Road Map to Recovery
- Mastectomy
- 6 weeks of tissue healing
- Rehab to normalize shoulder mobility and core strength –> Return to function
- Reconstructive breast surgery
- Rehab to continue shoulder strengthening and activity specific –> Return to activity/sport/work
After a long journey, your physical and emotional well-being may be drained. Changes to how your breasts and body look and feel may influence how you feel about intimacy as well.
Find ways to relax.
Your body has gone through many changes, and you may experience sensations differently than before. Finding ways to relax your body and decrease tension can help make intimacy more pleasant.
Since you will be a pro belly breather after reading this blog, this method is one of the first relaxation techniques we teach. The slow controlled breathing actually helps to down train your nervous system. What does that mean? It allows more oxygen to circulate through your body, which helps decrease tension and stress in your muscles, and slows your heart rate and rate of breathing.
Other methods that may help with relaxation are aromatherapy, changing the environment (lighting, bedding, music), and performing any activity you are comfortable with prior to getting more intimate.
Communicate with your partner.
What are you comfortable or not comfortable with? What will help you get aroused and more intimate? Let them know if you want to start slow and if you have any boundaries you would like to set.
What positions feel good?
This is part of communication with your partner. Certain positions may cause discomfort, depending on your surgery and where the incision sites and scar tissues are located. Talk to your therapist if there are particular positions you are having difficulties with to see if anything can be addressed with physical therapy.
Take your time.
Healing times vary with each individual. Take your next step when you are ready.
We often recommend you work with other healthcare providers since our specialty is in getting you moving. If intimacy is something you would like to get back to, ask your doctor if they have any recommendations, or search for practitioners near you at American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists.
If you have more questions, please book an appointment with Dr. Ann DeGrey, PT, DPT, SCS or Dr. Lei Lee, PT, DPT for more information and to develop a plan!