Lymphedma and EMG test and carpal tunnel surgery question

Hi Tyge48-

Welcome to BCO! We have some information on steps you can take to prevent lymphedema on our main site: http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/lymphedema/r.... Hopefully you're able to have your surgery without any issues!

The Mods

my surgeon said if I let anyone do as much as a bp cuff on my lymph arm, she would sew the old boob back on.

I declined the EMG for precisely this reason. I do have active lymphedema and my PT said it was the correct decision in my case. I do not have carpal tunnel, and I was proven correct when the tingling and other sensations disappeared when I stopped taking an AI.

You have to do what is correct for you. Is it possible to get a second opinion, or check in with your medical oncology team? They should be able to help you make an informed decision.

My breast surgeon was the person who explained my risk to me. My first bout was about 1.5 years after my surgery. Zumba class caused my right index finger to swell. Another 1.5 years later and i now have swelling up through the shoulder and into my torso. All still minimal swelling, but it is uncomfortable. I am still able to manage it with compression wear and MLD massage. The next time it advances, I will be learning how to wrap the bandages.

Everyone is different. Some women never get it, some experience it right away and others get it many years down the road. I guess, it all comes down to risk vs. benefit and ultimately that is your choice. Maybe you could find a certified LE therapist to consult, in your area. Since you do not have LE maybe one would be willing to discuss risk vs benefit over the phone with you.

Good luck.

Tyge - regardless of what your doc's say, you will always be at risk for lymphadema. I saw one lecture by a Stanford professor who explained that the average time most docs spend learning about LE in their 8-12 years of medical school is FIFTEEN MINUTES. Yup - 15 minutes.

I would not take a chance with my arms when it is easy to draw blood & put a line for anesthesia in your foot. And no, with a good head nurse, it doesn't hurt anymore than your arm.

Here is a link that some of our BCO women helped to write that may answer some of your questions.

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

I only had my sentinel nodes removed during my mastectomy.

I had the EMG done on both wrists. Then I did Carpal Tunnel surgery on both arms 4 months after my reconstruction surgery.

I did my non affected arm first and I had the IV in the foot. No more pain than a regular IV. I don't remember having a blood pressure cuff if I did it must have been on my leg also.

3 weeks later Idid my cancer side with an IV in my hand on the non affected side.

It's now been over 3 years and all is well.

A couple thoughts because I have faced similar circumstances.

1. I had both carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel surgery after SNB. These were on affected side. They did not use a tourniquet for surgery, like they sometimes do; they just cauterized as needed. IV nad BP cuff were on other arm.

2. I had carpal tunnel surgery on non affected side on a different day. They did BP and IV in leg at my request/insistence. These are things I discussed with teh surgeon in my preop visit so she could prepare accordingly and so the OR staff would be aware.

3. Since that time, I had a recurrence and 13 nodes removed. I developed numbess about a year after radiation and doc ordered an EMG. The dc performing the EMG is not one I'd ever return to, and I learned later that his license was just recently reinstated. I did develop some lymphedema after this. I am not sure if it was the EMG, the way he did the MEG, or if it was from increased activity. I'll never know.

Good luck.