Rib Pain...need advice please

CAW--truncal LE can be incredibly painful, also after radiation it's not uncommon to get rib pain. There could be a couple of things going on at once.

Ironically, I did a Livestrong Cancer Care Plan today, and the radiation side effects were all about lung:

Radiation fields involving the lung can lead to scarring (fibrosis), inflammation (pneumonitis), and restrictive or obstructive lung disease. Risk for these problems is increased with higher doses of radiation and radiation given in combination with certain chemotherapies (bleomycin, busulfan, BCNU and CCNU) and for those survivors who also had part of the lung surgically removed (lobectomy). Survivors who have had radiation to the lung are strongly encouraged not to smoke, as this can greatly increase the risk of problems. Annual history and physical by a healthcare provider should include a pulmonary exam and review of possible symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, wheezing). Survivors should receive annual flu vaccines and the pneumococcal vaccine. Physicians may consider chest x-rays or pulmonary function tests for those at highest risk or a change in pulmonary status.

Scarring within the lungs can result from radiation, and uncommonly this scarring may affect blood vessels. Any survivor coughing up blood should be evaluated immediately by a physician, either in the office or the emergency room.

In an ideal world, you could be checked by your lymphedema therapist, and your GP would actually try and problem-solve this and not tell you it's anxiety!

What is with these doctors denying your reality: you have truncal LE, it IS painful, you may need additional LE therapy and your doctor needs to check out the causes of pleuritic pain--make sure you don't have an infection, inflammed ribs (costochondritis), or pleurisy.

The NLN issued a statement that LE is painful--what will it take for this team to acknowledge that your pain and shortness of breath are real and deserve investigation and treatment?

Kira

CAW, if you have subclinical LE (Stage 0, no visible swelling but still have fluid in the tissues), then a sleeve and gauntlet or glove can really help, especially when exercising or traveling. I shouldn't make the condition worse, but will give much-needed support to your lymphatic system as it tries to improve its efficiency. The issue is to make sure the fit is good:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/proper_fitting_of_lymphedema_garments.htm

For truncal LE there are a lot of possibilities that are firmer than a sports shirt and may be really helpful for you. Look over all the garment suggestions at the bottom of this page:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/breast_chest_trunckal_lymphedema.htm
I use a WearEase camisole and find it useful for almost everything. OneBadBoob swears by a well-fitting Bellisse bra (but for that you have to have a very knowledgeable fitter). When I have trouble with flares I add a SwellSpot or a "chocolate bar" to help bring the swelling down.

It really sounds like you could use some help from a LE therapist who's experienced with truncal LE. Any chance of that?

Kira's more organized than I am, so she'll be quicker about rustling up the LE/pain information. 

Sure hope some of this helps! Barbe, I'm really sorry you've been coping with this too. Very crummy stuff!

Gentle, gentle hugs!
Binney

CAW--if they can fit you for a sleeve, I'd go for it--also get hand compression--likely all you need is a gauntlet--not an expensive glove, but you don't want the sleeve to push the fluid into the hand.

CAW, my horse died in 2008, but he was a light roan appy and never got clean, and I remember how hard I'd try and brush it out of him. Maybe a few strokes, then switch to the good arm, and please wear a sleeve if it makes your arm hurt.

They do make inexpensive compression gloves by Isotoner : my sister, who does not have LE, but her hands swell when she hikes, swears by them

http://www.totes-isotoner.com/category/isotoner/therapeutic+gloves/compression+gloves.do?nType=2

I found these cheap gloves with sleeves on a stepupspeakout link--don't know anything about them

http://www.pattersonmedical.com/app.aspx?cmd=get_product&id=97588

Here's the rationale for why you compress the hand with a sleeve:

http://lymphedivas.com/lymphedema/gauntletandsleeve/

Try the advil, and know that costchondritis can last a long time.

I recently sent my surgeon the seroma article and got a brush off email back: "Thanks for the update"--hope she reads it. It never hurts to present evidence...Let us know how it goes.

Kira