Almost 2 years out, still pain when exercising

teemee

Hi all,

I had a lumpectomy Dec 2009 and then got a severe staph infection, which unfortunately created some really nasty scar tissue. I am wearing the strongest sports bra I can find when I run, but I am still in constant pain. It's not debilitating but it does make it hard to work out. Has anyone else had this problem? Solved it? I do try to massage the area (now there's a disgusting feeling) and the scar tissue is a little softer than it was, but I'm wondering if I could be doing something different?

GointoCarolina

Have you seen a physical therapist who deals with breast cancer patients? I had double mast and saw a PT a couple of weeks ago,she gave me stretching exercises that have helped me.

Mishkyn

Dear Teemee,

Massaging yourself can help more than you will believe, here's my story: 

I have been seeing a physical therapist for severe arm pain from my 8 days of targeted radiation. I ignored the pain because I thought it would go away on its own---radiation ended Aug 25th. When it was actually getting worse, my surgeon ordered PT for me.

 Aside from the exercises for various parts of my entire arm--shoulder down to wrist, one thing that helped a lot was massaging my scar sites and also from my underarm down to my breast.

 I was stunned at how many painful spots there were, when I just lightly massaged them, it felt like I was sticking a needle into certain areas, especially the more bony ones. I kept it up regularly for the first 3 weeks.

Then I did not massage for about two weeks and found the areas had gotten painful again, so I think it has to be a daily thing. I also found very similar pain on the other (non surgical) side.

 Remember, most of us do not sit/stand with perfect posture, chest up, shoulders back. For instance, I am currently bent over a bit as I type these words, and have to remind myself to sit up straight and not roll my shoulders forward. 

Or watching TV and doing some craft in my lap, of course my shoulders are a bit hunched over, same as when I read sitting in a chair. My therapist said a great thing to do is to set an alarm every 15 min (I have a sports watch with a countdown timer, stopwatch, and 3 alarm settings--quite cheap at Target--a Timex Expedition), or you can use a kitchen type timer, and when it goes off, sit up straight and roll your shoulders back 10 times.

I am 63 and can remember my mother and how bent over she was starting at my current age, she died this year at 90, and was quite bent over by then. These are little things we can do throughout the day---they seem a pain, and maybe they are, but look at the alternative.

 While I sit here typing, as I think what to write next, I massage in those areas mentioned above. And both underarms and breast have tight spots, not just the scar area. The PT said to really dig in there and massage hard---but you have to work up to that.

I do a huge area--above and below underarms, underarms, and all bony areas in a wide swath leading to each breast. You can do this very fast, and if you just do it once or twice a day, you will be shocked at how fast you can loosen up these "hot spots", as I call them. Even the center of my chest is massaged sometimes as well.

 Please give this a try. I know you will be stunned when you touch yourself how enormously painful these areas are. The PT said that scar tissue will continue to tighten up if we do not break up the adhesions. And it is such a simple thing to do just while reading the forum or our email.

 Good luck and please let me know if it helps you.

Mishkyn 

sandiessoldier4

Hello!

Take a look at this website www.oncrehab.com  I work for this organization which was founded by a breast cancer survivor for this very reason. Cancer survivors need rehab as a result of their diagnosis, cancer related surgeries and treatment.

Good luck!

teemee

Thank you pandazankar, Mishkyn  and sadiessoldier4. These are all great suggestions! I don't have the money for PT right now, but should start seeing a little extra soon. And Mishkyn, you are so right -- I don't massage myself enough, but when I do, it's so sore I make myself nauseous. You are a wonderful reminder. I'm 43, too young in my opinion to be creaking about