Tingling in thumb

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nickythebean
nickythebean Member Posts: 50
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

Hi, all. I had a double MX in March with all of my lymph nodes removed on my left side. I have not had any signs of LE, but I am flying out of town this coming Sunday, so a few weeks ago, I bought an off-the-rack compression sleeve and gauntlet to wear while on the plane.



Last night, I tripped and fell against a door, really banging my left elbow. After icing it for a little while, I put the compression sleeve and gauntlet on just in case the lymphatic fluid started flowing due to the injury. I wore them until bedtime last night. Before I took them off, I noticed a tingly feeling in my left thumb but didn't think much of it. The tingling continued all day today and is still here. (I decided to put the sleeve and gauntlet back on a couple of hours after I woke up because this tingling is making me nervous. )



Could this tingling be the start of LE? What else should I do besides wear the sleeve and gauntlet?



Thanks ladies!

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  • GrammyR
    GrammyR Member Posts: 702
    edited September 2013

    You are likely compressing too much since you fell and there may be swelling-bruising involved. Elevate your arm as much as you can. I would NOT put on the compression stocking especially since you do not already have lymphodema. Most women never get it at all.  I wore a wrist brace because of terrible athritis pain in the base of my thumb. I would often start to get tingling in the fingers. That can be a sign the blood circulation is being a problem especially if the fingertip becomes bluish color. I am a retired RN.

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

    Nicky, I'd agree the tingling is most likely due to the thumb being too tight. When you wash the gauntlet, stuff a (tightly capped!) marking pen into the thumb to stretch it a bit and let it dry that way. Do elevate instead of wearing the garments until your arm feels better from that fall. Icing needs to be done carefully on an area at risk for LE--any extreme temperature will draw lymph fluid. Also, stay REALLY well hydrated (helps dilute the lymph fluid and keep it moving), and pause throughout the day to take a few deep abdominal breaths (stimulates the largest lymph vessel in your body). On the plane, do those things plus gently exercising your hands and fingers from time to time. Take it easy with the luggage--ask for help getting it in and out of the overhead compartments and off the turntables.

    Have a great trip, and not a "swell" one!
    Binney

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2013

    Nicky, it could very well be that the thumb is too tight. Heres something else you may want to consider. Depending on the severity of that bang, and since you said "really banging" I offer this as a possibility drawing from my own experience. Years ago I hit my elbow on the inside area and basically in short, it quite seriously damaged a nerve which is still damaged to this day. If I touch the area or squeeze my arm in the wrong way I have tingling and numbness going right down to my finger tips. Could you have damaged a nerve?



    I would get it checked out especially if the tingling carries on with or without the gauntlet. In the meantime is there any swelling or redness in that thumb? Is the thumb part too tight? Im well overdue to try the wash and then put pen in trick.

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