What to expect?

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Spookiesmom
Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

After BMX, the night I woke up my hand hurt. SO agreed its LE, sent me for PT consult. He did measurements, L arm is 14% larger than R. Is that a lot?



After waiting for referrals, I go Wed for first session. What will happen? Excercise massage wrapping?



I'm still doing rads. The arm doesn't bother me, unless I try to push up my sleeves.



Just wondering. Cancer. The gift that keeps on giving.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited February 2013

    Are you going to  a PT or a Certified LymphEdema Therapist?  A few PTs are trained in dealing with 

    LE but most aren't.

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  • M360
    M360 Member Posts: 356
    edited February 2013

    I agree with Kicks you need to go to a Certified Lymphedema Specialist.  I got wrapped and lymph massages, then my daughter learned and took classes to do so.  Three years later I still wear a compression arm garment and hand.  Some days are good, some days if I do too much it swells about 25%, but then again I have swelling problems with cancer and treatments.  

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited February 2013

    I think he's certified.

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  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 3,567
    edited February 2013

    M360, I want a daughter like yours!!!!  (Actually I have a wonderful daughter, but she lives 5 hours away so she's not available anyway.)  What an incredible gift she gives you!

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  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited February 2013

    Spookiesmom: here is a link to the SUSO page on treatment, it will vary, but usually involves assessment, which is examination and measurement, and then teaching you how to do self MLD (manual lymph drainage) and remedial exercises, and reinforcing risk reduction, and usually the therapist will do MLD and this is important--please ask to be taught how to wrap. It's an important skill to have.

    Some women are wrapped as an intensive--they wear it 24/7 for a while to reduce their swelling. Then, when it's reduced, they're fitted for compression garments for the day.

    As you're in rads, things are likely in flux due to inflammation. Rads is a double edged sword as it inflames the quadrant and brings more lymph flow initially, and then as the years go by, there is radiation fibrosis that can compromise flow.

    Here's the link:

    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/treatments_for_lymphedema.htm

    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified_Lymphedema_Therapist.htm

    Let us know how its going.

    Edit: I read that you got a severe skin reaction to taxotere: LindaLou who posted the amazing photos on this board had that similar, although it sounds like hers was far less severe than yours, trigger LE....

    Kira

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited February 2013

    I thought the Taxotere was going to kill me. A few days I wished it would have. I swelled ALL over!



    I don't know all that much about this stuff. I thought they'd done a stick in my L hand during surgery, but couldn't find a hole. That hurt a bit and when I went for first check up he agreed to send me for consult.



    I found the card, he is a LE PT. I can't see being wrapped, doing rads with my arms over my head. Half way through that. Yea!



    We'll see.

    Thanks!

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