question about wrist surgery and lymphadema

Hi, just had surgery for wrist 1 month ago. Wasn't aware of the tourniquet used during surgery. Now experiencing lymphedema for the first time since dx 15+ years ago. The facility had my health history, but went through with surgery anyway. Be careful and trust no one. Good luck, hope all goes well.

momand2kids, The problem is if you don't repair the fracture you can loose the function/use of your hand. Do they have to use screws? Why aren't you having general anesthesia? I wouldn't have a nerve block. I had one after surgery and it did nothing for the pain.

momand2, it just doesn't ever seem fair when life happens on top of our bc history, forcing these sorts of decisions. I'm so sorry! For sure you'll want to talk all this through with your surgeon and be sure s/he is someone who is either already aware of lymphedema and the potential risk, or willing to listen and learn. Some of the women here have had carpal tunnel surgery with the use of a tourniquet, but they made sure the surgeon was with them on using it as briefly as possible.

If not having the surgery could result in increased or chronic pain, that's a very good reason to go ahead with the surgery. Our bodies respond to pain by rushing lymph fluid to the site (for instance, no doubt you noticed some swelling when you broke your wrist). That response can overwhelm a compromised lymph system, triggering lymphedema. So anything you do to reduce or eliminate pain will help control lymph build-up and lower your risk of developing lymphedema. That includes making extra sure that your post-surgical pain is controlled.

Since your arm is at risk for lymphedema, it is also at somewhat extra risk for infection, so prophylactic antibiotic use before surgery is another topic to discuss with your surgeon.

Please keep us posted, momand2.

Gentle hugs,
Binney

momand2kids, My Mom fell on the ice and had a wrist fracture. They used screws and it was done as an outpatient procedure with light general anesthesia. My mother in law fell and had a non-displaced wrist fracture. They used a splint to stabilize the fracture and to keep it immobilized while healing. Because of her age they did not want to put a cast on it. After about 6-weeks she started therapy to regain the use of her wrist/hand. Don't wait too long or they won't be able to get it realigned. My Mom regained the use of her wrist/hand, but my MIL wasn't compliant with keeping her wrist immobilized so she lost function.

When I broke my arm (fortunately the arm at the least risk for LE), they decided to immobilize with a splint & sling for 6 weeks instead of cast or surgery It meant lots of PT afterwards to regain range of motion, but the bone healed well & no residual issues.

momand2kids sounds like you are in a good place then! And I hear you about all the low/no risk things--like you, very low risk of BC and here I am; same with the melanoma! I hope I don't follow you w/ the thyroid

Also I lived in the South End a few years ago, loved Boston.

This is an interesting thread to me as I am undergoing revision surgery tomorrow to hopefully fix a neuroma in my left foob. Unfortunately to get to it my PS has to remove my implant. I had a lymphatic draining massage yesterday, and my left arm (cancer side) and hand do swell just a small amount. I asked my therapist if during surgery I have to have a blood pressure cuff and IV (that one is a given), which on which side? She suggested the IV on the side where the lymph nodes were removed, blood pressure cuff on the other. Theory being less risk with the needle stick than the pressure changes with the blood pressure cuff. I will let you all know how this works out. The surgery is outpatient of course (insert eye roll)

Oh Rah - it's probably too late, but for others:

Any subsequent surgeries - I've had the BP cuff on my leg. I've had the IV for anesthesia on the other ankle. I've never had any push back, except anesthesia people who don't know how to insert a line in the ankle. I just have them call the head surgical nurse. It works out fine and is well out of the docs ways.

Do let us know how it goes.

Thanks for the well wishes Hershey! Improving every day