Do Lymphatic Massages and Physical Therapy not start until the drain is removed?

She needs to heal first from her surgery. The drain will help keep the fluids down during the healing process.

If she's anything like me, she'll want to feel like she's doing "something" during that healing process. A breast cancer survivor friend of mine, who had lymph nodes removed from BOTH armpits taught me one stretching exercise to do. It's so simple you can even do it lying down. All she needs to do is place her finger tips on the left shoulder and keep the left arm even with her body. Then she needs to "walk" with the fingertips up her neck, past her left ear and over the top of your head until she can touch the top of the right ear and then "walk" back to the left shoulder. At her first attempt post surgery, she won't make it as far as the left ear lobe. She should only "walk" until it begins to hurt and then walk back down again. Repeat that no more than 5x and then stop. I would not do this more that 2-3x/day. Each day she should be able to move a little further up her head. But do have her ask her surgeon if this is OK. Just because mine gave me the green light doesn't mean hers will.

After the stitches have come out and the drain has been removed, she can start doing wall-crawl stretches in the shower. Again, my surgeon OK'd it.

From doing those exercises I got my mobility back fairly quickly.

I would be searching for a physical therapist certifiied in lymphedema now. If you're not sure where to begin your search, check your local breast cancer support group. Someone there should be able to refer you to one. This therapist will be able to educate your wife on exercises and stretches and to answer any questions. If you travel by plane anywhere, she will also be able to fit and measure your wife for a compression sleeve. And no, they do not have to look ugly. Lymphedivas and Juzo make some gorgeous sleeves.

She needs to heal first from her surgery. The drain will help keep the fluids down during the healing process.

If she's anything like me, she'll want to feel like she's doing "something" during that healing process. A breast cancer survivor friend of mine, who had lymph nodes removed from BOTH armpits taught me one stretching exercise to do. It's so simple you can even do it lying down. All she needs to do is place her finger tips on the left shoulder and keep the left arm even with her body. Then she needs to "walk" with the fingertips up her neck, past her left ear and over the top of your head until she can touch the top of the right ear and then "walk" back to the left shoulder. At her first attempt post surgery, she won't make it as far as the left ear lobe. She should only "walk" until it begins to hurt and then walk back down again. Repeat that no more than 5x and then stop. I would not do this more that 2-3x/day. Each day she should be able to move a little further up her head. But do have her ask her surgeon if this is OK. Just because mine gave me the green light doesn't mean hers will.

After the stitches have come out and the drain has been removed, she can start doing wall-crawl stretches in the shower. Again, my surgeon OK'd it.

From doing those exercises I got my mobility back fairly quickly.

I would be searching for a physical therapist certifiied in lymphedema now. If you're not sure where to begin your search, check your local breast cancer support group. Someone there should be able to refer you to one. This therapist will be able to educate your wife on exercises and stretches and to answer any questions. If you travel by plane anywhere, she will also be able to fit and measure your wife for a compression sleeve. And no, they do not have to look ugly. Lymphedivas and Juzo make some gorgeous sleeves.

She needs to heal first from her surgery. The drain will help keep the fluids down during the healing process.

If she's anything like me, she'll want to feel like she's doing "something" during that healing process. A breast cancer survivor friend of mine, who had lymph nodes removed from BOTH armpits taught me one stretching exercise to do. It's so simple you can even do it lying down. All she needs to do is place her finger tips on the left shoulder and keep the left arm even with her body. Then she needs to "walk" with the fingertips up her neck, past her left ear and over the top of your head until she can touch the top of the right ear and then "walk" back to the left shoulder. At her first attempt post surgery, she won't make it as far as the left ear lobe. She should only "walk" until it begins to hurt and then walk back down again. Repeat that no more than 5x and then stop. I would not do this more that 2-3x/day. Each day she should be able to move a little further up her head. But do have her ask her surgeon if this is OK. Just because mine gave me the green light doesn't mean hers will.

After the stitches have come out and the drain has been removed, she can start doing wall-crawl stretches in the shower. Again, my surgeon OK'd it.

From doing those exercises I got my mobility back fairly quickly.

I would be searching for a physical therapist certifiied in lymphedema now. If you're not sure where to begin your search, check your local breast cancer support group. Someone there should be able to refer you to one. This therapist will be able to educate your wife on exercises and stretches and to answer any questions. If you travel by plane anywhere, she will also be able to fit and measure your wife for a compression sleeve. And no, they do not have to look ugly. Lymphedivas and Juzo make some gorgeous sleeves.

I really had no idea what to expect but after 7 1/2 hrs removing nodes from axilla to neck I knew I was going to take advantage of everything my insurance was going to offer in terms of recovery ;  I left surgery w / two drains and still had one when I began my lymphedema therapy –  I think Heidi did say something about my being the first she had treated w / a drain but mostly she was complimentary I was being proactive.

My lymphedema specialist happened to be an occupational therapist ( rather than physical ) so don't limit your choices / search.

Look forward to participating as a first and celebrate that everyday more awareness & victories are happening

I really had no idea what to expect but after 7 1/2 hrs removing nodes from axilla to neck I knew I was going to take advantage of everything my insurance was going to offer in terms of recovery ;  I left surgery w / two drains and still had one when I began my lymphedema therapy –  I think Heidi did say something about my being the first she had treated w / a drain but mostly she was complimentary I was being proactive.

My lymphedema specialist happened to be an occupational therapist ( rather than physical ) so don't limit your choices / search.

Look forward to participating as a first and celebrate that everyday more awareness & victories are happening

I really had no idea what to expect but after 7 1/2 hrs removing nodes from axilla to neck I knew I was going to take advantage of everything my insurance was going to offer in terms of recovery ;  I left surgery w / two drains and still had one when I began my lymphedema therapy –  I think Heidi did say something about my being the first she had treated w / a drain but mostly she was complimentary I was being proactive.

My lymphedema specialist happened to be an occupational therapist ( rather than physical ) so don't limit your choices / search.

Look forward to participating as a first and celebrate that everyday more awareness & victories are happening