Question about arm LE

Hi,

My recent Ultrasound result showed two small cysts/fluid blocks of size in 0.2-0.1 cm. Is it Lymphedema ? I have to consult my Suergon , My pathalogict refered me to him again.

kindly guide,

thanks

"that numb area has the weirdest sensation and I have the urge to rub it and work the tingles away.  I really can’t describe the feeling to anyone who hasn’t experienced it.  I’m hoping that you all will understand what I’m talking about."

"I am just wondering if anyone else has had these weird sensations in their affected arm prior to becoming diagnosed with LE?  Could this has been a precursor to the LE coming on?"

Lainey, I know EXACTLY how you feel with this. Additionally to what youre describing, sometimes theres a deep itch (aka tingles???) that you cant "get at". The only way I can relieve it is by pushing fairly firmly on the spot which is hard to find because its numb on the surface. From time to time I also have a "burning strip" down the underside of my upper arm. I dont believe for me at least, this was a precursor to LE even though it happened before LE Dx.. I am 4yrs out from Mx and it is no different whatsoever from the time I generally had healed after surgery to now. I was told numbness is part of it. For some, numbness allegedly gets better over time, but I must admit I'm skeptical. I dont remember anyone saying their numbness has gone or got a lot better. (after the intial healing of surgery)

All the best.

Denise I believe theres a number of women spoken about this sensation. One thing is for sure, with a Mx there is a lot of trauma to the area and nothing would surprise me. Nerves are "funny" things and as Lainey says, its very hard to describe and understand unless youve had it yourself. I most certainly have had, though not often, that dang breast itch. What used to annoy me above all was when I was a uni, and had to wear a prossy (not small) the metal part in the strap used to DRIVE ME NUTS digging into my numb shoulder. Now Im bilat, and no reco, its great cause for celebration as thats one less problem I have to face.

BTW your av is lovely. You have a lovely smile.

All the best.

I get the phantom itch, in my case it's always the right reconstructed breast in the spot formerly known as a nipple. Only scratching or massaging does nothing, because I have zero sensation there, so I know that the itch feeling is a phantom one.  Ick.  I do get a burning sensation when I should be in compression but am not wearing it.  When lymph moves to my back, below and around the shoulder blade, it's almost always a burning feeling that signals me.  Then when I reach (well, contort!) around to touch the area, sure enough it feels squishy, and sometimes I can see the swelling, sometimes not.  So for me, the burning feeling always means LE.  I also sometimes feel some itching on my arm alongside the burn.  And of course, I have a fiesta of numb spots, in the arm and nearby from node removal, in much of the reconstructed breast tissue, and along the ab incision line where the diep flaps came from.

It's really important to take a look at these areas from time to time, because I would not know from any feeling if I had an injury. Living as I do in the woods, I have to make sure I'm not missing any insect bites that could turn wicked on me. Ticks are a fact of life around here. So my routine out of the shower is to use two mirrors to see if anything is lurking behind my arm and on my back, especially after being outdoors in the garden or hiking.  In the 'old' days, all I ever used those mirrors for was to check my hair!

By the way, this is NOT a precursor to LE as far as I know from my research. LE is from damage to the lymph vessels, nodes, and blocking of the lymph flow. As far as I know, the nerves do not impact lymph flow, but muscle movements do help get the lymph into the small lymph vessels, but when the lymphatic vessels are over loaded, such as with too much exercise or change in atmospheric pressure, the fluid gets backed up and needs to be treated in order to get the swelling down.

OK guys for me, I have to clarify this. Bear in mind I havent had reco so it might be something synonymous with that. Thinking about it I can't figure out what you all mean by "phantom". Im thinking with me at least, this is REAL, whereas "phantom" has the implication its not really real. With me, it is physical and if there was a machine to measure whether youre actually itching, burning or what, then that machine would be off the scale in my case (well, at times).  No phantom (in the mind???) itch. Now Im considering you reco girls. This is just me thinking aloud, OK....?.... Now the skin etc where your nipple was and which is over your implant, still has nerves right? therefore your itching must be real. Just a thought. Also it would drive you NUTS if it was under your implant (grrrr) which could quite likely be the case. What Denise describes I'm at a loss to explain except nerves are strange things, but what we feel is real.

Lainey of course youre not crazy! more than that I would say we would (unfortunately) be by far in the majority who experience issues like deep itching, burning, tingling etc. I'd like to hear if there is anyone who doesn't have issues after surgery and LN out.

Carol, those double mirrors! what a great idea. I must admit I get cheesed off that I have to spend so much time with BC and all its aftermath that I try and take shortcuts and I guess thats one of them. I really should look. Ive really got no excuse coz Ive got D.Mirrors except they aint in the most convenient place. (it means I'll get cold while I look.)

Linda sometimes I get that burning pain around where those grippy dots are on my sleeve. Usually I just have to take my sleeve off at that point and it usually  feels better pretty much straight away.

Carol, it seems Im always trying to find the balance between too much and not enough arm exercise. The problem with me is Im NOT a "spead it over the day and do it little by little" person, but a "bore in and do it NOW to get it over and done with" type, so I can do other things (like the things I like doing ). Then after all that, things arent consistent around the year. Theres busy times in the garden and quiet times. I like a certain amount of structure and routine otherwise these things can throw me off base. No wonder they call this our new normal and all this can have a bearing on LE.

Ive found that when I get that heavy horrible ache, 9 times out of 10 those fist pumps and other exercises actually help. Also a bit of a good workout in the garden has helped as well, including spade work. I shudder to think that some women have had issues after lifting a few measly pounds. The thing thats hard to fathom is what was OK yesterday might not necessarily be OK tomorrow....or, what we got away with in the past we can no longer get away with.

Having had Lymphoedema in my leg for 11 years I get all sorts of wired feelings.. Tingling, pins and needles and numbness and it is when you get all that together it feels really wired!!! They say it is pressure on the nerves from the Lymphoedema..