Cording of lymph vessel
Hi all
I had mastectomy in may and I have developed cording of lymph vessels under my arm. It's like a long hard cord is running from my elbow bend all along under my arm and down my chest to the spot where the drain was under the op site.
The first physio in the hosp told me to massage the scar where I had the node biopsies. I was doing that but no improvement. Last time I saw a different physio and she advised massaging along my arm with quite a bit of pressure. If you try this, it is not easy to do yourself! So I called in the troups, meaning got my poor husband to do yet another job for me! And hurray, it seems to be working!
Only along my arm though. Now, the cord is really hard under my arm and down my chest. I'm to keep massaging but I'm still sore there and can't use much pressure.
Did anyone else have this and find a solution? I'm getting more anxious about it now as I will be moving on to radio in a month or so and I know that can cause more trouble.
Josephine
Comments
Funky Chick
That ICS activity programme sounds like the bomb! I'm back in physio for more or less the same thing, but I'm being put through a range of lovely, easy exercises and there has been no mention of massage so I think I'll ask them what the story is. Then again, I know that my implant is encapsulating and that surgery is being discussed for the new year so, as we all know, everyone's situation is different.
I wonder if the ICS would roll out the activity programme....
Hi girls
Thanks for info funky chick. That's good to know it can come right eventually. I didn't know the proper name for it. I'm to ring the physio tomorrow to hopefully get to see her during chemo on we'd so I will have plenty of questions. Was your physio in the hospital or did you have to get a private physio?
Josephine
Thanks funky chick 
Hi Josephine,
had my surgery in May2011 & had exactly the same problem. Think it was called Auxiliary Web Syndrome & yes it was very painful. My physio did all the massaging, from what I can remember it took months to resolve. I had it underarm & down to my elbow. It eventually worked it's way out with the massaging but did return slightly as I regained my fitness like when I started to do more housework & general lifting etc.. I then took part in the ICS Physical Activity Program which involves upper body resistance training & I haven't had any issues since.
Let me know how you get on.
A