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THE NEED FOR Rehabilitation

More than 178,000 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Most will be treated surgically. If you are one of these women, a number of resources are available to provide you with emotional support and counseling after surgery. While these are an important part of your recovery, they may not address your physical adjustments and needs. Loss of strength and function of the shoulder often accompanies the surgery to the breast and/or lymph nodes. Madison Spine & Physical Therapy has developed the Breast Cancer Rehabilitation program to help you to return to your pre-surgery level of daily activity. This program is staffed by a physical therapist trained in the special needs of the breast cancer survivor.

WHAT DOES Our Program    

INCLUDE?

In collaboration with the patient’s physician, each program is individually designed based upon the patient’s needs and current stages of treatment. In an atmosphere of wellness and hope, each woman is provided with the support and education needed to identify and manage the after effects over which she has control. Following a comprehensive evaluation, a licensed therapist will design a program to meet your own needs. Your program may include any of these components:

• Range of Motion exercises especially for the trunk and shoulder

• Gradual strengthening and conditioning exercises

• Desensitization of hypersensitive soft tissue

• Scar tissue management

• Pain management and relaxation techniques

• Postural retraining

• Education on lymphedema prevention

WHO CAN BENEFIT

 From Our Program

This program is beneficial if you are experiencing after-effects of a mastectomy , lumpectomy or reconstructive surgeries, whether the procedure was recent or some time ago.

Post-Mastectomy information regarding physical therapy

 

Size, location and type of mastectomy are important considerations when choosing the type of treatment. Exercises to maintain shoulder ROM and arm mobility may be prescribed as early as 24 hours after surgery. These exercises are important in restoring strength and promoting good circulation. Specific exercises suggested by a PT may change as the healing progresses. Scarring may develop around the area where lymph nodes were removed. This results in decreased arm mobility requiring more intense PT. Approximately 10-20% of patient develop lymphedema after axillary lymph node removal. If lymph node surgery is followed by radiation, your risk of lymphedema is higher than for other women. Early PT intervention can reduce the risk of developing lymphedema, minimize scar tissue and fibrosis. If you do develop lymphedema it can be treated with elevation, elastic bandages and specialized physical therapy. Lymphedema is a chronic condition that requires continuing treatment. This complication can arise at any time, even years after surgery. After mastectomy surgery, patients may experience tightness around the surgical site. This is caused by scar tissue formation. The result can be very dense tissue under the incision, which is painful and can restrict a woman’s arm range of motion. The restricted range of motion puts a woman at risk for a painful condition known as frozen shoulder. Early treatment by a PT will help women regain functional range of motion and strength. Numbness and / or nerve sensitivity at the surgical site can develop post-mastectomy. Manual PT can help restore sensation and relieve nerve pain. In severe cases, a chronic condition, known as post-mastectomy pain syndrome, may develop. This is caused by scar tissue impinging on nerves. PT can be very effective at releasing scar tissue and reducing this nerverelated pain. Axillary node dissection can lead to a painful condition known as cording or axillary web syndrome. Cording presents as a moderate to severe painful tightening, which appears as “cords” emanating from the armpit and extending down the arm. Cording significantly restricts range of motion and arm function. Manual PT and therapeutic stretching helps to resolve this condition quickly. Radiation treatment after mastectomy surgery can exacerbate posture and range of motion problems, causing fibrosis and skin tightness. Manual PT can remediate these issues and may prevent them from ever becoming a problem.