Weight Training Post Lymph Node Removal

asedge..sorry for the delay in posting - although nothing much to report other than I now have a list of lymphedema specialists that I can check out - two of which my oncology nurse recommended.  So next step is to get on the phone and call and try and get a feel for their perspective on weight training.  Once I know more I will post.

In the meantime, I continue to do my weights 3x per week using 10lb weights.  Really being vigilant about how the arm feels and if it feels fatigued or heavy I stop right away.  Still doing 2 sets and between 8 and 10 reps for each exercise.

One thing my oncology nurse did say that based on some of the research she had done, keeping the arm/shoulder area flexible is crucial.  My yoga helps with the flexible bit and I also do additional stretches.

Oh, one more thing that I read is to use one of those small stress balls you can squeeze in your hand and to squeeze it while holding your arm straight in the air.  No mention as to number of reps.  Must get myself a stress ball. 

Hi afighter...I truly believe it would help us all - those with lymphadema and those of us who don't have it now and may or may not develop it - if the medical community would seriously investigate lymphadema and ways to improve the condition and prevent the condition.  

Anyhoo, I do see a therapist who specializes in lymphadema this Thursday and will report back what she advises.  We have already had a phone conversation and I advised her that while I do not have lymphadema (and hopefully will not develop it) I do want to do everything possible to prevent it from happening.  Told her I really enjoy doing weights, that I do yoga and am also getting back into running.  She certainly didn't indicate that I shouldn't do the weights...so we shall see.

It is interesting that some lymph specialists advocate NO weights at all and others believe that it can help.  

By the way I still do downward facing dog when I do my yoga class...I just listen to my body and if my arm feels "weird" then I stop. 

Long time no post...anyhoo..there was an article on WedMD (www.webmd.com) on Aug 12 with the title "Weight Lifting May Be OK After Breast Cancer".  One of the lines in the article reads: " But the new study published in the Aug 13 edition of The New England Journal of Medicine" shows that weight lifting may actually help breast cancer survivors with lymphedema."  The studied 141 US women who had completed bc treatment.  Half the group were trained in weight lifting by trainers who were knowledgeable about lymphedema and the other half were not asked to train.  The group that did the weight training reported greater improvement in their lymphedema symptoms.  

Great article, one worth reading.

Cheers 

While I do not have LE, I believe, after all of the research I have done that weight training is good both for people who do not have LE and for those that do. So lift those weights!

Another thing that I found on another thread on this site was the whole "no bra" idea.  One lady found that when she wore a bra she felt more swollen by the end of the day.  I figured...what the heck I will give it a try.  Go figure...I found the same thing.  Now I do wear a sports bra when I run and work out, however, I now rarely wear a bra any other time including to work.  Just a thought.