Oven burn on my arm ....

dltnhm

I have not been diagnosed with lymphedema but am at risk. Had great PT for cording and excellent advice from my therpist who is the lymphedema specialist at the hospital.

I am baking and burned my arm on my biceps no less ... My friend told me I am creative with the placement of the burn if nothing else. Love my stones to bake on - but not so much today with this.

Any advice? 

Thanks in advance!

Diana

Binney4

Hi, Diana--so sorry about this burn!

You want to treat the burn promptly. If it's bad you need to get it seen today. Adequate medical care at this point is your best defense.

Lymph accumulates at an injury site because the lymph fluid is the body's mechanism for hauling away dead cells and bacteria. One signal for sending in the lymph is pain, so you want to not only treat the burn but treat the pain.

Burns are an infection risk, so you'll need to watch carefully throughout the healing period for any sign of infection and get help for it promptly. Here's information about what to watch for:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Emergencies_and_Medical_Care_lymphedema.htm

To help reduce your lymphedema risk with this injury, besides the above, elevate you arm as much as possible--on the back of the couch if you're sitting, on pillows at night. Drink LOTS of water (helps dilute the lymph fluid and keep it flowing--and it helps with healing too). Pause often throughout the day to take some deep abdominal breaths (stimulates the largest lymph vessel in our bodies to assist with lymph flow).

Take it easy, and keep us posted! Sure hope you were baking something chocolate so you can relax and enjoy it while you heal!
Binney

dltnhm

Hi Binney,

So sorry that I let this go and did not respond when you took the time to reply to my post.

I appreciate so much that you did this and just dropped the ball not responding promptly.

It was a pretty small burn - but a burn all the same. Made certain that everything was clean and and taken care of and put preventative antibiotic ointment also. It healed up nicely.

Drank the water :-) - I'm a water drinker anyhow ... and elevated!

Everything seems to be just fine.

Have flown since then and wore my sleeve before, during and after ... I'm vigilant with this arm and thus far have had success.

Am seeing my PT for stretching and range of motion following my radiation in September and she is my LT (heads the department) and also treats me for LE prevention with MLD.

I appreciate so much how much you and others have shared and continue to share on BCO.

I was baking cookies for my boys :-) (There were chocolate chips involved!)

Thanks again!

Diana