Axillary Web Syndrome (aka Cording) after SLNB

You will need to get that looked at by a physical therapist who specializes is lymphedema. They will massage it and work it out. I would try an OTC pain reliever like Advil or Alleve. 

You will need to get that looked at by a physical therapist who specializes is lymphedema. They will massage it and work it out. I would try an OTC pain reliever like Advil or Alleve. 

You will need to get that looked at by a physical therapist who specializes is lymphedema. They will massage it and work it out. I would try an OTC pain reliever like Advil or Alleve. 

This is not at all unusual.  What you can do is stand next to a wall and slowly walk you hand up the wall.  Only stretch your arm to the point where it starts to pull then stop.  Repeat two or three times.  Do this several times a day, you will find you will start to strech a little more each time.  Remember don't push beyound your limits, you want to do very slow stretching.

This is not at all unusual.  What you can do is stand next to a wall and slowly walk you hand up the wall.  Only stretch your arm to the point where it starts to pull then stop.  Repeat two or three times.  Do this several times a day, you will find you will start to strech a little more each time.  Remember don't push beyound your limits, you want to do very slow stretching.

This is not at all unusual.  What you can do is stand next to a wall and slowly walk you hand up the wall.  Only stretch your arm to the point where it starts to pull then stop.  Repeat two or three times.  Do this several times a day, you will find you will start to strech a little more each time.  Remember don't push beyound your limits, you want to do very slow stretching.

Mindy,

I had my axillary disection in 2011 and I still have some range of motion issues due to the "cording".  I had radiation to the armpit following the lymph node removal which probably complicated the problem.  I could not believe how tight that tendon was.  It reminded me of a guitar string and you could clearly see it in my armpit when I raised my arm above my head.  It felt like it ran from my pinky to my armpit.  I did physical therapy off and on for about 6 months which helped.  The exercise mentioned about where you walk your arm up the wall is a good one.  I never really had any pain associated with mine, just range of motion issues.  One thing that has developed within the last year which I also attribute to the axillary disection is I get muscle spasms in my trapezoid.  It's really a pain when I'm driving and I have to try to stretch my arm over my head to get rid of the spasm without driving off the road.  I think it will get better for you over time but it does take work.

Brian

Mindy,

I had my axillary disection in 2011 and I still have some range of motion issues due to the "cording".  I had radiation to the armpit following the lymph node removal which probably complicated the problem.  I could not believe how tight that tendon was.  It reminded me of a guitar string and you could clearly see it in my armpit when I raised my arm above my head.  It felt like it ran from my pinky to my armpit.  I did physical therapy off and on for about 6 months which helped.  The exercise mentioned about where you walk your arm up the wall is a good one.  I never really had any pain associated with mine, just range of motion issues.  One thing that has developed within the last year which I also attribute to the axillary disection is I get muscle spasms in my trapezoid.  It's really a pain when I'm driving and I have to try to stretch my arm over my head to get rid of the spasm without driving off the road.  I think it will get better for you over time but it does take work.

Brian

Mindy,

I had my axillary disection in 2011 and I still have some range of motion issues due to the "cording".  I had radiation to the armpit following the lymph node removal which probably complicated the problem.  I could not believe how tight that tendon was.  It reminded me of a guitar string and you could clearly see it in my armpit when I raised my arm above my head.  It felt like it ran from my pinky to my armpit.  I did physical therapy off and on for about 6 months which helped.  The exercise mentioned about where you walk your arm up the wall is a good one.  I never really had any pain associated with mine, just range of motion issues.  One thing that has developed within the last year which I also attribute to the axillary disection is I get muscle spasms in my trapezoid.  It's really a pain when I'm driving and I have to try to stretch my arm over my head to get rid of the spasm without driving off the road.  I think it will get better for you over time but it does take work.

Brian

Hey Mindy,

Sorry you are dealing with this.  I echo most of the advice you have been given.  I had a complete lymphadenectomy of my right axilla in 2003 and of my left in 2007.  Both required work to get things back together!!!  My right has had the most residual issues (numbness, tingling, and occasional cramping…much like a Charlie Horse along my rib cage….sort of like what Brian described.)  Overall, though I cannot complain.  I'm still here!  I run, exercise, do elliptical…though sometimes there are little reminders!  I have been very lucky not to have developed lymphedema.  I found the best source for exercises to stretch things out early on were on breast cancer web sites and articles.  Walking your hands up a wall, as mentioned by Washoegal, is very helpful.  Here's an article I ran into when doing some melanoma research this am….thought you might find it interesting:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25626622

Not sure if the process is as rare as those folks think…or maybe your case is more complicated than the rest of ours.  At any rate, the researchers seem to profer the same treatment approach that the rest of us used and there has been no link to axiallary mets just because you develop this syndrome.  (For the record…I had a positive node on one side and not on the other!)  For what it's worth.  Hang in there. You got this!!!!  Celeste

Hey Mindy,

Sorry you are dealing with this.  I echo most of the advice you have been given.  I had a complete lymphadenectomy of my right axilla in 2003 and of my left in 2007.  Both required work to get things back together!!!  My right has had the most residual issues (numbness, tingling, and occasional cramping…much like a Charlie Horse along my rib cage….sort of like what Brian described.)  Overall, though I cannot complain.  I'm still here!  I run, exercise, do elliptical…though sometimes there are little reminders!  I have been very lucky not to have developed lymphedema.  I found the best source for exercises to stretch things out early on were on breast cancer web sites and articles.  Walking your hands up a wall, as mentioned by Washoegal, is very helpful.  Here's an article I ran into when doing some melanoma research this am….thought you might find it interesting:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25626622

Not sure if the process is as rare as those folks think…or maybe your case is more complicated than the rest of ours.  At any rate, the researchers seem to profer the same treatment approach that the rest of us used and there has been no link to axiallary mets just because you develop this syndrome.  (For the record…I had a positive node on one side and not on the other!)  For what it's worth.  Hang in there. You got this!!!!  Celeste

Hey Mindy,

Sorry you are dealing with this.  I echo most of the advice you have been given.  I had a complete lymphadenectomy of my right axilla in 2003 and of my left in 2007.  Both required work to get things back together!!!  My right has had the most residual issues (numbness, tingling, and occasional cramping…much like a Charlie Horse along my rib cage….sort of like what Brian described.)  Overall, though I cannot complain.  I'm still here!  I run, exercise, do elliptical…though sometimes there are little reminders!  I have been very lucky not to have developed lymphedema.  I found the best source for exercises to stretch things out early on were on breast cancer web sites and articles.  Walking your hands up a wall, as mentioned by Washoegal, is very helpful.  Here's an article I ran into when doing some melanoma research this am….thought you might find it interesting:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25626622

Not sure if the process is as rare as those folks think…or maybe your case is more complicated than the rest of ours.  At any rate, the researchers seem to profer the same treatment approach that the rest of us used and there has been no link to axiallary mets just because you develop this syndrome.  (For the record…I had a positive node on one side and not on the other!)  For what it's worth.  Hang in there. You got this!!!!  Celeste