De Quervains and lymphedema

Well, I might be a fellow sufferer. Last weekend I decided to crochet for the first time in about 20 years. I got half a scarf done. And all week the tendon from my thumb to wrist is very painful. I know I overdid it, but I was so glad to have a craft I could do with my sleeves on. This week I took some B-complex and NSAIDs as well. Working against the sleeve's natural tension bothered me too, so I am taking it off at dinner to see if things will settle down a bit. I am afraid to try heat. have you tried cold?

Anna...I don't have LE, but thought I would respond anyways as I do worry about it when surgery or shots are involved....I developed bilateral deQuervanes tendonitis in both wrists while on Aromasin....two shots of cortisone in each wrists followed by surgery....luckily the surgery was successful...as you said, NASIDS didn't bring any relief, nor did the splints....

Hi annadou, My bet it is from the AI. I had tendonitis in my non lymphodema wrist last year and had it for about 6-8 months.  I refused cortisone as I did not want to add that to all the other things I take.  I also do a lot of typing at work and wore a hand/wrist support that partially immobilised the hand for about 9 months until it eventually went away.  Took a long time to recover, however I have no doubt it is the Femara that caused it.  I have had different body parts playing up over the last 3.5 years since going on Femara.

Ched

For DeQuervain's you want to immobilize the thumb, and I once found a brace in the drug store that did the trick for my husband: I used to make thumb spicca splints for patients, but they sure were unwieldy. I would think a thumb immobilizer brace, or a good carpal tunnel splint would help and can be worn over garments.

Kira 

I've been diagnosed with De Quervains on my lymphedema side. MLD therapist thinks it may have Beencaused by the lymphedema sleeve so suggested I get a one piece sleeve/glove. Mind you she also did that lymphedema sufferers are more prone to conditions like this.

Has anyone had success with using a one piece sleeve/glove? I'm now using a very uncomfortable custom splint and physio says if it doesn't help I'd need a cortisone shot. But being I have lymphedema I don't even want to consider this. Anyone have some suggestions? I did take a six week break from letrozole (Femara) and the De Quervains didn't resolve so my oncologist says letrozole didn't cause it. But letrozole causedlots of other pain so I'm switching to Exemesthane.

Just looking for anyone who's gone through this and been able to get it resolved withoutcortisone shots or surgery

damiana - I am probably facing surgery in the Axilla where LE is occurring. So please let me know how your surgery is goes. Fortunately the LE therapist contacted my DR and said she really needed to see me. The LE was highly unusual since it was contralateral. I will see a surgeon soon, but probably any surgery is a few months after Arimidex/Ibrance has a chance to shrink the turmor. This is my 3rd round with BC, and the Oncologist strongly feels that each occurrence is a new one rather than a reoccurrence. First Dx 2009, left dense lumpy breast, lumpectomy, 1-2 nodes removed negative, radiation, tamoxifen 5 years. Second Dx 2016, left, bi-lateral after chemo, 1-2 nodes removed negative, started anastrozole, quit due to SEs toook Tamoxifen. Third Dx Sept 2019 right side Axilla. Even though I had a bi-lateral in 2016, some breast tissue remains. PET scan shows no mestasis. Genetic profile shows none of the 20+ markers they look for.