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edema (hand swelling) making it impossible to sleep

Hi, my name is Bob, 72 years old and live in France, I had a stroke 4 months back and it has left me with a weak left arm with little use of my fingers. Physio was going well until I developed a swelling in my left hand that has caused muscle weakness and really inhibits normal physio exercises. During the day the swelling is not too bad, but at night when my arm is pretty much not moving, the swelling is quite severe and typically wakes me up after about 30 mins sleep. The pressure in my arm causes enough pain which is only relieved if I sit on the side of the bed for about 5 mins, after which I can lie down again and maybe snatch another half hours sleep. My doctor has given me some sleeping pills which work, but I find the longer I sleep, the greater is the swelling and the resultant pain when I awake. As a lay person, educated in this matter by the internet, it seems to me that Lymph fluid is forming and not draining while my arm is stationary. Algo dystrophy has been suggested and I am half way through a course of daily injections of calcitonin. No improvement has occurred to date. Is this a problem suffered by other folk out there?
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Avatar universal
Hi Jerry, Thanks for the response. I too had/have AFIB. That they say was the root cause of the stroke . I was taking xarelto at the time as well, but on a fairly small dose, 12 mg, per day. There are a million factors that can provoke a stroke and a blood thinner, doesn't seem to counteract them all.
Re the sleep problem, I have tried sitting in a chair etc, but with no real improvement. A special bed is a bit impractical here, but I am seeing the doc again next week and who knows what the next suggested "fix" will be. Living in France has many advantages if you are sick as health care is excellent and virtually free of charge.  When a solution to sleeping with what I think is a lymph drainage problem, I will post info here.
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612551 tn?1450022175
Sorry to read of your difficulty... I have atrial fibrillation and take a "blood thinner" to reduce the associated risk of clot formation and a possible stroke. Your post helps me appreciate the seriousness of a stroke.

Have you considered sleeping in a seated, or at least upper body elevated above the hipps?  Elevation of the arm may also offer some relief, don't know how that would be done, or if it would help.  

You may need a special bed that can be elevated as is common in hosptials.
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