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chicagoetc · 07-22-2009, 05:37 PM

I don't know if this will help or not...I did not have Lymphedema (don't yet I think) but I did have painful "cording" down my arm. I was sent to a lymphedema massage therapist as they also address cording (webbing) and loss of range of motion. One of the things they did do was to teach me how to do my own massage...said I should do it indefinitely. Maybe this is something you already do. If not it might be an idea. I notice that small cuts and insect bites on my one arm take longer to heal (by days) than on the other. The massage seems to help the healing process. Whether it would help with swelling is something I do not know (though I suspect it could).

Melanie

PS: The whole idea of things getting worse six years down the road is sobering to me. Probably in a good way. I hope the water exercises help.

07-22-2009, 05:37 PM	#8
chicagoetc Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Near Chicago Posts: 196	I don't know if this will help or not...I did not have Lymphedema (don't yet I think) but I did have painful "cording" down my arm. I was sent to a lymphedema massage therapist as they also address cording (webbing) and loss of range of motion. One of the things they did do was to teach me how to do my own massage...said I should do it indefinitely. Maybe this is something you already do. If not it might be an idea. I notice that small cuts and insect bites on my one arm take longer to heal (by days) than on the other. The massage seems to help the healing process. Whether it would help with swelling is something I do not know (though I suspect it could). Melanie PS: The whole idea of things getting worse six years down the road is sobering to me. Probably in a good way. I hope the water exercises help. __________________ Diagnosed: 7/13/07 (or 7/7/07) Surgery: 8/15/07 Modified Radical One Side with Lymph Node Dissection Pathology Report: ER/PR-, HER2+ with FISH at 8.4 copies, Grade 3, Stage IIIa, 3.2 cm tumor plus 4/19 positive lymph nodes Portacath: 9/7/07 Chemo: 9/14/07 with AC (every three weeks) for four rounds Physical Therapy for ROM Loss / "Cording" (but not Lymphodema) Taxol + Herceptin weekly (started 12/2007 with 8 of 12 Taxol) Radiation: (28 rads from 3/07 to 4/07) Reconstruction (silicone implant) Herceptin done (10/08) Cognitive Remediation (11/08 - 12/08) Lymphedema Diagnosed 5/10/10 (almost 3 years post cancer diagnosis) Lymphedema Rehab 9/10/10 - 11/10/10 Six years NED...7/7/2013!