Swollen hand?

LovesToFly

Is this lymphedema? I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy in November 2015, and lost two lymph nodes.

Yesterday, out of the blue, I could not get my ring off the finger on my right (affected) hand. The day before that the same ring had actually fallen off that hand in the car and I had to find it, when I was playing around with it because I tend to twist my rings.

I didn't think much of it yesterday because sometimes my fingers swell when I have a lot of salty food or whatever but this morning my fingers are still swollen and I could not get the ring off without soaping it up. Upon closer inspection of my hand it appears that my hand is swollen, not badly but I can see that the area between my index finger and thumb looks a bit enlarged. My hand also feels a bit stiff when I open and close my fingers. My wrist and arm all look as usual.

If it doesn't clear up I guess I will go see a physical therapist, but I'm wondering if there's anything I can do in the meantime to help out ( I am back at work and work full-time, so I don't anticipate this PT thing happening quickly). I've looked at self lymphoedema massage, can it help? Should I be going to a medical supply store for a glove?

Obviously, I am drinking lots of fluids, and trying to lower my salt intake.

Thanks in advance!

vlnrph

Could possibly be LE however I see that you recently switched fron tamoxifen to an aromatase inhibitor which might also be a factor, at least in terms of the stiffness. Hopefully you have pre-op limb measurements on record in order to have a reference baseline.

Good idea on consuming fluids. Elevation, by resting the hand/forearm on some pillows, is another way to help.

There are some mild compression gloves like Isotoner available for arthritis, etc. but I wouldn't wear those extensively until a proper evaluation is done.

tessu

StepUp-SpeakOut is a great source of information about Lymphedema. I'd suggest keeping rings off that hand until you get a definite opinion on the swelling, best would be from a lymphedema therapist or PT with experience treating lymphedema. Doctors themselves may not know as much. Yes, it might be the start of lymphedema, but it's possible to control. I've had hand and arm LE since about six weeks post-mastectomy; had nine nodes removed, luckily all clean. Good luck

Binney4

Jill, bummer! Do leave the rings off until you have a chance to see a well-trained lymphedema therapist. Not only can they become "stuck" (some of our gals have had to have them cut off--aaaargh!) but with swelling they can trap fluid in that finger and make it difficult to manage on-going.

Here are some ideas on how to manage while you wait for an appointment:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/How_You_Can_Cope_wi...

And here's how to find a well-trained lymphedema therapist near you:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified...

And finally, early diagnosis makes a huge difference in how long it takes to regain control and how easy it is to handle over time. The sooner the better.

Hope you have clear answers and great care soon! Please do keep us posted on what you discover.

Gentle hugs,
Binney