Lymphedema or a recurrance

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kdholt
kdholt Member Posts: 229
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

I am hoping someone has had experience in this area and can help me understand what is going on. I developed a mild case of lymphadema this past Oct. after an injury to my arm. Now for the last 4 days i have had pain in arm pit of same arm. I have been feeling for lumps, etc. and can find/feel nothing. So what are some things that could cause this pain? Can you get lymphdema in arm pit too? I know it has only been 4 days and i should not panic yet-but what can i say? I worry a lot. Also, still have the arm lymphedema-it got some better, but never went completely away.

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  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited March 2011

    Kdholt, you can definitely get LE (lymphedema) in the arm pit and chest/trunk and breast, but with the new symptom, before you decide it's LE, it's best to have your doctor check it out for peace of mind, and then, when you're all cleared, you can start to treat it as LE.

    Sounds like it's time for a re-assessment by your LE therapist anyway, but not until your physician clears you.

    Then you won't worry.

    Kira

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  • kdholt
    kdholt Member Posts: 229
    edited March 2011

    can LE be painful like that?

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  • toomuch
    toomuch Member Posts: 901
    edited March 2011

    kdholt-LE can definitely be painful. It seems to be more so in the trunk and breast. I have truck, axillary and arm LE. The only place I have pain is in  the part of my axilla where my arm meets my trunk. I agree with KIRA, schedule an appointment but LE is quite possible.

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  • kdholt
    kdholt Member Posts: 229
    edited March 2011

    I hate going to appts. they just create more stress in my life and I am trying to get back to some sort of normalcy. What exactly is trunk LE and Axillary LE?

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited March 2011

    Hi, KD,

    When we have bc surgery and rads the area that's affected by the damaged nodes is the entire affected quadrant of the body (think of it like a chicken wing quarter). So, from the waist to the neck, and from the front centerline to the back centerline is all affected by the functioning of the damaged lymph nodes. Arm lymphedema is the most common, or at least the most often diagnosed, but we can develop lymphedema anywhere in that quadrant. Doctors seem to know little about it and often fail to diagnose it, but treating it (with MLD and appropriate compression) can reduce not only any swelling, but also the pain and the risk of cellulitis.

    I sure do hear you on the stress of more medical appointments, and how hard it is to make yourself do that. Is there someone (family member, close friend?) who can call and make the appointment for you, and maybe even go with you? The only way THROUGH this particular muddle is to keep going. Once you have a doctor's all-clear you'll not only feel world's less stressed, but you'll be on your way to getting the lymphedema into control and avoiding nasty complications.

    Here's a page about truncal lymphedema:
    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/breast_chest_trunckal_lymphedema.htm

    Cheering for you, KD -- keep us posted, and let us know how we can help.

    Onward!
    Binney

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  • Suzybelle
    Suzybelle Member Posts: 920
    edited March 2011

    Hi, kd:

    I am so sorry you are dealing with this, but wise Binney is 100% correct - the only way through is to keep going.

    And yeah, LE can be really painful.  I find that my armpit gets a weird sore feeling when my arm LE and truncal LE is really acting up...and it gets to feeling doughy and spongy.  There's a place right below the armpit on my side where all of the fluid collects - it gets very marshmallowy.  Obviously, I am not a medical person...Tongue out  And marshmallowy ain't so great unless you're easter candy!!!!!!

    My LE therapist says that particular place is one of the hardest to get fluid out of once it's accumulated, but she gives it her best shot, bless her heart.

    Hang in there, call the dr., let him check you out and get into a good LE therapist - you will feel loads better.  Just don't use any of my terminology or he may send you to the shrink.

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