Excersise for chest post op, give me a list

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited June 2014 in Working on Your Fitness
Excersise for chest post op, give me a list
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2008

    Hi, just wondering what are the best exercises for chest and arm after MX. My incision site is tight and uncomfortable and at times it feels like something is getting stuck or twisting inside the area. Could not get a decent sleep because of this and I can't find a list and didn't get one. Any help on how to loosen up the incision site??

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2008

    Physical therapy might be in order, Daisy. How long ago was your mx?

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2008

    Hi Felicia....it was 10 days ago.

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  • roseg
    roseg Member Posts: 3,133
    edited March 2008

    Are your drains out? I think it's important to let those be gone before you do much.

    I'm always posting this, so I'll do it again!

    www.stayingabreast.com

    If you click around you'll find pages with the things to do. It was very successful for me, and even for my husband who had some surgery under his arm and had troubles with arm motion.  

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2008

    Thanks Rose....drain is out now , I'll save that site so I don't lose it.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2008

    There are a few good, basic exercises in this article:

    http://www.oncolink.com/types/images/pdf/exercises.pdf

    Take it slow and gradually increase your extension. You don't want to tear anything and need to backtrack.

    ~Marin

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2008

    Thanks Marin......I'll print that off!

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  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 1,710
    edited March 2008

    I'm glad Martin posted this link they are similar to the one I was given.  For the 1st stretch don't be surprised if you can't make the stick go to the floor.  I start with the stick at my waist and slowly take it up over my head and towards the floor.  In my case I can only get it half way between my head and the floor.  Which I think might be normal when just starting this stretch.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2008

    HMMM......yup, it's very uncomfortable and TIGHT! I feel like the incision keeps pulling everything in. It pulls alot.......hard to get comfy to sleep too.

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  • roseg
    roseg Member Posts: 3,133
    edited March 2008

    You have to figure on 6-8 weeks. Do them every day and you'll see progress before long. 

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  • ellenoire
    ellenoire Member Posts: 674
    edited March 2008

    I am just 6 weeks post MX. The last 2.5 weeks were a miracle compared to the first while.

    I got an infection in week 3 that set my arm mobility waaaay back and it made me crazy.

     I snowshoe with poles a few times a week and I do my stretches when I am warmed up. I would put myself at about 75-80% arm mobility returned but my chest is still really tight! 

     I slept on my back for 3 weeks and can still only barely sleep on the MX side.

    Keep workin' Daisy, it'll come.

     

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2008

    Ellen...thanks, that gives me some timeline. How'd you get an infection 3 weeks later? I'll keep working on it!

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  • trigeek
    trigeek Member Posts: 916
    edited March 2008

    I found that Kundalini yoga was really good while recovering from my bilateral mastectomy with immed reconstruction and during fills.

    I started about 3-4 weeks after surgery.

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  • Dansmom
    Dansmom Member Posts: 82
    edited April 2008

    I agree about yoga - I let the teacher know & she was very helpful with special poses.  I think there's a video or book on yoga & breast cancer too.

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  • ellenoire
    ellenoire Member Posts: 674
    edited April 2008

    Infection came on suddenly 2 days after the drain came out.

    I was doing my arm exercises and about an hour later was in incredible pain for hours afterwards. I lost almost all of the mobility I had gained, the nurse care(10 minutes per day to check the drain and the wound) I had through the canadian health care system was finished and I knew something was wrong. Turned out I had an infection in the wound across the chest and had to do antibiotics. After that was done I got the mobility back etc, but it was a hard week. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2008

    Thanks for all the great responses everyone. Yoga sounds great, I think I'll check that out. I also like to swim and hear it's good for any LE issues too. I'm a little leary of going back to work next week. It involves a lot of heavy patient care.

    Ellenoire.....surprised the nurse didn't catch that sooner. Glad to hear you got rid of it though. Dundas....is that Hamilton area? I'm I hour north east of Toronto.....tons of snow this winter.

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  • trigeek
    trigeek Member Posts: 916
    edited April 2008

    Just a heads up Kundalini Yoga is a different kind of yoga ( well at least different from what is known as conventional yoga ) It works on breathing and upper body motions, and almost all the moves are in seated position. It is also used for healing purposes.

    Have fun !

    Aylin

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  • Dansmom
    Dansmom Member Posts: 82
    edited April 2008

    If you have a chance to try restorative yoga - go for it - unbelievably relaxing & restorative!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2008

    Well, I'm not up on my anatomy a whole lot but I get this wierd thing. Sometimes when I am chewing, I can feel it pull all the way from my lower jaw down to my chest and armpit. Is this just tendon or nerve?? It's strange. Most of my ROM is back except for reaching higher up. Is massage good for the mast site??? I don't know if therapists around here deal with that? Sleeping is finally getting better, still tuck a soft pillow under that arm though. How long before nerve sensitivity to the area goes away? I'm still waiting for final path report....3 weeks now and want to just get on with things.

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