Hi All
I have lymphoedema in my arm. Have had it for 3 years - I wear a sleeve on and off and it has not really changed - no worse not much better. I have just started a course of MLD for my breast lymphoedema and since then I have found that my arm with lymphoedema has started to hurt on and off. Does anyone get pain in their arm and I am wodering if it could be connected to teh MLD or just a coincidence - anyone have pain on and off in arm?
Love to all
ALise x
Hello Alise, I too have left arm lymphodaema and, yes, I do sometimes get pain, especially if I do too much. I spoke to my breast nurse and she just said when I felt pain, rest. The fact you are having MLD means your arm is responding and pain may be the result of the use. Try not to use your arm too much apart from the exercises you have to do. The pain will hopefully settle, as does mine. However, if you feel you need more clarification, its always best to speak with your breast nurse or the MLD people. Good luck with the MLD, it hope it works and hope you are able to keep us informed how it goes. Ann x
hi alise
sorry your arm’s hurting - i think a lot of us get achey / heavy feelings & sometimes that tight cording type feeling down the arm, & as ann says it’s usually when you’ve overdone it & the arm’s asking for a break
haven’t heard of mld making that happen though, & i’m also surprised you’re having mld for your breast but they’re not doing your arm as part of the whole thing
still, i’m sure they’ve got some good reason for that but i’d be interested to hear what they say when you ask
the bcc helpline team has also got nurses on it who know loads about ld, so you could always give them a ring
but mainly, lie back & enjoy …!
I guess maybe if the MLD is shifting fluid out of the breast, then fluid from the arm has extra to compete with wherever it evebntually meets up? Just a conjecture on my part. Alternatively maybe the improved movement of fluid away is stimulating/allowing more to be produced, a bit like a hungry baby? but it has to be good that it’s fresh and flowing, and not stagnating.
Yes, I get achey from time to time too, seems to depend on diet/hormones causing water retention combined with feeling sluggish and not wanting to exercise, as I do find the deep breathing that goes with active exercise seems to keep the arm down. When i’ve been good, been out for a run and kept well away from the pringles i’m rewarded with a happier arm: And do I detect a Smug Barsteward sticker coming my way too (runs for cover!)
When you feel pain, just rest… duh, that really should be on the “Annoying things that well-meaning people Say” thread. Sure, i will rest, if you can put my washing out for me and bring in all the shopping, maybe do the hoovering too… of course we all do too much, once we’re off the critical list, life goes on.
I’ve just had an episode of pain which I never really got to the bottom of. I couldn’t straighten and stretch my arm without a really bad pain (not ache) running up my whole arm. It wasn’t a blood clot, it wasn’t cording and it wasn’t an infection - it resolved on its own in about 2 weeks.
I think I may have been over zealous with my SLD in my arm and the conclusion by the nurse and GP was that i had either inflamed a blood vessel or some lymph vessels.
I’d agree with Hymil that it sounds like the MLD in the breast could be a cause. It could be as she suggests because there is extra fluid now heading to your working lymph nodes and they simply can’t cope at the moment with the arm and breast fluid. Perhaps more needs to be done to stimulate those working nodes or to direct the fluid to other ones as well. Alternatively, it could be that some fluid from the breast area has inadvertantly got pushed towards the arm. Discuss with your therapist as I’m sure they’ll have some ideas.
I think it’s helpful to say what sort of pain you are experiencing and whether it is localised. My lymphodema nurse specialist said that pain is very unusual with lymphodema although tenderness and tightness can be an issue. If possible, it might also be worth having arm measurements taken to see if you do have more fluid in the arm now.
Hope it resolves soon for you. Elinda x
And as Norberte and others have said it could that you’ve done too much and perhaps without the sleeve. That was another thought my nurse had. Perhaps try wearing the sleeve every day until it resolves.