Exercise immediately after drain removal?

If he's experiencing cording, then he needs to see a physical therapist with experience in dealing with it. This site has plenty of information on therapists: http://www.lymphnet.org/. If your hospital has a breast cancer clinic, they should also be able to help you locate a therapist who can help your husband.

There is a massage technique that can be used to loosen that up, so it is treatable. I would be very careful with any exercises with an open wound. At this stage he should only be doing some (very) mild stretches — there's no need to be macho because you don't want to overly stress that arm.

If he's experiencing cording, then he needs to see a physical therapist with experience in dealing with it. This site has plenty of information on therapists: http://www.lymphnet.org/. If your hospital has a breast cancer clinic, they should also be able to help you locate a therapist who can help your husband.

There is a massage technique that can be used to loosen that up, so it is treatable. I would be very careful with any exercises with an open wound. At this stage he should only be doing some (very) mild stretches — there's no need to be macho because you don't want to overly stress that arm.

If he's experiencing cording, then he needs to see a physical therapist with experience in dealing with it. This site has plenty of information on therapists: http://www.lymphnet.org/. If your hospital has a breast cancer clinic, they should also be able to help you locate a therapist who can help your husband.

There is a massage technique that can be used to loosen that up, so it is treatable. I would be very careful with any exercises with an open wound. At this stage he should only be doing some (very) mild stretches — there's no need to be macho because you don't want to overly stress that arm.

Linny's advice is pretty much what I was going to say, about contacting Breast Cancer survivors networks, your local Breast Cancer Association support group.   That is what I did when I was looking for a lymphadema message therapist in my area, or someone who was more experienced in the specifics of axillary lymph node dissection after effects.   They were very kind and supportive, even though my plight was not breast cancer.

The nerve-ending healing after a ALND can be weird and kind of scarey.   Trying to advocate for yourself, educating yourself via internet can be weird and kind of scarey, too.    I have to admit, that I have never read of the cording issue on this melanoma site, but I did while doing my research.    I think your husband would have great peace of mind if he could locate someone in your area (therapist) that is actively involved with breast cancer survivor's treatment.   (I have also been treated for lymphedema, not really bad swelling for me now, but I had secured the services of a PT who knew manual lymphedema massage techniques)

I was not sent home with much information about stretching or exercising post ALND, and I know that breast cancer patients are given specific information.    That is some information that you should be able to secure via internet, but def proceed with caution to have him not over-do it!!

Good luck.   I am sure his healing will progress nicely in his axilla.  It's the darn mental state that is hard to calm, wanting to see progress in healing sooner than it can sometimes be done.

CarolA

Linny's advice is pretty much what I was going to say, about contacting Breast Cancer survivors networks, your local Breast Cancer Association support group.   That is what I did when I was looking for a lymphadema message therapist in my area, or someone who was more experienced in the specifics of axillary lymph node dissection after effects.   They were very kind and supportive, even though my plight was not breast cancer.

The nerve-ending healing after a ALND can be weird and kind of scarey.   Trying to advocate for yourself, educating yourself via internet can be weird and kind of scarey, too.    I have to admit, that I have never read of the cording issue on this melanoma site, but I did while doing my research.    I think your husband would have great peace of mind if he could locate someone in your area (therapist) that is actively involved with breast cancer survivor's treatment.   (I have also been treated for lymphedema, not really bad swelling for me now, but I had secured the services of a PT who knew manual lymphedema massage techniques)

I was not sent home with much information about stretching or exercising post ALND, and I know that breast cancer patients are given specific information.    That is some information that you should be able to secure via internet, but def proceed with caution to have him not over-do it!!

Good luck.   I am sure his healing will progress nicely in his axilla.  It's the darn mental state that is hard to calm, wanting to see progress in healing sooner than it can sometimes be done.

CarolA

Linny's advice is pretty much what I was going to say, about contacting Breast Cancer survivors networks, your local Breast Cancer Association support group.   That is what I did when I was looking for a lymphadema message therapist in my area, or someone who was more experienced in the specifics of axillary lymph node dissection after effects.   They were very kind and supportive, even though my plight was not breast cancer.

The nerve-ending healing after a ALND can be weird and kind of scarey.   Trying to advocate for yourself, educating yourself via internet can be weird and kind of scarey, too.    I have to admit, that I have never read of the cording issue on this melanoma site, but I did while doing my research.    I think your husband would have great peace of mind if he could locate someone in your area (therapist) that is actively involved with breast cancer survivor's treatment.   (I have also been treated for lymphedema, not really bad swelling for me now, but I had secured the services of a PT who knew manual lymphedema massage techniques)

I was not sent home with much information about stretching or exercising post ALND, and I know that breast cancer patients are given specific information.    That is some information that you should be able to secure via internet, but def proceed with caution to have him not over-do it!!

Good luck.   I am sure his healing will progress nicely in his axilla.  It's the darn mental state that is hard to calm, wanting to see progress in healing sooner than it can sometimes be done.

CarolA

Carol reminded me of one more thing I forgot to mention. He should get measured for a compression sleeve. He'll need one if he travels anywhere via plane. Your limbs can swell during flights and that's the last thing you want when you're at risk for lymphedema. The sleeve will help curb any swelling. I wear mine on hot/humid days too and it works well. Also wear it when I do gardening. Don't blindly go and order one on line, you need to be measured for it by a therapist because and ill-fitting garment will do more harm than good.

Carol reminded me of one more thing I forgot to mention. He should get measured for a compression sleeve. He'll need one if he travels anywhere via plane. Your limbs can swell during flights and that's the last thing you want when you're at risk for lymphedema. The sleeve will help curb any swelling. I wear mine on hot/humid days too and it works well. Also wear it when I do gardening. Don't blindly go and order one on line, you need to be measured for it by a therapist because and ill-fitting garment will do more harm than good.

Carol reminded me of one more thing I forgot to mention. He should get measured for a compression sleeve. He'll need one if he travels anywhere via plane. Your limbs can swell during flights and that's the last thing you want when you're at risk for lymphedema. The sleeve will help curb any swelling. I wear mine on hot/humid days too and it works well. Also wear it when I do gardening. Don't blindly go and order one on line, you need to be measured for it by a therapist because and ill-fitting garment will do more harm than good.