Recovery monitoring after surgery

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lehelter
lehelter Member Posts: 3
edited June 2014 in Working on Your Fitness
Recovery monitoring after surgery
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  • lehelter
    lehelter Member Posts: 3
    edited April 2014

    Range of motion in the shoulder gets affected after any type of breast cancer related surgery. Do all the patients who undergo surgery want to monitor their recovery on their own (increasing range of motion) or only patients who are at high risk of developing lymphedema (due to nodes removal or additional therapies like chemotherapy and radiation therapy)? Is there anything out there that will help in monitoring the improvement in range of motion after surgery and during treatments?

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited April 2014

    If you had nodes removed, the you are at an increased risk for lymphedema. Why not ask your surgeon for a referral for an evaluation by a certified lymphedema therapist?  The LE therapist can do measurements, evaluate your risk, and help you design a safe program to regain your ROM safely. 

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  • Mich71
    Mich71 Member Posts: 45
    edited April 2014

    I tended to get a good feel on the improving range of motion after surgery each morning when I did the stretches and exercises recommended by the doctors after the mastectomy.   At first, doing them in the shower and stretching my arms on shower wall seemed to help me feel the best.   Each week seemed to get better and the range of motion has been good.   A bit of discomfort here and there but I tend to still stretch or hold my arm up in the air a bit if it's an achy day and I'm 5 months out from mastectomy.    The oncologist offered me the option to see physical therapist shortly after surgery so maybe that's an option you want to consider as well.

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