lymphoedema and leg injuries

[salamander160]

I have had lymphoedema for several years, last year I burnt my left foot and I had an ulcer on my right leg following cellulitis. The ulcer has healed up nicely, the burn is still healing after just over 16 months, not sure how much time it will take to heal up.

I have compression bandaging on my left leg, the leg s very painful, nerve pain, it is made worse by the bandaging pressing on the nerves and when my legs swell up because of the lymphoedema. I was on gabapentin but had too many problems with it, my gp stopped it and I am still in pain, he has given me nothing to replace it. My leg has started swelling up, I had a spell with no swelling for about 12 weeks.

What makes it keep flaring up? is there anything natural I can use to help keep the fluid down and reduce the pain.

I have had to change doctors surgeries because I felt I was being left to get on and deal with it, the new surgery seems to be very popular and more caring.

[Lynora]

Is your lymphoedema primary or secondary? When you say compression bandaging, do you mean a compression garment? Do you have a lymphoedema therapist or nurse - have they checked out the left leg recently, to rule out an infection? Burns and injuries can take a very long time to heal on a lymphoedematous limb.

[salamander160 in reply to Lynora]

Hi, no because of the burn, they have put compression bandages on my leg, they will be using a compression garment once the wound is healed up. Yes it has taken over 16 months so far, I expect it to be several more months although the nurses think it will only be a few weeks. At least the wound has dried up, just needs to shrink mor e and I will be well on the way. I don't know if I am primary or secondary lymphoedema. I am currently being treated by the low limb therapy centre in Devon, I was under the lower limb service until I had my accident.

[HazieC]

Hi I’ve got secondary lymphodaema in my legs and I’ve noticed that if I get any cuts / bites / injuries etc they take a lot longer to heal than they usually would and tend to become infected a lot easier. I usually end up ringing the gp for antibiotics but if it got worse I think I’d be tempted to see the specialist nurse. It sounds like your injury is lasting far too long which must be terrible for you I hope your new gp is proactive in getting it sorted for you.