Symptom Presentation:
You may (or may not) experience symptoms in the neck, shoulder, chest, breast or mid-back regions. These symptoms can range from a painful experience to dull, achy, tight, restricted symptoms. They may be localized to the surgical area or radiate to surrounding areas in your upper half. Physical therapy and massage therapy can help with therapeutic exercise, hands-on soft tissue work and improve the functional limitations that accompany a mastectomy procedure.
Incisional Care:
Incisions will be made into the chest and breast regions that require care in the post-operative period. Keeping your scar dry, clean and covered will be important to reduce the likelihood of infection. Physical therapy and massage therapy can help by minimizing scar tissue build up, help to ensure proper scar healing and maintaining mobility of the scar.
Lymphatic Congestion:
The lymphatic system moves lymph, a protein rich, clear fluid in our bodies. The primary function of lymph is for immune purposes. The channels or nodes within the lymphatic system may be damaged or removed in a mastectomy surgery.
If you notice swelling in the arm, chest/breast or trunk areas you may have some lymphatic congestion present. Physical therapy and massage therapy can help by opening lymphatic pathways through a light massage technique, to promote movement of this fluid away from the surgical site to help reduce swelling present.
Limited Movement Capabilities:
Limitations in neck, mid-back, chest and shoulder mobility may be limited to one or both sides in the post-operative period. This lack of mobility is expected given the surgery performed but can be improved upon! We need mobility and movement in our daily lives to help us perform activities such as getting dressed, putting away the dishes, folding laundry and playing with our kids! Physical therapy can help to promote movement at the shoulder, neck, mid-back. Chest and trunk regions via therapeutic exercises and a handful of other hands-on techniques to address limited movement. These exercises in combination with soft tissue work (massage therapy can help with this too!) will help to address any functional limitations present after surgery.
Overall, find a clinic that can do both… like Apex Physical Therapy and Wellness Center! Here at Apex, we have multiple providers, both physical therapists and massage therapists, that are specifically trained to treat changes to the lymphatic system and recovery following a mastectomy procedure!