lymphedema

[jane65]

For quite a while my right leg from foot to the  knee has been swollen. My oncologist said it's edema, caused by the cancerous lymph nodes not allowing the lymph system to drain properly. He recommended that I wear a compression stocking, and keep my legs elevated as much as possible.

I'm still recovering from the double hernia surgery, but I noticed that my right thigh is now swollen, and hard in places.

I know that I can't ignore it,  and I'll call him, but I was wondering if anyone has had experience with lymphedema and what was the treatment?

Jane

[gah_70]

I've never had a problem with it so severely that I required treatment other than Lasix.  But I do know there is a special lymphatic massage technique used to get the lymph nodes to drain.  In fact, I was just talking to someone today who recently had a session, because right now, the only cancer showing up is my lymph nodes.  I know it can be painful, even for those who are mostly healthy, so I don't know how it would be for someone who already has health problems.  But some people swear by it.  It might be something worth discussing with your doctor.  I would never recommend doing something like that without discussing it first.

Hope you are recovering well and getting your energy back despite the fluid issue.  If you will, come back and post what your doctor says about the edema.  

Gail    

[Burnzie]

Hi Jane,
I now know a fair bit about lymphedema, unfortunately first hand.  I developed this over the summer and after my colostomy operation and radiation to the pelvis it got worse, to the point where my thighs were huge!  I have always been a size 9 but I had to go out and get size 15/16 pants to go over my thighs!!!  My abdomen is also swollen so I ended up having to get rid of all my clothes.  This was so depressing.  Anyway, for the last month I have been going to a physiotherapist once a week for the treatment of lymphedema.  Every day I have exercises to do at home and my husband does massage and multilayer-wraps my leg before he goes to work and I keep it on for the day.  It is supposed to be on 23 hours a day, but I can't sleep with such a contrictive bandage on. Both legs are supposed to be wrapped but its impossible to get around because its like having a cast on all the time. The purpose for this is to reduce the size of the leg to the point where you can be fitted for a compression stocking.  A lady is coming to my house this morning to measure me for stockings.
The hardness in your leg is likely fibrosis caused from the edema and needs deep massaging.   The physiotherapist told me that on a person without lymphedema it would hurt, but with me it actually feels good.  There is also lighter massage that is done and that is to encourage normal lymphatic drainage.  Alot of my lymph nodes are diseased in the groin and thigh so its painful.  Anyway, the sooner you attack this problem the better the outcome.  I waited too long because I thought that it was due to the effects of radiation.  Nobody told me otherwise-THANKS!  The treatment for lymphedema has come a long way and I don't think the Docs are on board yet.  Good luck with your quest.
Karen