Lymphedema Physiotherapy in Nicaragua?

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CancerAbroad
CancerAbroad Member Posts: 5
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

Hey,

I'm new to this discussion board, but I have a question that is a bit of a long shot. I'm in Nicaragua for 6 months doing an internship. I left about 2 months after radiation treatment finished, and while my arm has been good so far, after an axilliary node dissection and radiation I'm worried about developing lymphedema in my right arm. I've looked up a few physio places here to check out, but I was wondering if anyone randomly knew of a physiotherapist in Nicaragua that works with breast cancer patients?

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited July 2013

    Hi, CancerAbroad, and welcome!Smile

    That's a really interesting question, and the answer would have to be very random indeed! I just went and searched out all the resources I know and came up with nothing for Nicaragua, or even neighboring countries. You might try the Nicaragua Red Cross and see if they can help you. They'd be able to steer you to cancer treatment centers, where you might at least find someone familiar with the subjectWink:
    http://cruzrojanicaraguense.org.ni/

    In my ramblings I did find a PT from the states who travels to Nicaragua every summer to do wound care and such in rural areas, and she mentions treating a man with leg lymphedema. She knew he needed several weeks of wrapping and MLD, but she didn't have the time to do it (or presumably the know-how) and was unable to steer him to other resources. That does not bode well for your searchFrown.

    That said, I'm hoping you're familiar with the lymphedema risk reduction guidelines and are able to follow them there:
    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/riskreduction_for_lymphedema.htm

    What an exciting place for an internship! I hope your experience will be rich and full of a lifetime of great memories. If you have any specific issues or questions that come up, please do ask here--lots of women with a wealth of experience here. Just none of it in NicaraguaFrown!

    Hugs (or make that abrazos),
    Binney

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  • CancerAbroad
    CancerAbroad Member Posts: 5
    edited July 2013

    Thank you Binney!

    I honestly hadn't expected even one reply, with the subject being so random. I have found one physio that I thiiink has experience with breast cancer patients. I'm seeing her Tuesday. 

    I have visited the Step Up Speak Out site. I've also been doing my arm exercises, and the lymph drainage exercises faithfully 3-4 times a day, as well as elevating the arm. I have a sleeve, but despite it being fitted to me, it turns my fingers cold and purplish after an hour or two - part of the reason I'm looking for a specialist down here. I'm not wearing that sleeve anymore. 

    Thank you for the suggestion about the red cross, I hadn't even thought of that! I will post an update after Tuesday. You never know, it might be useful to someone travelling in Central America or Nicaragua, someday.

    Thank you again, for the welcome and abrazos! As great as this internship is, being abroad so soon after treatment has been hard, and having a community definitely makes it easier :)

    CA

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  • CancerAbroad
    CancerAbroad Member Posts: 5
    edited July 2013

    Hey All,

    Unfortunately I have nothing spectacular to report. The physiotherapist was very kind, and she did have experience treating breast cancer patients with lymphedema. However the mode of treatment was very different from that in Canada. It involved a manual lymph drainage massage where as much pressure as possible was exerted, ultrasound to "stimulate" the lymph fluid and hot paraffin wax applied to "relax the skin." Overall it did not inspire much confidence. 

    Am waiting to hear back from my lymphedema nurse, to see whether the situation warrants a visit home. In the meantime I will keep doing the exercises and visiting these forums for the knowledge that they provide.

    Thanks again!

    CA

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited July 2013

    Hot paraffin?!! YIKES!Surprised

    No doubt a visit home would be welcome, but if you want something a little bit closer, there are trained therapists in Mexico. Couldn't guarantee they wouldn't use hot paraffin (!), so you'd have to call them (or have your LE nurse call them) before you tried 'em out. The first one is Vodder trained, the rest of them are Klose trained:

    MEXICO CITY

    Elvira Cuevas-Bausone, CMT
    Mexico City, DF
    Mexico
    (305) 944-2564
    (52) 555 534 19 84

    Michelle Broltman, PT, CLT
    Private practice
    Tel: 5511271851

    Maria Ramos Rayon, Lic., CLT
    Hospital De Oncologia CMNSIGLOXXI IMSS
    Enfermeria
    Tel: 56276900x22951

    ZAPOPAN, JALISCO
    Serardo Sandoval Isaac, MD
    Tel: 33 3610-1311

    (Hmmm, a jaunt to Jalisco might be kinda nice!Cool)

    Just a thought. Sure hope there's an easier way to solve this. Be well!
    Binney

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  • CancerAbroad
    CancerAbroad Member Posts: 5
    edited July 2013

    Double Yikes! And thank you so much for the Mexican contacts. I think if I were to spend money on a ticket, I'd probably just go home, but more knowledge is always a good thing. 

    Right now I've emailed everyone from my nurse, to the PT to the garment fitter back home and will wait to see what they say. I've also looked up the contact info for a number of oncologists and oncology departments down here and will go through that list and see if they know of anyone that can help. Again, if I find out anything that could be of use to anyone I will post it here. 

    In the meantime I am going to try not to let worrying over my arm get in the way of having a good time. I really admire everyone on this forum who seems to be able to deal with their lymphedema while getting on with life. Nicaragua is, after all, such a very beautiful country.

    Volcano View

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