In 2009 I developed hardened, tethered veins in my PICC line arm. All of the many doctors and nurses I have seen were amazed at the strange phenomena and said they had never seen it before, and had no idea what it was. Recently I found a picture of an arm that looks just like mine did!! Wonder of wonders! It apparently is called venous sclerosis and is a side effect of Epirubicin.
My arm is much better but still is uncomfortable at times, and the skin still puckers when I stretch.
I would like to know if there is any treatment, or long-term consequences of this condition.
I would also like to know if anyone developed blot clots or a lipoma around the same time as the veins in the arm started tightening up.
Bump… Sorry hopefully someone else will know.
Yes, yes yes, meeeee!
During FEC I developed a mechanical thrombosis from a PICC line. There was a 2 month delay getting a portacath during which time they decided that they HAD to find a vein and wedge a canula in. It was horrendous. As well as a mini-spill which destroyed tissue in my hand, my veins leaked and then became sclerosed.
I couldn’t find any help at all at the hospital, but if you ask Mr Google you’ll find some info. Here’s something that was in the BMJ
bmj.com/content/331/7520/816.full
I was using Clexane to clear the clot and found that by slathering the arm with moisturiser and then massaging gently (make sure you go in the right direction!) did eventually solve it. Took about 6 months xxxx