Does trunk pain get better after exchange surgery?

mnmbeck

I have mild LE (I hate it, but my therapist calls it mild).  I also have mild 'truncal edema', which seems impossible to see from the outside, and even my therapist says she feels very, very little congestion there.  But, I feel it as 'swollen breast' (feel from the inside....not the outside), and feels deeply bruised inside on that side.  I know it is bad because of the TE.  I don't know what will happen to the LE with the exchange, but does anybody know if the softer implant feels a little better?  I feel like my ability to move normally is already impaired because of the TE's, but when that 'breast' is feeling swollen, it is even more difficult...especially if I have to bend forward.  It hurts.  I am starting to get scared that I will always feel this, even with the implants.  Has anybody had this experience?

Estel

mnmbeck - I was not diagnosed with LE until after my exchange surgery but the LE started when I had my TE's.  

I had moderate/severe pain on my left side (cancer side) from the moment I woke up after my BMX and TE placement.  It only got worse the further I was expanded.  

(I do have good news, but it gets worse before it gets better) 

I woke up in tears after my exchange surgery because I had heard all of these ladies that had immediate relief and I did not.  That familiar ache and pain down my left side was still there.

I never was diagnosed with truncal or breast LE so I don't know why I had the pain I had but the good news is that it DID eventually go away.

When I finally saw an LE OT two months after my exchange surgery, she performed myofascial release on me and the relief was immediate.  Amazing the difference.  She also thought my TE had rested on my ulnar nerve because whenever she did MLD on that side and on that arm I had tingles from my fingers all the way up my arm.

So, my situation is different than yours.  But I did get some relief after some therapy.  

The TE's are horrible.  True torture devices IMO.

But I am three and half years out of my exchange surgery and I am pleased with the results.  And the implants are sooooo much softer than the TE's.  

Love and hugs to you.

Keep us posted. xo