Exercising with Lymhedema
Does anyone have moderate LE and is working successfully with weights of more than 2 lbs.? How long do you keep your compression sleeve/glove on after you complete your workout? Does your swelling increase or stay the same after exercise?
I have had LE swelling in my left arm since surgery in Nov. 2007. Surgeon was not concerned about swelling and said it would reduce in time. I should have pushed the issue but as I couldn't drive during chemo, I was not able to get therapy. During radiation it quickly spread down to my fingers and I began seeing an LE therapist. There has been significant improvement, but the arm is still swollen and will likely be that way forever.
I regained my balance and strength by walking (had lingering dizziness/vertigo from chemo) and I resumed my gym membership on June 1st -- working out 3X per week for an hour or so. I either wear full bandages or my Jobst compression sleeve/gauntlet during and at least one hour after, which I think has prevented additional swelling. I do 30 mins of cardio and was told by my LE therapist to only use 2lb. weights for upper body weight training. Pre-cancer I was comfortable with 8-10 lbs, and vigorously used arm weight machines. Today I must work slowly and be vigilant about avoiding exercise that will cause any changes in swelling. As I am just starting my 4th week of regular vigorous excercise, the key for me is frequency rather than duration/difficulty. At a sexy fifty-seven, I sweat beautifully and continue to fight to keep my weight steady while taking Femara. Exercise helps reduce the side-effects of this drug... so off I go to the gym!
Anyone have advice for me?
Comments
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How many lymph nodes did you have removed? (This can be a determining factor in treatment of LE) Did the LE therapist give you a compression sleeve and glove? I too had LE difficuties in the beginning and went for treatment at the cancer hospital I went to. What they did was wrap my arm up in lots of bandages to compress my arm and remove the fluid (I just tied a plastic bag around it to take a shower). This was one weeks treatment to remove the fluid. Also I was taught how to train your other healthy lymph nodes to work harder at draining fluid, by moving the fluid from your arm to other parts of your body (and your really dont have to apply a lot of pressure to do this). I have LE under control and I never let it get out of control. Not often do I have to wear my compression sleeve and glove, and if I do, it is only at night...the arm is drained by the morning. I had 8 lymph nodes removed.
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Hi Summer! Thanks for your reply and information. My therapy has been identicle to yours -- with bandages, sleeve and glove. The swelling is reduced but not eliminated, as I could not tolerate the bandages at night. I have had to stop exercising due to side effects of taking Femara -- aching joints, fatigue, insomnia, etc. Perhaps halting exercise for 2 weeks has helped to reduce the lymhedema, but now I have to push myself to get to the gym again. I saw your photo of a reef turtle and wanted you to know that I fell in love with that creature after seeing them while snorkling in the Caribbean.
Question: Is it true that the affected lymphedema arm should not get any sun? I cover up most of the time, but sometimes with the heat it is impossible not to get some sun.
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Hi, LuckyLady,
Not sure where you heard that you shouldn't get sun on your LE arm. I believe our radiated skin will always be sun-sensitive and we need to protect it, but your LE arm is fine in the sun, as long as you avoid a burn, which would not only aggravate the swelling but pose a real infection danger. So, just don't burn!
(Did you know that your compression sleeve and glove are not sun protection, and that your skin can burn even with them on? How crazy is that!)
If you can't tolerate the bandages at night, have you checked out the Solaris-Tribute (www.solaris-tribute.com) or JoviPak (www.jovipak.com) night sleeves? They're double layered soft, stretch material, stuffed with foam chips and quilted in a pattern that encourages lymph to flow in the right direction. They're considerably more comfortable than wrapping, but they're almost as effective as wrapping for reducing stubborn swelling. With a prescription they should be covered at the same rate as your day sleeves. Unlike day sleeves, they last around two years or so, and they're machine washable and dryable. They come with an oversleeve for added compression for those times when the swelling may be acting up. At any rate, day garments are definitely not designed for night wear, because they act to contain swelling by stimulating lymph flow when you're active. If you sleep in them they may have a tourniquet effect, cutting off lymph flow instead of encouraging it.
As far as exercise, all the latest research is very encouraging about its positive effect on LE, but progressing slowly and backing off briefly at any sign of achiness, tiredness, or heaviness is important as you work up to higher weights and more reps. Have you seen the National Lymphedema Network Position Paper on Exercise? It's here: www.lymphnet.org
Enjoy!
Binney
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LuckyLady, I don't lift weights per se. I do a lot of lifting in the garden. I ride road and mountain bikes. I run, kayak, etc. I do have moderate LE. I do think that my LE is better because of exercise. I try to do all those other good things that we talk about on the LE board. And I am a pretty active 52 year old.
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Hi Bomber, Binney & Summer! Thanks for your insight and recommendations. I will look into the night sleeves this week and continue experimenting with degrees of exercise. I am hopeful that I can also kayak again soon and look forward to gardening... sleeveless.
Observation: I was unable to go to the gym for 2 weeks due to vacation and then illness and was subsequently pleased to see the veins in my hands reappear. The swelling had definitely decreased! I was delighted and went to the gym this past Monday for the 1st time in 2 weeks. On the strider (arms swinging) for a vigorous 20 mins. and 10 mins. walking at 4 mph on the treadmill... then 20 mins. stretching... wearing my sleeve and glove. I came home... left the sleeves on for 30 mins. ... removed them & showered. My hand was swollen and arm heavy! How frustrating! Question: I would like to go to the gym today, but wonder if I should give my arm a longer rest? Perhaps I need to start wrapping again during the day?
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LuckyLady, one thing worth noting, be sure to not let your arm hang down for any length of time. When I run, I naturally hold my arms in a bent position and pump my arms, which I think (my opinion/observations of my body) helps with moving the fluid. However, when I walk, my arms naturally dangle at my sides. Through gravity, this promotes pooling of fluid. So now when I am walking, I make a point of pulling my arms up. I also make a point of flexing my hands and wrists to promote fluid pumping action.
Another thing that is a problem, which I mainly see with gardening, is any kind of repetitive motion like raking and also vacuuming. For those times, I like to mix up the raking with a bit of weeding or other activity that takes me out of the repetitive motion. I do the raking and vacuuming in shorter spurts. Haven't figured out how to get out of it all together. :-)
Good luck. Don't let LE hold you back from having fun!
Debbie
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How about wrapping when you exercise, plus an hour or so after? And taking it a bit slower as you build back up. Cut back on the strider, say, to 10 minutes. If you exercise while wrapped you have a better chance of helping your lymph system move the fluid out. If you slow down the stretches (not less stretching, just slower) it might match the rhythm of your lymph system better.
Whoa! That sounded like a bunch of hocus pocus! What I mean it, stretching your skin is one way that lymph is pumped through your body, because the lymph vessels are close to the surface (and it's movement that pumps the lymph, not the heart like blood vessels). But the lymph system's "pump" rate is quite leisurely. So if you slow down the stretches you can more closely match the slow rhythm of the lymph flow, rather than working against it.
And to think, this all used to work like a dream without our ever having to think about it.
Those were the good ol' days!
Binney
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