Physical Therapy after BMX

I was referred. I think it's pretty pointless for me. Taking care of my 3-year-old is better therapy than the exercises and strengthening they have assigned me. Really only the stretches are the only thing I have found slightly helpful. Plus the recommendation to use vitamin e oil and massage my incisions. I have another PT appointment on Monday, but I don't think I am going to schedule additional ones.

Well, maybe your surgeon provides the instructions and exercise list herself? Did she or her nurse talk to you about the exercises you will have to do to restore your range of motion, how soon after mastectomy you can start doing them, etc.?

I found two or three sessions I had with an experienced PT the most useful thing in the entire post-surgery process. The first session was to assess my status and show the exercises I should be doing (I received printouts with notes just for me), the second one a month later - to evaluate my progress and recommend more 'advanced' exercises, and the third and final one 'graduated' me to the real world, i.e. gym.

Before rads I was warned by my surgeon I would need to work with PT on my range of motion again. I took preemptive action and continued doing all the same exercises on my own through rads, there was no need to do anything after rads.

Editing to add that this may be age dependent. I was 54 when I had surgery, someone in her 30s may need less guidance and help.

Thanks ladies. I guess I would rather have an appointment or two for some guidance, especially on what I should or shouldn't be doing. So far I haven't had anything other than my surgical consult with my surgeon (no other appointments AT ALL) so if I didn't learn all I know from here, I would be going into this pretty blind.

Kelly

I'm seeing a therapist who specializes in breast cancer patients and lymphedema. She has been HUGELY helpful. I started 4 weeks post-op, was still having lots of discomfort and pulling especially from the drain site, as well as swelling under the armpit. She has done all sorts of scar massage and release, making my rib cage mobility WAY better and less painful. My arm range of motion is almost full. And she has showed me manual lymph drainage to clear the swelling, and other things to prevent lymphedema. I am enormously grateful for her.

At my initial visits with both the PS and BS they both said, "oh and we have physical therapists here." Not sure if this ws suppossed to be a selling point, as I went to each of them for a second opinion for my BMX.

At that time I didn't even understand why. I asked my BS at my pre-op about PT, and she said I wold start after the drains were out. However my BS and PS are from different hospitals, (but PS visits BS facility once monthly so they can work together, old training buddies). BS is closer, but not sure which makes more sense, as I would be going to PS for fills at some point. And still not sure if it is something they mention, or something I definitely need to follow through. Guess I will put it on my list of questions when I am in the hospital. My surgery is 3-14, but my first appt w BS is 4-5. PS deals with everything except the pathology was the explanation.

My surgeon sent me for up to 6 sessions of PT. I only needed 3 but can have more later if I need them. I'm in pretty good shape and am naturally very flexible, so my range of motion came back easily. But my surgeon is VERY conservative, so he didn't want me lifting more than 5 pounds for nearly 2 months. And he was very strict about which stretches I could do. The PT was great in helping me learn other things I could do and how to do them safely. Also, the PT was helpful in understanding lymphedema and she will be my contact if I ever think I have it. I'm very glad I went.

The general consensus is to not lift your arms above you shoulder until your drains are out, then start your exercises 4 times a day. If you do not have full ROM by close to 5-6 week post op you need physio. If you get cording you will need physio. I developed cording and started physio once my drains were out. I am covered for one assessment and 6 treatments post surgery, meaning it is direct billed to Alberta Health Care and I pay nothing. I thought why not goand get help?

Mine did not refer me for PT despite numerous complaints that I was not regaining my ROM with the exercises she gave me post surgery. Although, she told me to wait 6 weeks before starting them. My internist finally gave me a script and after the exchange I was eventually diagnosed with two frozen shoulders, a rotator cuff tear, and a bunch of other weird things. In a couple of weeks, I will be getting shots in my shoulders to break up the scar tissue, I hope. And continue with PT, now out of pocket because I have hit my max. with insurance. About 4 months of PT.

I think it's better to be cautious. This was result I never expected as I was very active before all of this.