How long after surgery did you get PT

georgia67

I had bilateral mastectomy on Sept 1st.  I have done OK with incisions but under my arms and in the middle of my chest are crazy feeling.  Tightness across chest at times.  Feels like a roll under my right arm (non cancer side) that I can really feel when I lay my arm flat on my side or feel under my arm with my hand.  The left side that had the cancer has some nerve damage that makes the underside of my arm feel crazy and it also feels like a roll under it but I think that is the nerves.  I am still wearing the compression tube that they put on after surgery and I still have 2 drains.  They are supposed to come out Thursday.  Is it too soon to worry about scare tissue and will the swelling under my arm go away? It feels like the swelling is about 4" long from the middle of my arm pit to the front of my arm.  

Falconer

It is a good idea to ask your PS for a recommendation for PT especially if they know someone who works with BC patients. It's too soon since you still have drains in, but a four weeks (I think) after drains came out I started PT. Good luck and know that it really takes time for the body to heal. It's good you're thinking of physical therapy. It will help with restoring range of motion.

jinmo

I started PT at about 5 weeks I think, and went for about 24 sessions, don't remember exactly. Hugely helpful...it was range of motion and strength PT, with some massage. You are very early yet. Did your doctor give you home stretching exercises? Mine had me start those the day after surgery.

Nerve weirdness and swelling will generally decrease after a while, I have hardly any left at 8 months and haven't for a while. Chest tightness/iron bra also will get better (but don't be too surprised if it gets more noticeable first when your chest completely "wakes up" again).

Best of luck to you!

Castigame

I am only speaking from my experience. I started slooow stretching at home as soon as possible. Real PT w LE therapist started right after chemo started.

I would like to add that change reasons for PT referral requests. My first referral was for LE and second was for arthritis. This way I was able to twice max allowed by my health insurance company.

Mimi

exercise_guru

I have to say this is where my PT and my PS both dropped the ball. I went to Chemo 6 weeks later and while I attended the cancer center yoga. I didn't even get a sheet with exercises. When I had my reconstruction I was post Chemo and still no exercise sheets or PT referral. Finally after I had pretty significant ROM problems I went to PT ut what helped the most was walking in water and laying on my back and doing water exercises for ROM. I wish I would have gotten in the pool the minute I was cleared from surgery. Ofcourse I am not sure I would have had good access to a pool during Chemo.