra problem as well. I had a bilateral mastectomy June, 2018, with expanders, then reconstruction in October using my thigh fat, PAP. The flaps were put over the pec muscle, and I just knew it would be better once the expanders were gone. No such deal! In fact, it feels worse as I get more physically active with my arms. It feels like I have weights on my chest just trying to take a deep breath. If anyone finds a solution, please share!

Shannon Bishop

Dayna1234

Hello to all ... RE: IRON BRA (BICYCLE CHAIN AROUND CHEST?)

I have had double Mastectomies (when Iron Bra first started (12/17/19. At that initial surgery PS tried direct to implant - skin failed and went necrotic (dead). I went to Hyperbaric Chamber for 15 days straight - 2 hours each starting 3 days post op - didn't help. Had to have second surgery to REMOVE THE huge black necrotic "scab - size of palm of hand(!) on CA side and smaller one on n/c side. TEs were placed.

FAILED again. Right side opened up and TE had to be removed leaving flat with no more skin to work with

FAILED - "good" side started opening up, so back to the OR for the fourth time ... s i g h. Now same situation as right side ...

Throughout all of this since initial Double Mastectomies, THE IRON BRA FEELING prevails! I truly feel like it was due to the mastectomy NOT anything to do with implants (I had implants for 30 years b/f CA).

I can't exercise much b/c left side still has stitches for another few days and I am terrified that I will pull the skin apart again (on one or BOTH sides). If I was choosing all over again, I would had opted for lumpectomy. NO ONE WARNED ME!

Now I am flat and in pain from this Iron bra and worry that there is no other option if this round fails.

I have been loading up on protein, Vitamins, etc to help with healing ... most recent surgery was
April 2, 2020. I am 70, was diagnosed early, so no chemo or radiation, low Onco score of 8 for which I am VERY GRATEFUL. I just wish I had known how prevalent this Iron Bra reaction was, I definitely would have made a different choice since I don't have the gene, etc. Too late now. Adjusting to being flat - Adjusting to NOT doing YOGA 5 times a week ... not so easy. Thanks for letting me vent. Anyone else with similar stories or any ENCOURAGEMENT?