Mastectomy

[cameo1]

Hello everyone out there. Nearly 2 years ago, in Sep 2006, I had a modified radical mastectomy.

Within a few weeks, during recovery, it became obvious that I had quite severe tightening of the muscles and tendons that passed through my armpit on the same side as the mastectomy.

Though I have stretched and maintained the length of these muscles, (which for those of you who may know them, include Latissimus Dorsi, Biceps, and Serratus Anterior), they still are very tight.

If I leave the stretching exercises out because of fatigue or illness for a day or so, they are so tight that it becomes painful, and I feel a real tug on my chest wall as I work on them yet again.

Does anyone know what causes this, and is there anything else which can be done for them? My oncologist calls it "cording", but that doesn't tell me much.

Any help out there?? Please??!!! Has anyone else had this happen to them as well?
Cheers Cameo1