Wearing compression and Rads

ProudMom_Wife

Hi,

Just wanted to share with you some information.  Don't know if this is on the thread anywhere, did a quick search and did not see it, so I just wanted to put it out there.  I know everyone is different, but if this could help anyone with having a conversation with a Physical Therapy Specialist or Lymphadema Specialist I wanted to put it out there.

I had a BMX and have been seeing a PT/LE specialist because I am really concerned about LE, and had slight cording after the surgery.  Everything is fine at this point but I have gotten a prescription for compression sleeves as a precaution.

I called my PT/LE the other day to inform her that I had decided to do RADs for my supraclavical and axilla lymph nodes.  She said that I should wear my compression as much as possible during the entire therapy and afterwards too for sometime, because RADs will put a strain on the lymphanic system, and this could possibly help me stay ahead of the game.  She said for me to wear the compression sleeves when working on the PC, doing stretches, exercises, housework, etc.... and not to wear it when I am being radiated, sleeping or just plain doing nothing except resting.  

So if you have any concerns or problem with LE, and will be doing RADs, please talk with a specialist to see if this may be of help/assistance for you. 

mrsnjband

I was measured & advised to get LE sleeves after surgery to have on hand if I flew & was in high altitude.  No advise to be cautious during rads.  I started to have issues about a year after rads and saw an LE therapist last year when I started having arm pain.  Glad I went when I did before things got worse and my LE is still mild.  NJ

crog234

I was told by my physcal therapist to wear the compression sleeve during rads.  I asked my rad doctor and she said it didn't matter if I wore it or not...   Confusing and wondering what I should do.  My rads won't start for awhile as I am still doing chemo (2 more).

Cindy

Letlet

Confused too, been wearing while getting zapped, thought it was the right thing to do.

kira66715

Here's my take on it: I have LE, got it before rads and it's in my hand and I wore compression gloves through rads. I also work in rad onc, and several of our patients have LE in their arms (and breasts and trunks) and the LE therapist encourages them to wear compression during therapy, as it's a time of stress on the lymphatic system and the compression increases interstitial pressure and lymphatic return.

So, I'd say to wear compression if you're swelling or at risk of swelling, or like a patient I just saw today--she had 17 nodes out, and she's almost through rads, and her arm is aching, and her measurements are up a cm all through the at risk arm, so I wrote a script for a sleeve and gauntlet.

Kira

ProudMom_Wife

Thank you for your comments.  Perhaps I misunderstood my PT/LE.  If I did, my apologies for the confusion.  

I will definitely go back and check with her and talk with my RO about it also.  

That's is what I love about his website.  Finding out additional information so I can question my treatment.

Thank you ladies, you are the best!

kira66715

ProufMom_Wife, No need to apologize--ever! I re-read your post, and your LE therapist said to take off the compression while being radiated--and if there's any chance it will be in the field, that's a good idea, and you don't want to wear daytime garments at night--they're not meant to be worn when you sleep and can twist and form a "tourniquet" and if you don't swell when you're resting, then by all means, don't wear them.

I was just writing about the general concept of wearing compression garments--as needed--when you're getting rads, if you're swelling or having symptoms.

I think we're exactly on the same page.

Here's a page on compression garments:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/sleeves_gauntlets_for_lymphedema.htm

Kira 

ProudMom_Wife

Thank you Kira, I will be checking out that page now.