Lymphedema pain at night

mtmom
mtmom Member Posts: 59
in Breast Cancer #1

Crud! It's midnight and I just want to cry! For the last week I have had pain in my arm at night. I do have lymphedema and wear my sleeve during the day. Has anyone had trouble at night? I really need some relief. I have tried hanging it over the edge of the bed, raising it, keeping it elevated, putting my sleeve back on. The pain is a dull ache with stabbing pain that starts in my forearm and radiates to my hand. My swelling is under control. I know it is late but I won't be able to talk to my PT until Monday. Thanks for the help.

Blessings,

~Mtmom

Comments

  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #2
    Sorry to hear about your pain

    i usually find relif by doing manual drainage excersises and self massage. I also wearing a night compression sleeve. Ask your therapist about night sleeve

    i hope next night will be better

  • cinnamonsmile
    cinnamonsmile Member Posts: 1,187 Member
    #3
    I learned that drinking

    I learned that drinking enough water, doing deep breathing, doing MLD, wearing sleeves can help with LE.

    They do make special compression sleeves for wearing at night.

    breastcancer.org has a whole section devoted to only lymphedema (https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/64).

    There are some very knowledgeable women on there (one has LE and is a certified LE therapist) and I am sure they could add more information than I could.

    I highly suggest you post there as well.

    Good luck!

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #4
    Night garments are different than day garments

    LE garments (day/night) are designed to work differently - active/passive.  Day garments are designed to work while we are being active, night garments are designed to work while we are not active (sleeping).  They are very different.  Me - I wear my day garments (sleve and glove) every day.  When I get ready for bed, my night garment goes on.  I also use my FlexiTouch (MLD machine) for a cycle (an hour) daily.

    Unfortunately, many PTs will try to say that they 'know everything bbout LE'  when they have no real knowledge/education about LE.  See someone who is a certified LymphEdema Therapist - my fantastic LE Guy is an OT.

    I have never had any pain associatete with my LE

    Winyan -The Power Withim

    Susan

  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #5
    Rague said:

    Night garments are different than day garments

    LE garments (day/night) are designed to work differently - active/passive.  Day garments are designed to work while we are being active, night garments are designed to work while we are not active (sleeping).  They are very different.  Me - I wear my day garments (sleve and glove) every day.  When I get ready for bed, my night garment goes on.  I also use my FlexiTouch (MLD machine) for a cycle (an hour) daily.

    Unfortunately, many PTs will try to say that they 'know everything bbout LE'  when they have no real knowledge/education about LE.  See someone who is a certified LymphEdema Therapist - my fantastic LE Guy is an OT.

    I have never had any pain associatete with my LE

    Winyan -The Power Withim

    Susan

    everyone is different

    everyone is different. Some people have a very painful lymphedema symptoms. Mine is painful too

  • mtmom
    mtmom Member Posts: 59
    #6
    Thanks!

    Thanks to everyone for the input. For one thing it's good to not feel alone :). For tonight I will do my MLD and leave my sleeve on. Monday I will look into getting a night sleeve. Thanks, Rague, for the clarification on the difference between the two types of sleeves.

    Praying for a good night's sleep!
    Blessings,

    ~Mtmom

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #7
    mtmom said:

    Thanks!

    Thanks to everyone for the input. For one thing it's good to not feel alone :). For tonight I will do my MLD and leave my sleeve on. Monday I will look into getting a night sleeve. Thanks, Rague, for the clarification on the difference between the two types of sleeves.

    Praying for a good night's sleep!
    Blessings,

    ~Mtmom

    Solari Tribute

    My night garment is a Solaris Tribute (can google solaris tribute to find pictures of it). There are other manufacturers also.  Night garments are a lot 'bulkier' than day garments.  Very simplisticly, day garments apply consistant pressure and work by aiding our muscle movements to help move the fluid on.  At night, we do very little to no movement for hours on end so the night garments themselves encourage the movement of the fluid without muscle activity.  I was told, very emphatically, not to leave a day sleeve and glove on overnight.  If for some reason I couldn't use my night sleeve to wrap instead of leaving a day sleeve on overnight.

    We are each so unique and we have to learn what works for us individually whichmismnot necessarily what works for someome else.  As said - I've never had any pain associate with LE but some do.  I do better in summer when it is hot and I'm a lot more active tham in cold winter - some are the opposite.  Some need heavy compression, I need light as heavy makes my LE VERY worse.  

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