Broken left wrist in fall. Worried about lymphedema.

Anything is possible.  A year ago last Jan, I slipped on a dog bone in our hall (yup that is the truth - couldn't blame it on the blizzard we were having at the time).  I did a 'really good job' on wrist which required surgery.  I was already dealing with LE.  Since then  I haven't had any more iasues with LE than before.

My thoughts Sydney are the same as above, any additional problems with lymphedema due to the break are not likely to be long lasting . The removal of nodes is a permanent risk of LE, a broken wrist is temporary.

I broke my right wrist a year and a half ago, cancer side, right handed, 15 nodes removed with some evidence of compromise to LD drainage system as per LD therapist so I was worried too. It all turned out OK in the end.

Kira had written about her own experience earlier and that really helped me to place my concerns on getting the wrist fixed first and dealing with any LD problems later. Thank you Kira.

 I wore a cast for just over five weeks and I do believe the swelling from the trauma of the break lasted a little longer than it would have without compromised lymph drainage at least from what I understood to be normal by Dr Google. I did keep my arm elevated as much possible and put my arm in a sling when I went out and that must have helped as the swelling and discolouration didn't move onto my hand area. I got complimented for that from the cast tech. I also slept with my arm up on a pillow but that's how I sleep anyway (or try too) on my LE side. I even did the Lebed DVD the last two weeks with the cast.

When the cast came off I did develop full blown rebound LE hand and full arm within a few hours and it was painful. I went to my  family doctor the next day and she arranged for me to have physio for the wrist and swelling. I knew there was nobody close by trained to do mld but I took what was offered and the physio did recognize and understand enough about LE  to know the importance of getting the swelling down to facilitate healing.

Meanwhile I learned the LE therapist I had been seeing had retired so that wouldn't have have worked out anyway. By the time I got around to seeing the other LE therapist, same clinic, two months later everything looked fine, of course, measurements hadn't changed any, except for the wrist which was likely from the break not any LE swelling.

Let us know how things are working out Sydney, and thanks for starting the topic.

Kathy

My LE guy was in the surgery and wrapped me above the splint/bandage after surgery.  When I went later and got a cast it was a 'short arm' as opposee to an above elbow as Dr originally wanted and then I went over to see my LE Guy for what to do with wrapping above.  No different issue since than before.

I badly broke my wrist 4 years after my first BC surgery with ALND. At the time I did not have LE but I worried about triggering it. My hand swelled up like a balloon but after surgery to place pins (long scar), external fixation (more scars) followed by PT, swelling was gone and I regained normal ROM. 

I did not manifest LE until after my second BC surgery with ALND and rads 14 years later.  Although I do wonder if scarring in hand and wrist contributed to hand/wrist/forearm focus of my LE.

Good that you are being proactive. Ask for referrals to PT or LET afterward if needed.

Sydney, so glad to hear the healing is going well. True, there's no point in worrying about LE at this point, but there's good reason to request a consult with a well-trained lymphedema therapist to assist you with recovery, lessen your risk of developing LE, and help you stay on top of it all. Here's how to find a qualified therapist near you:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified...

Any doctor on your team can write you a referral.

Hugs! Be well! Heal!
Binney

Kicks, I've been thinking about you and your excellent VA experience lately--for obvious reasons! I'm really grateful that you and your DH both have been so well cared for, and it's given me some much-needed perspective throughout all this VA brouhaha. Onward!
Binney