Length of Time for Drainage Post Mastectomy

I have posted before on this site on behalf of my Mom who recently had a double mastectomy and is having a longer than normal time healing on the side she had radiation last year. Apparently, as we've heard from a few of you, this is not uncommon if you've previously had radiation. She has now had the side with the issues drained 2x and looking at a third time and still undergoing quite a bit of pain. Wondering if anyone with a similiar experience can share how long this went on for them (as far as drainage and swelling). Also, second issue is her arm...one Doc tells her to begin moving it and doing excercises or she'll experience "frozen shoulder" and the other doctor tells her not to move it to much as not to aggravate the tissue that's trying to heal. Any comments or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.

[Cheerpul]

I had two mastectomies with one being drained 4 times and the other being drained once.  It took a good two months before I saw a significant reduction of the fluid buildup and the tissues "stuck" for me.

Movement in a gentle, streching manner is good and will help you mother recovery.  "Guarding" the arm will make it prone to losing range of motion and strength.  There are massage techniques that I have been told help with the recovery and also physical therapy exercises that help you regain your ease of movement.  One involved standing beside a wall and walking your fingers up the wall as far as you can gently stretch and then walking them back down.

I know one lady who had a mastectomy years ago and carries her arm in a "sling position" because she is afraid to move it and now cannot move it (frozen) and has little strength.  

I am a very practical person, and started gently stretching my arms in the hospital right after surgery with my surgeons blessing.  I work at a living history museum and cook with heavy iron pots in fireplaces and woodstoves, carry buckets of water, and do many tasks by hand (whipping egg whites with a fork (Do not try this at home - use the kitchenaid!)  I needed my abilities and strength back.  It took awhile for the first surgery because I also had 19 nodes removed, but I have full use now, even though I will always have numb areas on my chest and armpits.  I am thinking of you.

[japdip]

Yes, I remember you from your previous posts .... I see that the Surgeon is still opting to drain the fluid rather than re-inserting a drain but all Dr.s have their own routines regarding procedures. I can also see your confusion about the exercise .... we're not talking about severe exercise here ... only gently "range of motion" type. It is important for her to begin to regain total movement of that arm and shoulder. The American Cancer Society (thru Reach to Recovery) has excellent video tapes that you may use for free that demonstrates these mild exercises which can usually be done almost immediately after breast surgery with your Surgeon's permission of course. You can also look them up on the internet. As I stated before this drainage will continue until the area is kept dry (empty of fluid) long enough for the tissues to "stick" and fill the void left by the surgery. It's anyone's guess as to how long this will take and especially if the fluid is allowed to build up between each draining by needle. If you and your Mother are not happy with what is going on concerning this then you could seek a second opinion from another Surgeon; this is always your right as a patient.   Kindest regards ....

[Cheerpul]

I had two mastectomies with one being drained 4 times and the other being drained once.  It took a good two months before I saw a significant reduction of the fluid buildup and the tissues "stuck" for me.

Movement in a gentle, streching manner is good and will help you mother recovery.  "Guarding" the arm will make it prone to losing range of motion and strength.  There are massage techniques that I have been told help with the recovery and also physical therapy exercises that help you regain your ease of movement.  One involved standing beside a wall and walking your fingers up the wall as far as you can gently stretch and then walking them back down.

I know one lady who had a mastectomy years ago and carries her arm in a "sling position" because she is afraid to move it and now cannot move it (frozen) and has little strength.  

I am a very practical person, and started gently stretching my arms in the hospital right after surgery with my surgeons blessing.  I work at a living history museum and cook with heavy iron pots in fireplaces and woodstoves, carry buckets of water, and do many tasks by hand (whipping egg whites with a fork (Do not try this at home - use the kitchenaid!)  I needed my abilities and strength back.  It took awhile for the first surgery because I also had 19 nodes removed, but I have full use now, even though I will always have numb areas on my chest and armpits.  I am thinking of you.

[lb145]

Looks like going back to surgery is now an option where they will go and "rough up the tissue" so that it will hopefully stick. Other options we are looking at for my Mom is the hyper-baric chamber. Does anyone have any experience with this? Obviously the goal is to do anything and everything to avoid surgery. Would love any input you may have! Thank you!

[japdip]

Hyperbaric treatment has been proven to promote healing .... hopefully it will work for your Mom. If she does go to surgery it would be important that a drain be left in place to keep the area free of fluid so that the tissues have a chance to "stick". When the fluid is allowed to build up this just won't happen.  Keep us posted ....