Nooooo! I have lymphedema?

I would imagine that the referral to an LE specialist is to reduce your LE risk, not necessarily a dx of LE.  Receiving therapy from a non-LE certified person can be detrimental if you have had axillary node dissection, I think  they are just being cautious, and I think it is way too early to determine if you have LE.  You are slightly more than a week out from surgery.  Swelling and numb, tingly type pain is normal after this surgery.  The back of my arm was numb for an extended period that was independent of LE.  This can continue for quite a while - I now have feeling in the axilla, and on the back of my arm.  Hoping for the best for you - try not to be too worried yet!

Diana, I agree with SpecialK that they're being cautious by sending you to an LE PT. It's impossible to tell so soon after surgery whether or not this is LE. Swelling and tingling are part of the normal healing process. I had it, it eventually went away, and though I got LE it wasn't until 2 years after surgery (after 17 nodes removed & axillary rads).

Best of luck. Heal well.

Leah

Diana, it's very common to have post op swelling: one the best lymphedema researchers followed 250 women for almost 8 years, and while she took measurements in the first three months, she didn't use them in her study as they tended to be all over the place due to swelling after surgery.

Some people do wake up with lymphedema, some have early onset lymphedema--but there is also some encouraging studies that show if you evaluate and gently treat women with early swelling, most of it will go away or get considerably better.

A lymphedema therapist is used for women with post op swelling--the gentle lymphatic massage will help with the swelling--and to help educate you in some home treatments and how to cautiously resume exercise.

Unfortunately, many--if not most--surgeons don't "do" post op instructions: like not to raise the arm over shoulder height for 10 days and what to watch for.  The incidence of lymphedema with sentinel node biopsy is not exactly known, as there is no one standard for diagnosing lymphedema, but the numbers quoted are 7-25%. 

You'll get a lot of benefit from the lymphedema PT, and it doesn't mean you have lymphedema. Risk persists, and she'll show you how to avoid the risk factors that can trigger swelling.

Kira

Diana, I cannot add to the encouraging posts here --just crossing my fingers for you that you're having normal post-op symptoms and the LE therapist will help ensure that all available precautions are taken. But how about we all send some of our famous, cyber LE brownies to the physician or surgeon who took your symptoms seriously and sent you for therapy from a qualfied LE therapist!  If every woman's post-mx / node surgery care was comparable, we might well have fewer ladies hanging around this forum (we would miss them, though)! As Kira pointed out, there are encouraging studies showing benefit from very early LE treatment. No iron-clad proof of a definitive cure as yet, but as our wise Kira also said, early treatment improves LE and and gets you the information you need to reduce your LE risks going forward.

Our term for surgeons, etc. who don't want to hear about our LE symptoms is 'doctors in denial.'  You sure don't have one of those!

Keep us posted on what you learn as your healing progresses in the next month or so.

Carol

Diana--Hang in there.  You may find it is still post op swelling.  If not I am so happy your DR referred you to an LE specialist so you can get early treatment.  Just take care healing yourself and not worry about it.  Keep us posted.

SO glad they're sending you early. You will also gain other benifits.  I'm 8 months post bmx. My surgeon is very good and thought I had a great range of motion for how far out I was. I wasn't. Asked to see the PT and got my referral. Got there and found out everything was attached wrong. I also had early stage LE. So now I get to have them tear at my scar tissue and I have a ton of work ahead to rebuild muscles that atrophied because they weren't being used right. Be glad they are sending you. Hopefully they will keep you on the right path for your healing.