Brachio Vets...pleas e chime in!

I am 4 1/2 weeks out from brachioplasty and have started doing gentle stretching and have noticed that when I push out my right arm, there is a really tight sensation from the inner aspect of the elbow to the wrist and man, does it PULL!


Anyone else go through that, and did it resolve with continued stretching? How long might this continue?

Thanks,

Soapy

Yep, totally had that. It did go away w/ the stretching. I still have some numbness in my lower inner arm on just the left side. Think it's the nerve or something but does come and go and gets better w/ massage. Just remember to keep stretching, the more you do it the better. I would raise my hand above my head then pull my hand back towards my forearme to stretch the inner part of the arm. Seemed to work the best for me.

Sonya

Thanks, Sonya! I was so hoping that was the case. If it kept on it would have been  huge problem. I am right handed and it could be a real drag.

Appreciate the input!!

Teri

Hi Soapy,
Well after a Brachio and 1 revision and 1 more revision to come I kind of feel like an arm lift pro...LOL

Anyhow pulling is normal.....TIME was the main thing that helped for me.
I found it pulled the worst when I bent the arm at the elbow and put it under my head when sleeping.
If you over stretch things you will also stretch your incision and it will leave you with a wider (and possibly thicker) scar.

FYI - I could not fully stretch out my arms comfortably until week 6.....after that it was rare I had any big pulling issues.  Healing just takes time......

Thanks, Moosie! I feel better all ready.

Did I ever mention that Moose was my nickname in High School? LOL

Teri

LOL on the nickname...

It's a name I got when my nephew was learning to speak....he couldn't say Aunt Ruthie....it sounded like he called me Moosie so it stuck.  I've been the family "moose" for 28 years now...LOL!  Nobody at home calls me Ruth (unless I'm in trouble...LOL)

TTFN

So you are Aunt Moosie...my friend's neice didnt understand the diff between aunt and uncle and she called me Uncle Moose. LOL  KIds!!

Hi Soapy,
I'm 21 months post-op and still feel it occasionally. 

OMG...that is a long time to feel that tightness. Hope I can stretch it out!!

Teri

Yes, I had very similar tightness that actually continues (but only in my armpit) even a year after the surgery.  Stretching it on my own and then having my massage therapist REALLY stretch it has helped, but ther is still some tightness.

Lora