I am 2.5 years post surgery and have developed a pain running from the side of my wrist right up to my armpit. It’s very tender to touch and painful stretching arm out.
I saw my GP who thought it was an inflamed blood vessel. He gave me a gel to use to help with that. He said if it didn’t clear to start a course of antibiotics in case it was an infection. I have mild lymphodema so this would be a big problem.
I’m 3 days into antibiotics and no difference (plus I’ve never had a temp). Nothing is helping. Anyone any ideas. I’m worried because as I have not been wearing my compression sleeve my arm is swelling with the lymphodema.
Hi elinda I have had cording on and off… It’s usually painful on stretching but can’t always be seen unless you stretch a certain way.
Mine was worst through my wrist and upper inner arm and you could see the vessel being pulled in but through my arm pit it was sore but looked normal… I also had it through my boob and when it goes throughthe it’s called mondors disease but the vessel can actually protrude… Mine didn’t it was still pulled in and looked like a big dimple underneath the breast I’d just had surgery in.
Still get some tightness now and again… I have brufen gel if it gets bad… Usually around my wrists these days… Think the Chemo didn’t help.
I also was referred to the LO physio and kinesio tapping and massage but really it just got better on it’s own after a few months… I used to do the walking my hand up the wall stretches which I do think helped.
I would def go and get it checked out with your BC team and ask for a referral to the LO service to see if the can check it out…
Iv had numerous arm problems getting lymphanigitis after surgery then cellutitis, broken hand, etc but have only very minor LO in my hand.
Thanks Lulu, that’s really helpful. It does sound like it could be cording then. I do a lot of exercises and usually do the walking up the wall one every day but gave it miss for a few days and then the problem started.
Not sure was LO service is? Is it lymphodema? We don’t have physios dealing with that but I do have a fantastic specialist nurse but unfortunately she went on leave the day after this started. She’s back tomorrow so I’m going to try to see her.
I was a little worried about a blood clot as I had that during chemo on the other arm and it feels like a similar pain. Also as I’m on tamoxifen and have a naturally sticky blood. But the GP thinks not. I did think that ultrasound was the only way to tell.
I’ve decided to wear my compression anyway as now the arm is swelling up which is gutting. It took nearly a year but I’d got it right down to nearly a centimetre less than the right one so it’s back to square one.