Exercises before surgery

Options
CGG
CGG Member Posts: 18
edited January 2018 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

What are your thoughts about being in shape and how much to exercise before surgery? What is the impact of having toned & in-shape pectorals vs. not before going in for MX and reconstruction? I'm going to have PBMX with reconstruction this coming spring and I wanted to know if our collective knowledge points to a benefit from being in good shape vs. just being regularly out of shape (beyond the obvious of being healing better & tolerating surgery better). How will the shape and condition of my pectoral muscles impact the TEs and later permanent implants? Is the stretching of the pectorals for the TEs easier or worse with well developed pecs? Any advice you can share would help. Thanks!

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Castigame
    Castigame Member Posts: 752
    edited December 2017

    I had DMX wo recon and w lymph node removal. Lost a lot of muscle tone in both arms but still not flabby. It is bc I used to swim quite a bit. Definitely in shape helps in every way.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • swg
    swg Member Posts: 461
    edited December 2017

    I think exercise is VERY important before surgery. That being said, I was told not to overdo it..just make sure I got a normal person's daily requirement. I also ate very carefully before surgery--lots of veggies and fruits. Drank TONS of water. I think this is why I've recovered so quickly, with no complications!

    I had my surgery Nov 28 and was feeling nearly 100 pct 2 weeks later.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • swg
    swg Member Posts: 461
    edited December 2017

    Also btw ask your surgeon about exercises you can do to help prevent lymphadema, both before and after surgery.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MarilynIllinois
    MarilynIllinois Member Posts: 79
    edited December 2017

    Hi CGG, I spent a lot of time stretching especially with my arms overhead, practicing yoga and walking. I felt good knowing my body was limber before surgery.

    I also asked my surgeon if I could get a pectoral block to reduce my need for opioids after surgery.

    Good luck to you!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited December 2017

    Unfortunately, many/most Drs (including Surgeons) are woefully lacking education regarding LE (lymphedema). An appt. with an LET (LymphEdema Therapist) pre surgery is a very good idea to gain info/knowledge and to get baseline measurements in case LE does develope. An LET will be a PT or OT with additional education above and beyond what PTs and OTs have. My fantastic LET guy is an OT.

    Being fit/in shape is, of course, better than not in all aspects of life. Not something that can be gained in a short period of time.

    A lot of the questions you posed can best be answered best by your PS. Also probably by a PT or OT (at your Center) who has experience with recon.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CGG
    CGG Member Posts: 18
    edited December 2017

    Thank you for the information! I hadn't thought about LE or measurements, that's helpful. But since I'm having the surgery prophylactically, and I'm not doing SNB because it isn't warranted (at this point), it might not be relevant to me. One the other hand, a frozen section during surgery might reveal CA, so doing the measurement ahead of time is a good idea just in case. But my guess is that anytime the tissue is disturbed to that degree, LE is possible, right?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Shadie
    Shadie Member Posts: 57
    edited January 2018

    I am also scheduled for a PBMX with TE recon, no SNB (on 1/10.) I saw a PT who specializes in breast cancer patients last week, to get pre-operative exercises. She got a sense of my baseline range-of-motion pre-surgery, and gave me several customized stretches to do for those areas that were a little weaker. I would strongly recommend this.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories