Swollen thumb

Steph54321 · December 2015

After my last 4th AC I began to have neuropathy in both hands and feet (mild) and swelling and numbness in my right thumb and index finger . I started taxol last week and the thumb swelling has not gone down at all. It has been over 2 weeks. I have been to a neurologist, rheumatologist , breast surgeon and oncologist. The neurologist thinks the early neuropathy was from cipro but unsure about the thumb swelling. No one seems to have answers as to how to treat this or if it is safe for me to continue with taxol now. I had a hand MRI yesterday and waiting for the results. The swelling in my thumb is not going down at all. Has anyone experienced anything like this ?

Moderators · December 2015

Steph54321, first, we welcome you to the BCO boards. Second, we are really sorry to hear about the uncomfortable swelling in your thumb. Did you injure your thumb at all? Have you had any lymphedema?

RobinLK · December 2015

I would ask about lymphedema. Do not let anyone tell you it is not possible to have in one finger. Mine is documented as being in my index finger alone. See if you can get a referral to a Lymphedema Certified Therapist. If it is not that, then you have one more item checked off the list. If it is, you can get treatment from the LE therapist.

614 · December 2015

I have not had chemotherapy but I have heard that keeping your hands and feet in ice during the entire chemo infusion helps to thwart neuropathy.

I hope that your symptoms subside. Good luck.

Steph54321 · December 2015

Thanks Robin- When did you get the lymphedema in your finger? Was it swollen for a long time? Did you take any medication to reduce the swelling? I have stage 2b in left breast and lymph nodes . I have not had surgery yet. I will definitely mention it to my oncologist tomorrow.

RobinLK · December 2015

My swelling started about a year ago April..I noticed the swelling after a Zumba class. I saw my LE therapist and she confirmed that was what I was dealing with. I wear my compression garments when strenuously exercising or at high elevation. I have found that I also need to wear them when it is very humid out. There is no medicine for LE, just management for it.

Steph54321 · December 2015

thank you. I did ice my fingers during taxol ( except my swollen thumb) I brought a small cooler filled with crushed ice and the nurse gave me gloves. I stuck my hands in the cooler and it was easy.

Moderators · December 2015

Steph, we're thinking of you! How did your MRI turn out? What did your oncologist say about your thumb?

Keep us posted!

--The Mods

Kicks · December 2015

My first thought is to see a LymphEdema Therapist. Not just some PT who claims to 'know all about ' LE. An LET can be an OT or a PT, but it takes more education to be an LET.

LE (LymphEdema) can present at anytime after any surgery (or traumatic injury) especially when lymph nodes are removed. Unfortunately MANY Drs are not versed in it. There is no 'medicine' to take for 'it'. It can be managed though with knowledge and care.

My LE does not effect my fingers but my elbow the most. It started 1/2 way through 12 weekly adjuvant Taxol.

I did 4 DD A/C neoadjuvant and 12Taxol adjuvant. I have no neuropathy and I did NOT ice anything. They had to fight to keep my temperature up enough to not be hypothermic so 'icing' anything was totally not doable.

Steph54321 · December 2015

Hi- Thank you :-). The hand MRI showed nothing . My oncologist had me do 2nd taxol today and now I can't bend my index finger either because it is swelling up more. Neuropathy is getting worse too. He suggested I go back to the neurologist and rheumatologist for follow up . I have not had surgery yet and my breast surgeon is suggesting that we might stop chemo and do surgery soon and finish chemo after. I had a breast MRI yesterday and am hoping for good outcome. I have left breast and lymph nodes that have to be removed stage 2B 4.5 cm. She also recommended that I see another oncologist for a consultation and second opinion. Thanks again for checking in with me.

Steph54321 · December 2015

thank you. I will search for a certified LET tomorrow and schedule an appointment. I have not had my surgery yet but this still could be LE and I will be having lymph nodes removed. Thanks again for your help :-)

lonestarreader · June 2016

I have finished 10 rounds of Taxol and 2 out of four AC treatments following my lumpectomy. A few days before I was to have my 3rd AC treatment I developed what seems to have been an infection in the nail bed of my right index finger. The entire finger became swollen and stiff. I've been through IV antibiotics and 3 rounds of oral antibiotics and the pain is gone, the nail isn't solid yellow anymore. It is back showing the dark spots from the taxol and AC treatments. The problem is the tip of my finger is still taut and swollen and my finger remains stiff. I cannot bend it fully at all. I'm due to go back to the hand orthopedic this week. I don't think it is getting any better and I feel like the thumb on the same hand is getting a little stiff. Can you develop lymphedema in the hand on the opposite side from where the sentinel nodes were removed?

An MRI of my hand showed nothing too. It isn't getting any better even with this third round of antibiotics. They have stopped my chemo while this is possibly an infection. Very frustrating. I do have neuropathy in my fingertips also. I'm going to ask about lymphadema

ChiSandy · June 2016

Go to lana.org (Lymphedema Association of North America) for a list of certified LE therapists in your area. I was lucky enough to have its founder, Dr. Joseph L. Feldman at NorthShore Evanston Hospital, as my LE sub-specialist. His specialty is neurology and he has developed various diagnostic tools such as water displacement (more accurate than just a tape measure) and electro-impedance measurement. Although the commonest cause of secondary lymphedema is lymph node removal, anything that disturbs the lymphatic system (which is the pathway by which the immune system responds to inflammation) can trigger it--which is how it can show up where nodes weren’t removed. Chemo destroys rapidly dividing cells but sometimes there can be collateral damage. There are also lateral lymph pathways across the upper chest and also the abdomen, so that’s theoretically how you can develop contralateral LE--very rare, but it happens.

Steph54321 · July 2016

I ended up responding to Gabapentin. The swelling in my thumb went down after about 5 days on it and then the skin started peeling. It helped with the neuropathy too.

Swollen thumb

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