Tender Spots

Options
ck55
ck55 Member Posts: 346
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

Hello All. I don't know what triggered it but I am experiencing a flare of my LE (seeing an LE therapist tomorrow). I am doing the MLD and wearing compression during the day. I have never had to wrap. That may change tomorrow.

Anyway, this flare has caused swelling to spread up into and around my elbow. That has never happened before. The last flare I had was signaled swelling in my hand.

What I am wondering about is a sore/tender spot I now have just above my elbow when I touch it there. Almost like it is bruised (but there is  no visible bruise). Is this something that happens with LE sometimes? Anyone else ever experience anything like this?

Obviously I am hoping this is somehow related to LE and not something more sinister. Frown

Thanks for any info.

Cyndi

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Suzybelle
    Suzybelle Member Posts: 920
    edited November 2011

    Hi, Cyndi:

    It's probably nothing sinister...just more le drama.  Undecided

    I have a spot right above my elbow that has a tendency to want to 'go fibrotic'.  It gets sore, then it gets hard and I have to use swell spots when I wrap. I also have a spot on my forearm that gets really tender when I'm flaring.   I would advise you to learn how to wrap, and then start wrapping at least a couple of times a week if not nightly.  At least, that's what works for me.  Everybody's different.

    Wrapping is what keeps my le from becoming really problematic.  I HATE to do it, but it really pays off.  Now that I have the night garments, I wear them nightly and wrap a couple of times a week.  This seems to work really well for me.

    Good luck to you - I'm sorry you're having some tender spots, but I think that goes with having LE. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ck55
    ck55 Member Posts: 346
    edited November 2011

    Suzybelle, Thanks for sharing and for your support.

    I guess I will find out tomorrow if I will have to start wrapping. How hard is it to learn and how restrictive is it? I mean if she wraps me tomorrow, can I drive myself home?

    It just looks so cumbersome. Yell

    Cyndi

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited November 2011

    Cyndi, one think I learned from my current, great, LE therapist, is that a wrap should NEVER hurt--it might be bulky, but never too tight or painful. She just adds more bandage layers if she thinks I need more compression.

    And if I get extra fluid in my arm, it gets sore. And that spot behind the elbow is one that just wants to swell....

    I wrap every night, and I resent it too, but it sure does work.

    Here's a link to getting through the day wrapped:

    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/How_You_Can_Cope_with_Lymphedema.htm#Getting_Through_the_Day_with_a_Wrapped_Arm

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ck55
    ck55 Member Posts: 346
    edited November 2011

    Thanks Kira. I guess I will just have to wati and see what she says today.

     Cyndi

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories