Limited use with arms

THeath73

I am not able to stretch my arms out very much and have a weight limit is 10lns due to a Double Mastectomy and having 26 lymph nodes removed (Breast Cancer). What would be a great exercise for me?

AnnPT77

How long ago was your surgery?

If your doctors are telling you never to lift more than 10 pounds ever again . . . that may not be the most current scientifically-based advice. But don't believe me, I'm just a random idiot on the internet! Look for a second opinion, or look at authoritative sources (American Cancer Society is one, though I don't know whether you're in the US or not.) Here are a couple of guides of that sort:

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/treatment/surgery-for-breast-cancer/exercises-after-breast-cancer-surgery.html
https://www.breastcancer.org/managing-life/exercise

Like you, I had bilateral mastectomies, but lymph nodes removed only on the left side, and that side also had extensive radiation therapy, so there's a good bit of scar tissue and tissue necrosis on that side. (I needed both mastectomy and radiation on that side because I did an especially good job of getting cancer on that side: 5 tumors, up to 3.1 cm in size, only one tumor on the right - stage IIII overall.) That surgery plus radiation can cause limitations in range of motion, for sure. It's even fairly common for someone with either lymph nodes removed or radiation after lumpectomy to have "frozen shoulder" or other movement limitations. However, those limitations can respond quite will to specialized physical therapy, IME. I also had been prescribed post-mastectomy exercises to minimize scar tissue development (via a booklet I received from my doctors).

So, what would be a great exercise for you?

If you're still healing, ask your doctor about post-mastectomy stretching exercises to help reduce movement restrictions gradually. (There are some in the the American Cancer Society link above.)

If specialized physical therapy is available, ask for a referral to get that. There's a type of exercise called "Lebed Method" or "Healthy Steps". There are classes in some places, but there is also at least one book, and some YouTube videos from sound sources.

https://ebccp.cancercontrol.cancer.gov/programDetails.do?programId=892493
https://www.gohealthysteps.com/

This is the book (I'm linking Amazon, but there are other ways to get it, of course):

https://www.amazon.com/Thriving-After-Breast-Cancer-Essential/dp/0982531486/

It's an older book by now, but I'm not sure whether anything has supplanted it as a similar resource.

If you want some exercise modes that can work for you before you're fully healed, you certainly can consider walking, jogging, cycling, and other things that mostly involve legs with less upper body emphasis.

Locally, we also had some classes at the local YMCA that targeted breast cancer survivors, and were free for the first season. Those involved a mix of aerobic exercise, yoga, and strength training. I took those classes for a while. Livestrong sponsors some programs similar to these, but those aren't the only ones.

I'm now a long way out from cancer treatment (23+ years now). Within a couple of years of treatment, I joined a breast cancer survivors' rowing team, and was even enrolled in one of the early research studies that helped to demonstrate that repetitive-resistance upper body exercise was not a lymphedema risk, and in fact appeared to reduce lymphedema incidence.

I also started weight lifting after that initial year or so it took to be fully healed. My surgeon told me that weight training would be safe, as long as I progressed methodically and conservatively to avoid injury, because actual injury does increase lymphedema risk.

I now row lots (up to 4 days a week in Summer on water, usually more like 3 days machine rowing weekly in Winter), and still lift weights in the rowing off season. I also bike (paved trails in Summer, stationary in Winter), swim a little sometimes, do some stretching/yoga, and generally do anything else I fee like, as long as I don't feel there's significant injury risk. I have only very mild, minor movement limitation from scar tissue and such, though it took some work, time, and patience to get there. I have never had lymphedema, and my strength and mobility are both much improved from the post-surgical phase.

I hope you're able to find some exercises that work for you, and that can help you make progress in flexibility and strength: Best wishes!