When does tightness after mastectomy go away?

speaking from a year out, I say that same,,you get used to it and it starts to go away with time. Hopefully the tightness will completely go for you. Just like NotVeryBrave said, I'd keep stretching even months later. Sometimes you don't even realize that just because you can reach something on the top shelf doesn't necessarily mean you have full range of motion. I laid down one day on my floor and put my arm above my head and realized I could feel the pull. I still needed to stretch. That was 8/9 months later. I can't say I have tightness left but numbness in armpits and back of the arm/shoulder.

magnolia-mom: if you do some searches there are a few threads on chest tightness throughout the boards and it seems like it is a common complaint following surgery, but it appears everybody is different on how/when/why it is relieved.

I had a BMX without reconstruction 3 months ago and I am still having daily issues with the tightness ( I hesitate to say this as when I have been scouring the boards for answers and encouragement I would have mixed feelings on someone further out than myself saying they were still having issues. I would get discouraged that it may take that long, but also be encouraged that there was still hope that it would dissipate)

I do think that mine has lessened some (it is consistent, not just when i move or inhale/exhale), but i have Sensory Processing Disorder and so am very sensitive to this feeling.

I have read posts on muscle relaxers, massage, acupuncture, compression garments, stretching, physical therapy, and several other things that you might find helpful and especially just the passage of time as our bodies adjust.

I personally haven't had tightness relief from acupuncture, but I do find it relaxing. I didn't start massage until 2 months out and I do get a littlerelief from that (she works my incision area), but I don't know if a more specialized massage might help further. I feel kind of ignorant on that. I did stretching exercises ( specific for bmx patients) that I found online and I think they helped some, but I just started PT this month as well after my chiropractor referred me and altho there are not significant tightness changes yet, I do feel like new areas are being worked. I also think that the numbness has something to do with it. I have one small area on one side that randomly un-numbed and that little area doesn't feel as tight.

I too have wondered why everything is so tight and it sounds like it can be muscles, swelling, scar tissue, skin tightness and more. Hopefully yours will dissipate quickly and you will continue to get suggestions on this thread.

I am SO very sorry to hear that Beatmon

I agree with Beatmon... my Bmx was in March 2017, and I still have periodic tightness feelings. I think it’s always there, but I’m so immune to it now that I really don’t pay attention any longer.

Magnolia-Mom: I would be very interested in hearing how the myofascial massage goes and specifics on it. Have you had any type of massage since surgery? I have had a few and I enjoy them a lot, but I it is not myofascial as far as I know. She does work the incision area, however. I have seen myofascial mentioned on the boards here a lot, but I have not personally been able to find anyone local that specifically lists that as their technique and when I have asked those in my medical community, they do not seem to know what I am talking about or think it is necessary. I am still praying for a more significant breakthrough on the tightness, so am investigating any option that I can.

I'm six years out from the exchange. I was just thinking about it yesterday - I decided it was like a big hug. 24/7. If I think about it I can feel it. It does not bother me at all. Can't remember it not feeling any other way. I do like the fact that any new local occurence could (hopefully) be felt since the implant is behind the muscle. I'm heading towards sixty years old. My fake breasts and nipple tattoos look a whole lot better than other parts of my body. 😁😜

Hi, there...don't despair. What you had was more complicated than what I had, so give yourself time to complete the process. I had 40 D boobs so had the largest cc gel implants. I am over 5 years out. NO recurrence-but I take the pills religiously!, BMX with reconstruction, no expanders, no chemo. I did not request the higher profile since I was past 50-now past 60- and was not interested in people gawking. LOL If younger, I would have! Anyway, today the only residual effect is some puckering where the skin naturally was a bit loose-they try to be perfect, but alas, can't. I just choose to live with it, although I could get some fixes. And,and some minor numbness. The most annoying thing is the occasional soreness from the damn lymph nodes! I had 2 taken, both clear, but I swear=that little incision. Just annoying sometimes. I would say as someone told me beforehand: You always know something is there, but it's not a bother. I had tightness for a long time after, as the boobs moved down to the 'nest' they create for them. Your chest muscle is suddenly over the boob, when you have inserts.So there is actual slight muscle spasming early on, due to that. I did my upper body and arm excercises religiously, and still do, just a few minutes a few times a week. As a result, i had no edema; and I also did massages for a few weeks after surgery-no capsular contraction. That happens without the moving around of the scar tissue that the massage does. Rock hard boobs, then. Nice to not have that!

All in all, glad to be alive-I fear death no longer; I don't have have isolated odd shooting pains anymore-those gone years ago; and basically the boobs do feel like mine-but with a little something extra. Be patient, there's no way to know where your final journey winds up until it does. Take each event as it comes and decide then if you need other actions. Oh one more thing-I don't have to wear a bra anymore. I do sometimes, but then I get back soreness because they are so tightly positioned where they are-no sagging! wink

hi all,

I also have the tightness and it’s so horrible that one night it almost sent me into a panic attack cause I felt such tightness that I couldn’t take a breath. But then I read about using coconut oil. So I have been using it several times a day and it does help while it’s in and gently massaging it in. But the compression bra is weird cause it feels good at times but other times I just have to take it off. I feel like I’m walking around with one shoulder higher than the other. Plus still have one drain in which I can feel under my arm. Can’t stand it.

Lol

Farmerlucy that’s funny

Farmer Lucy, just read your post of the 27! You are so funny. Ladies, don’t believe her...she looks great all over...not just the bosoms.

I still feel like I have a belt around my chest just below my implants

I had a BMX with expanders three months ago, then my exchange surgery to place the implants a month ago. I still have some tightness around my chest like the band of a bra but it's definitely getting better. I wouldn't call it painful any more, just noticeable. (Now, the implants contracting when I'm cold - that's painful!