After mastectomy now cording!!

mackers67

Did other ladies get cording its really restricting my arm movement. Massaging it exercising and still very limited use of arm...



I hv put post on post surgery but then thought you ladies may be able to help as always..



Any suggestions greatly received



Thanks xxx

PJB

Ah, cording. It's very annoying, but in time, mine went away fine. You just have to keep working on it. It can take awhile, tho. 

Hope you get relief soon,

Paula 

steelrose

My mastectomy was in Dec. and I'm experiencing the same thing, mainly from my elbow to my hand now. Can't fully straighten my arm! But exercising has improved my range of motion. Just don't want it to turn into lymphedema! It's funny that no one... oncologist, surgeon, or plastic surgeon mentioned anything about either "cording" or lymphedema before surgery. Hmmmm...

I'm thankful for this website and all of the knowledgeable ladies. 

Good luck to you. Hopefully with continued exercise the cording will resolve itself, as Paula's did.  

Rose.   

mackers67

Hi



I will carry on, it was just it was my good side !! Rib met on other!! Want one side fully functional. Hv to say feeling so much better this week...finished chemo dec 18th and got energy back.



I hv a seroma as well and my lovely bn says; that has to be gone and I hv to be able to reach over my head for radiotherapy so were working twards it...Just being impatient as always !!



The ladies on the other board said warm water helps going to try that as well. Physio twice a week now... Always visiting hosp i think people think I work there!!! Xxxxx

jan264732

sorry i am new with this cancer thing but what is cording?

mackers67

Sry, when u hv op sometimes a cording or thread can develop that restricts your arm.



The cords feel like literally thin pieces of cord I think they are made up from the body's fibre/tissue I am not really sure, but I hv heard they break up after a few months, hopefully!!



Xxx

Marple

The topic caught my eye because I have lymphedema and did have cording a few years ago.  There is quite a bit of information over on the lymphedema boards.  Here is a link though that might help. 

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Cording_and_Axillary_Web_Syndrome.htm

3katz

Cording is very common after mx - especially from lymph node excision. Exercises for stretching the affected area are very necessary. Physical or occupational therapy also helps alot - the therapist can test your motion and strength and check the progress. Plus they do a type of deep massage to help break up the cording. The exercising and therapy really helped me as I had quite a bit of cording. Thankfully never had LE. This was in 2006 and haven't had a problem since.

Faith316

My mx and second node dissection was Feb. 2010.  I have cording.  It is not as bad as it was in the weeks and few months right after surgery, but it is better.  I have gained much more range of motion, but the cords have never gone away entirely.  When I stretch, I still can feel it from my armpit down my side below where my breast used to be.  I also have a lot of scar tissue from so many surgeries and my skin is "adhered" to the chest muscle which also pulls.  It is much better though and no longer painful like it was in the early months post-mx.

SoGr8fl

I didn't have a mastecotomy but all my axillary lymph nodes were removed on rt side and I had terrible cording.  I saw a physical therapist who specialized in LE.  She was able to break most of them and my range of motion has increased incredibly.