Weight lifting after recon

Sharlo

Since I, somehow, blew a hole in my TE just by speed walking I'm afraid that I'll do something to my silicon implants once I start back at it!  Does anyone have any resources on which exercises I could do to get my arm muscles back!  Can you ever lift weights for chest and back again? 

I also had frozen shoulder but it's much better through PT (not 100% tho).  Help I hate how flabby I've become! 

Thanks for your help!

DiveCat

Hi Sharlo,

I had direct to implant surgery on April 24th, smooth round silicone implants. I run, do lots of cardio and yes...lift weights 5-6x a week, and now even lift/lug heavy diving equipment for the past 2 weeks (30-50lbs) without issue. I do not purposely do any specific pectoral training though (like pectoral flys or flat bench presses) as I worry about long term distortion/displacement. I do work my back, triceps, biceps, shoulders, core, etc without issue. Some PS's say flys and such are fine, others don't. I just am erring on the more conservative side. I used to love working out my chest, but honestly I don't see much reason to specifically target it now, at least not this soon out of surgery. They still get some strength work as supporting muscles and with other activities but otherwise I let them do their job as implant protectors

I do think blowing a hole in a TE is a pretty rare thing! Never mind a silicone implant! Like I said, some PS's discourage specifically targeting pectorals, but otherwise you can get back to lifting...start very light and work your way back up. I did not start weights again until 6-7 post-surgery, and I started very light...like 5-10 lbs. I am still working back up to pre-surgery weights.

sarahjane7374

My PS is one of the ones who is laid back with rules.  He tells me that nothing I do will damage my reconstruction....guess he hasn't met you!  I do cardio - run, elliptical - every day and strength train 4-5x per week.  Some of my program does involve chest muscles- and I do them without issue (other than some freaky looking pectoral movement during). See what your doc says, start slow and you'll get that upper body strength back. 

NatsFan

Sharlo - the Step Up Speak Out website has some excellent downloads on starting a safe exercise program after breast cancer surgery.  If you've had even one node removed, you're at increased risk to trigger lymphedema, so you need to be aware of that.  

Here's a link to the main website:  http://www.stepup-speakout.org/

Here's a link to the download on developing a safe exercise program: http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Handout%20doc%20fo...

And here's a link to a handout you can download and give to a personal trainer, fitness class instructor, yoga instructor, etc.: http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Trainer%20doc%20fo...

If you want a fun place for support, check out the Let's Post Our Daily Exercise thread in the Fitness section here on BCO.  It's a great group who encourage each other to exercise - we have posters at all levels of fitness and all stages of treatment - no matter where you are on the fitness spectrum, you'll be welcome there. It's been going strong since 2009:  https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/58/topic...