Pain with Lymphadema?

[Breeches]

first time posting, I hope I am doing this right! Can anyone tell me if Lymphedema can cause pain in the arm following breast cancer surgery?

[Lynora]

Yes, it can, but always best to get a change in symptoms checked by either your surgical team or GP.

[lovesradio in reply to Lynora]

Agree, my symptom was an achey bruised feeling x

[Fika500]

Yes it can be painful but there can be other causes of pain such as cording. It’s best to seek advice from a member of your medical team if there is any new symptom. Good luck.

[lymphite]

Before my LVA surgery I would get times of dull but strong heavy achiness. Twice, before I had swelling, my first thought was “am I having a heart attack?”. Then I would mentally run through the likelihood that I was and decide I must have just strained my muscles somehow. Later, after I had obvious swelling, I would get more pain in my arm occasionally.

[Breeches]

Thanks all. I have seen the GP today. she did not mention lymphoedema.

[Lynora in reply to Breeches]

GP’s often do not recognise lymphoedema. It may be better to contact your breast cancer nurse and talk to her.

[Hidden in reply to Lynora]

Lynora, I’m on a quest to make sure most GPs will recognise Lymphoedema by 2020 ! 😀

[Hidden]

My secondary Lymphoedema has nearly always been painful BUT as others have said you always need to report new symptoms to your care team. Very often the best way is via your Breast Care Nurse just as Lynora has said.

It should be noted however, that Prof Mortimer has always said that the pain I experience is unusual and generally Lymphoedema should not be painful.

Mine is complicated by Lipoedema which can cause pain.

[butiinside in reply to Hidden]

Of course its painful if you do heavy lifting/a lot of typing/repetitive tasks/wear the wrong clothes

[Hidden in reply to butiinside]

I don’t do any of those things and the pain continues.

[MelVernon]

Hi. I have secondary lymphoedema in my right arm following breast cancer treatment. I recently went to the Oxford Lymphoedema Practice for a consultation and have recently had LVA surgery. Their tests showed that I was carrying around about half a litre of extra fluid in my arm, which weighs about 2lbs, so no wonder it felt heavy all the time. It's like doing everying with a big of sugar strapped to your arm! I also had a constant dull ache in my forearm which got worse as the day went on. Since the surgery two weeks ago, the pain has all but gone. My arm still feels heavy and I have developed more swelling in my hand, but it is really early days yet and I can't expect to see any visible improvement before three months. I have had health care professionals tell me that there should be no pain with lymphoedema. However I felt pain and you feel pain - it's such an individual thing and if there's one thing I have learned over the last four years or so, it's that there is no right or wrong about anything - not your reaction to treatment, how you feel about the whole ghastly process and whether or not you "should" feel pain. I wish you well, and don't forget to seek medical advice if you are in any way concerned. Keep bothering them until you're happy.

[Breeches]

;Thanks, Aprille, Mine is a sharp shooting pain that feels 'deep' in the arm, I do get an ache too. I am going back to see the onc. I have not heard of lymphodema causing actual pain rather than aching.