Cords of Discomfort

For the past several weeks, I have been experiencing a fair bit of discomfort when reaching up over my head with my right arm -- the same side that is lacking a natural breast. Initially, I attributed my soreness to having pushed too hard to complete push-ups or planks during morning workout, or perhaps over-jiggling during a run. However, the stretching and pulling sensation continued to worsen until I made an astonishing discovery last weekend. I actually have what feels like a cord or rope right under the surface of my skin running from under my breast to my waist.

It does seem rather unfair that, just when I contemplate settling down to "normal" life, another complication arrives to shatter my world, rather like the proverbial pie-in-the-face.

Why didn't my plastic surgeon inform me that a common complication following any breast surgery is something called "cording" or "Mondor's disease"?? Mondor's disease is the inflammation, thrombosis and fibrosis of small veins, caused when veins are cut while making the incisions necessary for reconstruction of the breast.

While googling, "Why do I appear to have a rope under my skin??", most websites showed gruesome pictures of "cords" running through the armpit after lymph node removal following a mastectomy. Thank heaven I didn't experience that! It took a bit more perseverance to locate information about cording starting under the breast and heading south.

The receptionist at Dr. M's office wasn't surprised at all when I described my symptoms to her, and confirmed that it is indeed Mondor's disease. She suggested massage, warm compresses, and ibuprofen. I've tried to remember the massage part, and it does help quite a bit. Being a stomach sleeper, the worst pain happens when I roll onto my stomach while asleep and reach my arm up to cushion my head. That pain is intense enough to wake me up.

Apparently, the cordS -- yes, I have two now -- should resolve themselves within one to six grueling months.

The pessimist in me begs the question, "What next??".

The optimist responds . . .