Burned arm on countertop grill...what do I need to do?

cowgal

I was cooking sausage on our indoor countertop grill (like a George Foreman where it is covered). Anyway, one of the sausages fell through the back when I lifted the top. I reached over the top with my lymphedema arm to grab the sausage and burned a pretty good portion of my forearm (4" x 4") on the top of the grill. The area is pink but no broken skin. Do I just need to monitor the area and continue doing my daily lymphedema massages or is there something else I should be doing?

Binney4

Ouch! Pretty much ruined a great meal, too. So sorry!

Definitely monitor closely, and review the warning signs of cellulitis so you're prepared to act quickly if need be:

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

DO NOT be tempted to ignore any signs of trouble, as getting help quickly is critical.

Do you have an on-call nurse for medical advise with your insurance company? If so, since its a weekend, I'd call them and see what they suggest for burn treatment, whether to use antibiotic and a dressing or what. I can't imagine wearing compression over an area that's burned like that, even if it's only reddened, so I'd skip that until there's some healing. If you're doing LE massage be careful not to irritate that area. (The moving of lymph fluid with LE massage is not a problem in itself, and it should certainly help, just avoid your injured skin.)

You're likely to have some additional swelling as your lymph system rushes "reinforcements" (read: more lymph fluid) to the injured area, to carry away dead cells and other "garbage." So elevate your arm as much as possible today and tomorrow to encourage lymph flow out of your arm. Some gentle exercises specific to moving lymph should also help. (e.g.- slowly open and close your fist, one finger at a time; circle your hands slowly at the wrist a few times in both directions; arm out in front of you, slowly bend at the elbow and touch your nose a few times; raise your arm in the air and pump your fist--in that order)

Take care, and get better quick!

Gentle hugs,
Binney

cowgal

Thank you Binney!

purple32

UGH! So sorry - as usual Binney is right on the money with this !

Get better SOON...let us know how it goes,

MinusTwo

Cowgal - be sure to come back & let us know how you are.

As usual, what would we do without Binney!! You my lady are a true treasurer.

cowgal

Thanks for your concern. I looked at the link Binney posted for guidance and also followed her advice to try to keep it elevated. I did not use compression Sunday but did yesterday and also went back to wearing my night garment last night due to having to drive 5 hours to go for radiation again all this week. Sunday night I put a light lotion on it and did the same yesterday. I seem to have lucked out and it is getting better rather than worse. One edge of it is a little worse than the rest of the burn but still improving and I am watching it close to make sure as it heals, it does not get any broken skin. I have my weekly meeting with my radiation oncologist after my radiation treatment today and I am going to ask her about it to make sure she thinks that it is doing well and that their is nothing else she thinks I need to do.

rljes

I was stung by a wasp on my "cancer" side, on the wrist. I had been told not to have any scratches, bites on that side. I put antibiotic cream on it - forgot about it - then was a my Pulmonary Dr's office and he noticed the bite and it was spreading - like a red line toward my main vein! He immediately put me on major antibiotics. Lesson Learned.

hugz4u

good for your dr and you to be proactive.Both ofyou are smart.