Advice about Strength Training Post BMX w/ reconstruction

Nats-why would lifting encourage lymphedema development?  just wondering.   You know I have posts littered all over this board with workout questions, some of which you were kind enough to answer!

Waldo-I, too, have done a lot of lifting.   I just started doing more pec deck, flies and benching when about 1 month before my dx.  Since no one has been able to give me definitive answers on anything and the women here are about the only ones that offer personal experience info but the docs have been shy.   For this reason I went back to my origins on weight lifting and body building from some 15 years ago when I first started lifting:  building muscle tears the muscle to build it.  It eventually builds and also, condenses the area in question.   Under the aegis of practicality, I would avoid lifting at this time until the TE's are out.   Reason being is if you are tightening the muscle and the PS is blowing up the l TE's with solution you are potentially setting yourself up for unnecessary pain.  Additionally, and I am not too happy about this, but after my bmx on 5/17 I think my heavy lifting days might be over forever as  implants are going to be under my pec muscle.  I, personally, am afraid of a bursting event or even changing the shape of my foobs through tightening my pecs.  At least I will be healthy...I think!

This is all just deductive reasoning after having been at this for a long time.  I think spinning, tread, arc, recumbent (my favorite while watching tv in my home gym!) and, if your local gym has gyrotechnics, which is a slightly more physical pilates-like workout, might make you happy as it would be a new, albeit toning, challenge.

Good luck and please keep me posted.

Liz

Hello, all,

Just wanted to pop in here to say that lymphedema following SLNB is indeed possible. (I had one node removed on my cancer side, no nodes purposely removed on my prophylactic side, and I now have bilateral lymphedema. Wish somebody'd told me it was even possible, but our doctors are most often not real aware of this -- they don't treat it and aren't much trained even to diagnose it.)  There are a number of women here on the boards who have arm lymphedema following SLNB, and there's growing research evidence that the rate of breast/chest lymphedema is rising due to SLNB and rads. The theory is that the sentinel nodes as a target are exactly the ones most crucial to draining the breast/chest area, so their loss is significant. And of course radiation increases the lymphedema risk.

Liz, weight lifting increases blood flow to the area, and therefore lymph fluid as well. A compromised lymph system can be overwhelmed with the increase of fluid. Building up VERY SLOWLY to your former exercise level can ease the stress on your remaining lymph nodes and vessels and allow them to manage the extra stress. The risk of lymphedema, though, is for life, so there's never a time when we can afford to ignore it.

On the other hand weight lifting or other exercise also helps pump lymph fluid, because it's the action of the muscles beneath the surface lymph vessels that causes the pumping action to move the fluid. So exercise is important, but moving into it gently and slowly is equally important.

One other factor that's significant to exercise and lymphedema risk reduction is to be consistant. Widely spaced exercise sessions are a higher risk than regular and consistant effort, so do plan to work up slowly and keep up the fitness level you achieve with regular workouts. If for any reason you have to take a break of several days, back off and start back again slowly.

Other suggestions for reducing lymphedema risk when exercising are to stay VERY well hydrated, and to consider seeing a well-trained lymphedema therapist for baseline arm measurements for future reference, individualized risk assessment, and fitting for a glove and sleeve to use prophylactically.

Before any swelling appears, lymphedema can be present in the tissues. Early indicators of trouble brewing are achiness, heaviness, tingling, or just a "funny" feeling in your arm or chest. If you experience that, stop at once and elevate your arm. Rest, and next time you go back to that exercise, take it easier. Get a referral from any doctor on your team to a well-qualified lymphedema therapist for early evaluation.

Hope none of you ever join our "swell" sorority!
Binney

I feel the same way about my bupper body muscle wasting. I I'm only three weeks, out of Bmx so I'm definately going to take it easy.  but, i would really like to ride my stationary bike, walk the treadmill, and use the cross trainer (without upper extrmities).  I'm a little worried about increasing blood flow to the heart during aerobic exercise and having more fluids sent to the upper body (It's hard to determine just how much activity can set off the lymphadema).  Also, what about light weights for bi's and tri's?