1st Flare

Sher
Sher Member Posts: 540
edited January 2015 in Lymphedema

Well, seems it's my turn for a flare.  Lymphedema started for me in the hand/forearm area back in January 2009.  I went through the therapy and was pretty diligent with wrapping until finally in April 2011 I got my first Solaris Tribute.  By late summer I gradually was able to wean off daytime compression to the point where I would wear only my Solaris Tribute nights  - with no noticeable daytime swelling.  From April 2012 on, I would sometimes skip 1-2 nights a week without wearing the Tribute.

Tuesday afternoon I noticed swelling on the top of my hand and as is probably pretty common, cannot pinpoint a trigger.......it just is.  Thinking back, I do remember my forearm feeling bit odd a few days earlier - sometimes like a hair or feather was brushing against and tickling the skin also a slight feeling of heaviness or just something that felt different so these were maybe warning signs.  

So yesterday dug out my daytime compression stuff, information on wrapping (had long since forgotten how to do this), exercises etc and back on this site for a refresher coarse.  Will also need to make an appointment with my therapist - this time around would like to get fitted for a longer glove.  Swelling isn't terrible, but quite noticeable top of hand and a little above my wrist - same area as originally and I want to do whatever I can to prevent it from worsening.......maybe hopefully getting back to where I was.

One thing I'd like to ask is about nerve impingement.  Before the swelling returned, I had a lot of pain in my neck and shoulder area on LE side (have pretty bad osteoarthritis and see a chiropractor regularly).  Yesterday he mentioned nerve impingement which may have caused the hair/feather tickling sensations (also had pins and needles thing going on along with the pain).  Might this impingement also have disrupted the lymph flow?

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Comments

  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited July 2014

    Aw, Sher, bummer! Still, it's nice to see your avatar back here again--welcome!

    Sorry I don't have any answers about nerve impingement, so hopefully others will be along shortly. The symptoms you mention may relate to nerve issues, but they could also relate to increased fluid in the tissues (which can be present before any swelling becomes visible).

    Anything that causes you pain will draw lymph fluid to the site, potentially overloading the compromised lymph system. It's there to carry away any invading organisms and deal with damaged cellular matter, but when too much accumulates for the lymph system to deal with, swelling increases.

    If you've gained or lost weight since last using your garments, check out the fit before using them again.

    Flares can create difficult emotional reactions, so treat yourself with a whole lot of gentle good humor. Hopefully your therapist can fit you into her schedule soon. Keep us posted!

    Big hugs, and definitely something chocolate,
    Binney

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  • Sher
    Sher Member Posts: 540
    edited July 2014

    Hi Binney and thank you!  

    Swelling goes down a little at night wearing my Tribute and increases during the day as to be expected.  Tried wrapping yesterday and today unsuccessfully, so will definitely need a refresher course.  The biggest fear is wrapping incorrectly and trapping fluid in my fingers which so far are good.   Also dug out my daytime compression garments and after trying them on, remember why I always hated them and never wore them much.  The fit seemed to be okay I think, but the glove rather quickly shoves fluid up over my knuckles.  Are there any gloves that work for knuckles?

    I have 2 fingertip to axilla Tributes (the old one still fits well in hand and forearm, but upper arm is little loose.  Know these are designed for night wear, but they can be worn daytime too, right?  Maybe that would help (around the house anyway) until I get to see my therapist?

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited July 2014

    Sher, I wear my Tribute night gear around the house during the day when I have flares--or just when my arm gets achy. My old ones, too, still work but are looser in places. You can use short-stretch bandages over them if they're loose--easier than the whole wrapping routine and you don't have to worry about your hand that way.

    I'm not sure what you're asking about your daytime gloves. Do they have fingers, or are they just the gauntlet? You might try an Isotoner therapeutic glove or an IMAK glove until you can get in to see the therapist--you can buy them at Walgreens or whatever.

    As for hating daytime garments--I hear you on that one!

    Hugs,
    Binney

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  • Sher
    Sher Member Posts: 540
    edited July 2014

    Binney, I have rather high arthritic knuckles, so when the glove fits correctly over them, then the spaces in between fill with fluid.  When I was wrapping, I used foam carrots on the top of my hand in between my knuckles and that worked quite well.  I'm experimenting using these carrots in a KT pocket glove and will try wrapping again later.

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited July 2014

    Sounds like a plan! Must be a bit of a to-do getting the carrots into the glove, yes? But definitely a good plan. Let us know how it works out.

    Hugs!

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  • runnergirl26
    runnergirl26 Member Posts: 82
    edited January 2015

    what is a KT glove and what are carrot foams? i have had lymphedema in my hand and arm for about six months. No gloves or sleeves have worked for me. I just got a custom made jovi pack with individual fingers and i wake up to a tight puffy hand. i am faithful doing my massage 2x day practice deep breathing and have done the lebad method lymph opening a few times; so goofy, My therapist doesnt havve access to a flexipump for me to try but she referred me to someone that does, i need to see first if my insurance would even cover it.

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