Re: duplicate related question posted on thread 2 days ago. There is no pre-determined time table. Ask your medical team
https://community.breastcancer.org/en/discussion/746907/chest-tightness-post-bilateral-mastectomy#latest
This is a very common condition called cording. You will need to get a referral for a physical therapist who specializes in issues related to breast cancer. It's painful, but easily remedied.
I had this… it’s referred to as cording. I was sent to a PT for a few weeks, and during one of my exercises, the cording essentially “popped.” The PT had me run my arm up and down a wall several times until eventually, it worked its way out. As you indicated, it’s not necessarily painful, but more so a nuisance. However, it’s treatable.
@trishyla1 and @rrobin0200 Oh my gosh! Thank you both for educating me on this condition! I was thinking my surgeon did something wrong. So you said that something “popped” …. please tell me what you mean …. The internal dissolving sutures popped? The scar tissue popped of the muscle (maybe it had adhered to it). I am getting a lot of visuals here. Is that a bad thing (popping it) or was that the goal for the physical therapist to have that happen? Did it hurt or feel awesome? Last question: WHEN can I start doing this stretching and PT (or better yet, when did you start it). 4 weeks? 5 weeks?Certainly I am too early for this and my Dr will advise me, but just curious to know when you did. Once again, you BOTH made my night. I have been so worried!
@flattie_baddie_72, here is some info on Axillary Web Syndrome, also called cording, that may be helpful to manage this issue:
In addition, many surgeons recommend starting gentle exercises right away to prevent arm/shoulder issues after surgery. See here for more info:
We hope this helps and that you start to improve soon!
—The Mods
@moderators Thsnk you so much! I see my breast surgeon in 2 x days (3 weeks post op) and I will find a physical therapist who specializes in this for sure. It is absolutely miserable - 20” across my chest on my ribs. I can barely take a deep breath. 😔
While what you describe does sound like cording, please see a physical therapist who can confirm that and recommend exercises or follow up. I too had cording which went away with time and prescribed exercises. Although someone mentioned hearing a popping sound that is likely an individual experience as I don’t think this is commonly mentioned (but I could be wrong) and I did not experience it. I don’t think this is anything to be concerned about as cording is not unexpected after mastectomy, it’s quite common, and resolves over time. Cording is not an indication that your ps made a mistake nor is it anything pathological. Also bear in mind that everyone’s healing process is different. There is no strict time table as to when things happen nor does everyone experience some of the known after effects of surgery. Cording is a very well known after effect of mastectomy and an appointment with a physical therapist should set you on the right path.
@exbrnxgrl Thank you so much! Makes perfect sense! I will definitely see what my surgeon says. I am so excited that this is common and can be remedied!
I honestly couldn’t tell you exactly what the “pop” was, so please forgive my ignorance. However, I heard it and immediately felt relief. My PT saw me twice after that, and then I was discharged. Cording never returned; all went back to normal.
I should add that after my cording resolved it never returned 😊
Honestly, this does not sound like cording at all. The OP did not have lymph nodes removed so there should not be any cording. I'm thinking it's more like "iron bra syndrome" or simply the surgical swelling tightness that should improve with time. It's a good idea to ask for PT and for some specific exercises to help get things loosened up.
@lw422 Update on 1/1/25: Okay I have had a revelation in the last 48 x hours. I have been reading about “cording” and it involves the lymph nodes and the arms. My tight sensation is a good 2” inches under my horizontal incision along my rib cage (like my rib cage is being squeezed with a cord). It then occured to me that it is from the liposuction of the area and the tiny bit of bra bulge that the Plastic Surgeon did in conjunction with the flat closure! It is hard and I am guessing it may be an elongated hematoma or multiple hematomas or a seroma or just really bruised ribs! Ughhh!
I have a follow up to see my breast surgeon first thing in the morning (9 hrs from now) and I can’t wait! I am praying it is fluid that can be drained. It feels tighter and tighter everyday and I cannot take a deep breath. I will post an update tomorrow! Thank you all!
I am glad that you have an appointment. For as much as any of us can speculate over what something might be, only an appointment with a medical professional can yield the answer. For the record, cording can occur even if you have not had lymph nodes removed. Take care
We certainly hope OP's medical team was able to quickly address both OP's pain & anxiety collectively.
An official common PMPS dx requires 3 months of PMPS symptoms for which there exists no fast golden remedy or cure. PT together with time itself are often the best healers.
See PMPS thread for many more identical/similar symptoms. POST MASTECTOMY PAIN SYNDROME (PMPS)
https://community.breastcancer.org/en/discussion/747016/post-mastectomy-pain-syndrome-pmps/p60
The topic gets rather confusing when multiple threads on the same subject are started by one OP & then consequently fragmented. The implication was this same OP was apparently already aware of the "iron bra syndrome", who wrote on Dec 28th in a separate thread this same OP had started... OP admitted to having "the iron bra sensation".
"I had a prophylactic double mastectomy" for preventative purposes presumably and "for peace of mind". The OP's "mental health is suffering" admittedly, so we send our best wishes.
OP admittedly "really want(ed) to be ahead of the game" and was presumably already aware of PMPS (Post-Masectomy Pain Syndrome). CHEST TIGHTNESS
https://community.breastcancer.org/en/discussion/886374/chest-tightness
CHEST TIGHTNESS - POST BILATERAL MASTECTOMY
https://community.breastcancer.org/en/discussion/746907/chest-tightness-post-bilateral-mastectomy
Hopefully breast surgical teams are getting better at setting the right expectations of common cording & PMPS with their patients. Improved education amongst their patients is needed to lessen the anxieties associated with unanticipated pain where up to half of all breast patients are affected by PMPS or iron bra syndrome.
