Latissimus dorsi flap -- effect on arm movement and activities

You may find some of the articles on the main BCO site of interest regarding Latissimus Dorsi procedure. Link is just to list of items found in search of main BCO site using search function there.

Best of luck with your procedure, (but please people, do not re-register, as against Community Rules).

The Mods

Sharsalo, I am able to type and write (I am an admin and on a computer all day and do office duties as well).  No trouble moving my arm in a back and forth motion either (8 weeks out from lat flap w/TE).

Sharsalo- I had an LD flap with a silicone implant done immediately after my mastectomy, which was followed by rads once the incisions were healed. I have no  problems with my arm strength or mobility as a result of the LD flap. The only arm problem I have is from the lymphedema that I developed 8 months post-op. I am physically able to lift heavy objects,  but doing so will usually cause my arm to swell, so I must exercise restraint. 

I'm a year after LD flap. My history is one of extreme athletics and endurance sports. LD flap hindered that lifestyle for me for sure. However, even with flap and lymphedema, I lift weights and spin 4-5 days a week. I can also do long walks and  hike without any problem. The competitive cycling and running I used to love for has gone by the wayside despite all my best efforts. I walked 5.5 miles today and ran for a month here and there. When I swing my arm running, my chest on the LD side reacts by tightening and it is trying. It takes a lot of patience and self-love. But? I do have a healthy and infection-free chest and can pull off some looks without a bra - which is best for my lymphedema. 

Steelers, I am doing really well in the gym and with really heavy weight - including seated row, pull downs and pretty much all my upper body strength. It took patience at first but I have found I actually can do it. This bodes well for things like rowing and skiing. I can also go full on spinning. Really the one issue I have had with latissimus dorsi is running. My chest tightens up and it is uncomfortable to the point it is hard to push through. I'm still hoping tht with strength training, PT and massage it will improve. Please plan to give yourself plenty of time to heal. I chose to. Another failed surgery to feed my exercise addiction was not an option for me whatsoever. I gave it extra time. But today - just a little more than a year later I blew out some major seated rows and lat pull downs. I'm strong!

Hi,

Just wanted to chime in about lat flap surgery and exercise. This was one of my big worries before my surgery and i had read a number of stories of women who had significant persistent tightness that limited their activities after this operation. This has NOT been the case for me. I am 5 months out and can do everything I did beforehand -- serious dance classes (lots of arm movement), swimming, and running. I think swimming has been helpful for any pain/tightness I have, and I have been swimming about 50 laps 2-3 days/week this summer (I had to work up to this since I had not done much swimming before surgery). I can relate to the tightness across my chest while running, which I do feel sometimes. If I swing my arms around it seems to help. I think the more I use and stretch my arms while I exercise the less pain/tightness I feel. I tried playing tennis and my shoulder sure hurt after practicing serves but I never have played much tennis and I bet it would have hurt even without the surgery! Still trying to decide whether using a rowing machine would be pushing things!

Good luck to those of you thinking about this operation! I think most of us do well post-op!