Exercises to avoid

Carol65

I had chemo, a left breast mastectomy, replacement w/an implant (unsatisfactory) and then a DIEP.  My sentinel nodes were clear, but their was a cancerous node in the breast tail, so I had radiation also.  Since I have the potential for lymphedema, I'm seeing a lymphedema specialist, who does massage and MFR.  She says I should avoid any exercise that targets only the pectoral muscles, like push-ups, chest press, and flies.  Have any of you been given this advice and/or are their any exercises you've been told to avoid?

Thanks,

Carol

ruthbru

I just bumped this topic for you from the Lymphedema Forum: New resource for info about safe exercising with LE

I myself just started slowly, slowy and worked my way back into all my normal exercises (including all the ones you were told to avoid). I have not had any trouble, but I did not have reconstructive surgery, so maybe that makes a difference in what exercises you should do. ?

dlb823

Carol, I wasn't given that advice, but found out the hard way, by initially letting a friend coach me in a workout post-bc.  The result was a horrible truncal LE flare that took several days to resolve.  After that, I hired a very experienced trainer for a couple of months who, even though he did not have specific experience with bc survivors (and I also have a left side DIEP), listened to my concerns and developed a work out for me that has never stressed my chest -- or at least not in a harmful way.  Maybe consider finding a really top notch trainer, even if you just have a few sessions with him/her, to get on the most effective and potentially least harmful track.     Deanna 

proudtospin

you may want to join some of the LE threads, lots of folks with experience and lots of folks who are  working out

me, I started with a trainer almost immediantly after finishing my rads.  I had the help of a great trainer, who did not have knowledge in LE but still seemed to get it!  Now I have been so lucky to find a new trainer who is working on his PHD in athletic training with a special emphasise on Cancer suvivors!  In fact he has just submitted a program to the Cancer Inst of NJ to be able to offer exercise and training as part of treatment.  Try the Ys with Livestrong or ask your docs for a referral

NatsFan

Here's the info Ruth bumped up in the lymphedema thread - there are two handouts.  One for patients, so you can get an idea of how to build up slowly.  The other is for personal trainers, yoga teachers, pilates instructors and other fitness professionals, so they know what to look for and how to help you develop a safe, effective exercise program:

Handout for Patients

Handout for Trainers

Your LE therapist should help you develop a good safe workout program, and should be teaching you self-management skills.  As Ruth said, work up very slowly.  Recon surgey can make a difference and put you are greater risk, so your LE therapist is right on target with her advice.  Also, with the hip to hip incision for a DIEP, you increase the risk for truncal LE - something to be aware of in addition to the risks for arm and breast LE. 

Bottom line - educate yourself and take precautions as appropriate.  If you notice swelling, a tingly feeling, a heavy feeling, or otherwise feel that something just isn't right, STOP what you're doing - don't finish that set, don't do one more rep.  Stop and call it a day.  But, exercise is critically important to help reduce your chances of recurrence, so don't let the fear of LE keep you from exercising.  Become informed, work with your LE therapist, and learn precautions and self care - then get out there and exercise! 

GraceB64

I had a BMX with TE's 5 weeks ago.  I was given the green light to get back to exercising by my PS but was told to avoid any chest exercises as they would push the implants down and out.  Not to mention that I experienced a weird feeling whenever I would push an object and use my pecs.  I can do tricep pushups as those tend to minimally affect the chest muscles and no flies or chest presses.  That's fine with me since I will be having implants and will not need to work out my chest muscles to keep my new "girls" perky as they will be doing that on their own.

Rhea3rdDiag

I am considering reconstruction with implants following my right side mastectomy. I had tram flap reconstruction on my left side in 2006. I am concerned that reconstruction with an expander under my pectoral chest muscle will adversely affect my ability to work on my land, backpack, swim, stack wood, etc. Should I expect a permanent loss of ability to use my shoulder/chest muscles as a result of reconstruction? Would I be better of not going through reconstruction at all? I feel as such a loss about this topic and am just not sure what to do.