3 Weeks post BMX - still quite sore. When do I feel "better"?

Hi kber,

I had a unilateral mastectomy on the cancer side, with full axillary node dissection, and a second mastectomy (prophylactic) six months later. So it's not the same surgery, but here is my experience: recovering mobility is not just a matter of time, but rather a matter of actively working towards recovering mobility, and then working on maintaining it.

In my case, that meant physical therapy right after the first surgery, and doing stretching exercises frequently and religiously during the first couple of months. I took a month off right after surgery, and I devoted a lot of time to stretching. After the first month, I started swimming. After the first couple of months, I kept working out and doing stretching exercises, less frequently but still regularly. Now I am 1+ year after the first mastectomy and 8+ months after the second mastectomy, and I still need to stretch regularly. I do serious stretching exercises once a week on Saturdays, including weights and what not, and I swim a few times a week, and every time I swim I do at least 20 min backstroke, to stretch my arm towards the back.

If I don't stretch in an entire week, I am stiff. Not as stiff as at the beginning, but stiff.

Did you get any physical therapy? I learned a lot from the therapists and I have no idea how I would have recovered mobility without their help.

Best

LaughingGull

hello each person is different takes time I had to go to rehab after drains were taken out and do my exercise at home also its a process but you will get thru it hang in there sweetie. msphil idc stage 2 0/3 nodes 3mo chemo before and after Lmast adriamycin cytoxin 5fu then got married was planning at diagnosis then 7wks rads 5yrs Tamoxifen and Praise God I'm a 25yr Survivor this yr.