Please tell me I am just being paranoid about my leg

cookiegal

I had an accident 6 weeks ago and got 2 small but very deep cuts on my shin.

There has been a lot of swelling around it. It's ok in the am but gets bad at night or during activities.

I am just so freaked out I might have leg LE.

(I have had arm LE since 2010.)

It has gotten slowly better, but then sometimes it swells again.

I called my LE doctor, she is willing to take a look at it, but I have been busy and it's a trip.

The doctor who gave me stitches saw it three weeks later and thought it was a hemotoma and put me on a short course of antibiotics. He says the cut is so low, that it would not be leg LE but I am still scared.

Maybe I just have trauma from the whole thing and I am freaking myself out, I hope so.

Binney4

Cookiegal, bummer!

How about some MLD for the leg? It will likely help no matter what that swelling is all about. Here are two videos--upper leg and lower leg, by Heidi Roe at MSU:

Hope those links work. If not I'll try again. Keep us posted on your progress! Chocolate always helps these things…
Gentle hugs,
Binney

cookiegal

Thanks, it's a little tricky because there is still a wound in the area. It's closed but it's still there.

I have been elevating. Maybe I will vist my LE this week.

cookiegal

So the news is worse than I thought.

Below the wound, leg is 1 CM larger.

Francis thinks swelling could be permanent.

She doesn't think it's likely to progress the same as LE, but not ruling it out.

I am going to try off the shelf garments.

all I could get for tonight was a hot pink compression sock for soccer.

FINALLY no one is looking at my sleeve.

Binney4

Cookie, I'm so sorry to hear this! A couple of years ago my LE spread to one leg. I buy knee-hi stockings from BrightLifeDirect, as their prices are good and their customer service is wonderful. I love their microfiber knee-highs (I use 15-20 mg/Hg). Comfortable, easy to get clean, and they wear really well. They're quick with their orders too. I tried the kind that leave the toes free but they crept up my foot during the day--hated 'em. So I order the closed toe. They also have others. All the Allegro brand that I've tried have been great. I tried a Medi too but didn't like it at all--just didn't seem to fit right. Allegro makes one that's all cotton too--nice for summer, but not as pretty as the microfiber.

If you don't already know how to "clear" the groin nodes and abdomen, make sure your LE therapist teaches you--clearing them a couple of times a day helps draw the fluid out of the leg.

Did you ask her about MLD for the leg? Sure did wonders for me after a broken leg some years ago. (And that is not the leg I have LE in!)

Chocolate would be entirely appropriate. And huge hugs,
Binney

cookiegal

So I went to the LE yesterday and slept with the compression garment and a little bandage for extra pressure, it does look better.

I got the closed toe too.

I have to be honest I HATE wearing the stocking. I wear mostly skirts, and this time of year sandals. I practically only wear socks when I am exercising. It makes my shoe feel slippery and my leg hot.

I also wear a compression camisole that kind of is held in place by wearing not too slippery panties, so I really don't wear hose much.

For what it's worth the LE and the fitter were quite a bit more optimistic about this than the doctor, so we will see.

The good news is that is looks much better today after sleeping in the stocking. (Which I know technically you are not supposed to do, but it seems to work ok for my arm.)

Thanks!

Binney4

Cookie, legs are a bit different than arms in that regard. I sleep with a stocking on my leg; wouldn't do it on my arm. If this turns out to be an on-going issue (but I'm optimistic too, so I don't expect it will), then a CircAid JuxtaFit is a comfortable, easy-to-use, and very effective nighttime option:

http://www.amazon.com/Circaid-Juxta-Premium-Leggin...

Hope this clears up completely--and soon!

(And yes, summer with the stupid stocking hanging out there for all to see is a major bummer. More chocolate!)
Binney

cookiegal

Compression is helping for sure. Just want my old leg back.

cookiegal

Down one CM today.

Binney4

Yes! Onward! (Slow business--ugh!)
Binney

hugz4u

cookie, I'm glad your working on your leg issue. Your smart to let things not spiral.these boards are so valuable. I had not been on in a while and had a problem.binney rescued me and educated all of us for future reference

cookiegal

I really didn't realize how relatively common it was for LE to move into the leg. (The doctor who did the stitches said such a low injury made this impossible.)

I just met someone yesterday who has both too.

I am still hoping when the leg is fully healed it will be ok. But there is no real line when something is or isn't LE, there is just swollen or not swollen.

glennie19

Cookie: I hope it resolves for you! I would not have thought LE could move into the leg either. Lots of chocolate!!

crystalphm

I have mild leg LE on the cancer side of my mastectomy. It is mild, but I can see it. I wear compression when I notice it and it is just plain miserable. I do measure my legs and jot down notes to be sure things stay in control. And sometimes my ear swells too! All on the breast cancer side. I must have a very sluggish lymph system. So I do massage every day.

cookiegal

so the compression works well, but the swelling does come back in the heat.