Lymphedema and tendonitis

[AZDarleen]

Hi there, I hope someone can help, I have had LE since Jan 2006 and now after 3 months they have finally decided I also have tendonites in my elbow in the same arm I have LE, If I do the commpresse wrap it really causes a lot of pain in the elbow, can't wear my seleve or glove right now, too big right now. Is there anyone else that has had this problem and if so what did they do, it seems that if I do something to help the LE it makes the pain in elbow worse. I tried swiming, it was good for the LE but about an hour later I had alot of pain in arm.
Thanks for listening to me and any help
Darleen:confused:

[zoetman]

I have lymphedema and bicep tendinitis so I understand what you're going through. I got the lymphedema and tendinitis after an unsuccessful shoulder surgery. Now I don't know what to do about it because, whenever anybody touches my arm -- I've tried acupuncture, PT, trigger point therapy -- it flares me up into very bad bicep tendinitis and then I just have to rest my arm for days to make you feel better. I've really gotten out of shape because of this condition, because I can't do any exercise. It's very frustrating.

[Bahons2]

Hi

I have lymphoedema and tennis elbow - and sometimes it feels as tho' it's driving me nuts, too. To everyone trying to cope with both, you have my deepest sympathy. I have the same problem - whatever was good for lymphoedema was bad for tennis elbow, too. Apparently swimming is bad for (can actually cause, in fact) tennis elbow, but is the best exercise going for lymphoedema.

I've had to take the long view with this. I'm not medically qualified, but what worked for me was to make priority number one getting the pain under control, so I kept taking the anti-inflammatories for a long time. With lymphoedema they tell you to support your arm all the time, but I found the most comfortable thing was to let it hang straight by my side as much as possible. Obviously rest it as much as you can and avoid repetetive action of any kind. The tennis elbow bands are obviously a no-no with lymphoedema, but I found a wrist support helpful, particularly when using a computer. I also discovered a hot water bottle filled with chilled water helped the inflammation a lot if I was sitting down - I was able to let my elbow 'sink' into it. I always sleep with my elbow supported with a pillow, rolled up towel, or the chilly hot water bottle again. It's been three years and it's a lot better, but by no means cured.

I managed to track down some lymphoedema sleeves that were much less painful to wear than the others. In the UK they are supplied by a company called Haddenham Healthcare, but actually manufactured by a German company called Schiebler. They are smooth, and lighter than usual, and I was able to tolerate these well.

I've also found that if the tennis elbow inproves, so does the lymphoedema.

See also my post about the laser.

Hope some of this helps! Good luck.

[mickydoodle]

I was diagnosed with tennis elbow and enthesopathy of the wrist and elbow region . These are all workmans comp claims. I am a rural mail carrier and work 8-10 hours a day 5 days a week. I do a repetitive action job with 1000 of pieces a mail a day. 3/ 07/2011 I went to my surgeons office for a second opinion on swelling under my left arm that had moved into my left breast. I had the results of the MRI that the oncologist had ordered several weeks before after I told the oncologist that the breast had started to swell. I had breast cancer of the right breast and had a lumpectomy and radiation in 2001. I started swelling in the left breast about 6 years ago but the oncologist said he did not know what it was.The swelling was going up and down and just recently moved to the left breast about a month ago. It seems like the swelling gets worse the more / harder I work or lift anything heavy. The surgeon diagnosed me with Lymphedema and I got fitted for a arm sleeve. Now I am having trouble with the pain in my elbow . I am getting a appointment with a Lymphedema specialist to see how I can control both the tennis elbow and lymphedema. My questions right now is why do I have lymphedema in the arm that the 2 lymph node were not taken from? Do I have to quit work? Any answers would be appreciated THANKS

[Linda]

I'm sorry to hear that you are having a really tough time and I'm glad that you will be getting treatment. I've attached a page of information about looking for quality treatment.

Why lymphedema when only a few nodes were removed? That is a big mystery question. As you described, you had some other problems in that area before the cancer treatment and that probably contributed to your risk factors. If it is any comfort to you, I hear from others who only had a few nodes removed and they too developed lymphedema. I'm guessing that there are other women out there who had lots of nodes removed but never developed lymphedema (I'm not one of them -- I developed it with a few weeks of the surgery.

What I have learned is that the sooner you start treatment -- and stick with it even when you don't want to, you stand a better chance of getting it under control. Don't miss understand. It probably won't go away, but you can improve the situation.

Certainly I send you best wishes for finding a good therapist, who can help you and help you feel better.


Linda

[mickydoodle]

Ok I go to the lymph edema specialist Monday 03/28/2010. I have tendinitis both wrist and tendinitis left elbow. The lymph edema is in the OPPOSITE side I had breast cancer and 2 nodes removed 2001. Any questions I should ask ?????? Can tendinitis cause lymph edema??????THANKS!!!!!!!!

[Linda]

In the hope of finding some information for you I did an internet search --- the bad news is that I did not find any new information.

After reading the problems others with this combination of problems I came up with one idea. If the MD is looking for something to ease the swelling without wearing a sleeve, you might ask if using sports tape would help control the swelling without having to wear a compression sleeeve. The problem with this would be the need to have someone, who knows what they are doing to place the tape.

If your doctor has some good ideas, please share them with us.

Best wishes!

Linda.

[mickydoodle]

Ok ot says she is referring me to a ortho surgeon because she is not sure what is wrong with my under arm swelling and breast swelling. She says it may be rotator cup that is making me swell????????? I can always come back for therapy for lymph edema if it is not my rotator cup

[mickydoodle]

Ok had the Rotator cuff surgery 09/29.2011. I have gone down in swelling of lymphedema until the Physical Therapist has started me on 2-4 pound weights the first week of January. I am swelling again so I now am goung to a Lymphedema Physical Therapist 01/24/2012.The cuff was workmans comp so the doctor was going to put me back to work of repetitive action work. and having to lift up to 70 pounds. I have been off since 05/13/2011 so he sent me back to therapy to streghthen me up. Now my left breast and underarm of the same arm that cuff surgery was done on is swelling.I started the filing for Disability thru my works plan and also social security I almost fell while on vicadin 3 days after surgery and my bad knee popped so now it has been drained and I was told is bone on bone.I get one thing fixed and something else breaks................I am now looking at more physical therapy for lymphedema. YE HAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ann]

:rolleyes:

I noticed that today is yet another doctor's appointment. We are wishing you good news and positive results.

Ann

[mickydoodle]

Ok I am bigger than the last time I saw Therapist and my arm sleeve does not fit right so I need a new one. The therapist recommends 3weeks 3 times a week therapy then a review . Also a custom fit arm sleeve after therapy. Also I need a long bra . I go to my Orthopedic surgeon that did my rotator cuff tomorrow and he has been faxed all the GOOD news from the Therapist. He will be making a decision on working and weights. I will call the therapist next week after I talk to insurance and see what doctor says. If I go back to work then I told therapist I would call and make a appointment for like the next week so she can measure and see how big working makes me. I know I should be positive but if I am swelling now just lifting 2-4 pound weights throwing me back to work lifting up to 70 pounds and the repetitive work is really going to aggravate it.Oh well hope I can sleep tonight. Hope tomorrow will answer some questions but it might just start up a whole new set of them..............