I had posed a question on another site about has anyone else had severe swelling of their legs and feet and what did they do about it and Dr Herbst was kind enough to send me a paper on what is known as lymphedema.I sent it to my Dr and we now beleive that is what I have.My sister has it also to more of an extreme.It comes and goes.My feet swell so big that I cant get shoes or socks on so I am barefoot alot…anyone else have severe swelling…(I took pictures of the swelling for evidence for my DR)
The lymphodema can happen in arms too…you should get it shecked…I know I have the opposite problem…my left arm is HUGE!!! and my grand daughter thinks its funny to say about my hanging flesh that she likes my “rubber”…Thats what it feels like- rubber…Its embarrasing and I never wear sleeveless shirts anymore…but I guess I would rather be embarassed then have my feet swell up so huge I cant get a shoe or sock on…
Hi,
I am having a problem with my right arm from my hand up to my shoulder. It’s about 1.5 times the size of my left arm. At first I though my left arm was withering or something, but I don’t think that’s case now.
Hmmm, not good at all.
You know my feet used to swell on the tops and be so sore and my ankles swelled, but ever since I had the Reiki session almost six weeks ago, it hasn’t happened since, but I noticed my arm.
I just read up on that ailment and I haven’t had radiation, surgery, or injury to the area, but, of course, we know we’re different and things just like flare up and happen around us. When you press on your swollen areas, do you leave imprints. My spring back on both arms … all over my body really. I’m well hydrated. lol
Do you know what kind of doctor to see to have this checked out? I have lost faith in my local doctors of late especially after having a terrible reaction to some medication and the doctor having an attitude about it.
I’ve got lymphedema in both legs and had compression therapy for several weeks a few years ago with such success that my doctor (dermatologist) prescribed a machine for home use. My insurance company paid for the thing with no question. (It’s very expensive - over $4k) My 40 year old nephew was diagnosed with lymphedema last summer and went through the therapy and has the machine, too. I’m very fearful that he’s got Dercum’s. He gets many strange lesions on his legs and has at least one large lipoma. He’s a big guy and has dealt with a lot of pain in his life so I think he has, like so many of us, been ignoring the early indicators. I hope I’m wrong, but…
Anyway, at my urging, he sees my dermatologist, so he’s well cared for! (Another sister’s daughter also sees him. She suffers from rosacea and a sweating condition - I worry about her, too. She’s a tiny thing, and gaining a lot of weight would make her crazy. Not that we all gain weight, but it seems like many of us do. She’s 36.)
So, I would just go to my primary care practitioner. Lymphedema is a fairly obvious condition, and if you have decent insurance, it will pay for you to have this therapy, I’m sure, and success in the therapy is one of the confirming signs f lymphedema, according to “my” Dr Herbst. (My derm’s name is Dr Herbst, which I find very amusing. Whenever someone mentions Dr H here I do a double take.)
Hope that helps, rambling as it was! 
me
Oh yes, my legs and feet to the same thing. My hands have recently joined in the fun too.
That spring back is an indication it may well be lymphodema!
My ankle is constantly swollen. I broke it in October 05. And my knee that was crushed beyond repair is also always swollen.
The dr. prescribed a machine that massages my legs, and it feels ever so good.
However, after I found all my lumps, I stopped using it. It is a compression machine, goes up and down the legs. Do you think I can still use it ? I was afraid it might cause more bumps and lumps.
Any thoughts ?
Callie, that’s the machine I use. It may or may not cause more lumps, but it definitely relieves the pain of the swelling, by keeping the fluid moving. And that’s important for more than just the pain. If you get even a small break in the skin with your leg swollen like that, the tissues can have become so damaged from the lymphedema that they won’t heal. So even if you get more lumps, the lymphedema is the condition to treat first.
Hope that helps!
me
Wow! All you guys have swollen feet and legs too! I thought mine was related to my diabetes or my heart. I can only wear one pair of shoes with no laces two sizes too big to accomodate my ankles. Support hose kill me…even the biggest ones with the least support. They make red lines all the way to the bone and I have to tear them off as my feet are on fire.
Dr H said it can come and go and thats what heppens to me…I also found that I can tell when my feet and legs are going to swell up because my feet feel “tingly”…anyhopw they feel funny and a few days later they are swollen…I am finding now I have acis reflux too…I just am a mess…no nerve damage but left side is weaker than right side…lumps every where…eye muscle twitches all the time…
Exactly and it’s 100 times worse than usual and won’t end!
–
Benita
Hello all!
Sorry I’ve been gone so long but I lost my log in info after problems with computer and of course I couldn’t remember it. Had problems with computer again this a.m. and reloaded IE and suddenly there was my log in info.
I’ve been monitoring the postings somewhat and would love to see the info on lymphedema because I have severe lumpy and massive swelling from my mid-thigh down to toes but toes don’t swell. Can’t wear the compression stockings b/c of severe pain. Comes and goes but have noticed that when the swelling/drainage starts I have severe BM constantly until the swelling is all the way down and it seems very toxic (smell & feel). Is this something you guys have suffered?
What other sites does Dr. H post on? Seems there are several now. I know some refer to one as “the large group” - any ideas?
Thanks and gentle hugs to you all and thanks to all of you who have sent me so many hugs while I was gone.
Fingers can’t stand any more but will stay in touch more now,
Dr H posts on the Yahoo group…But send me your email address and I will send you the papers she sent me…They were very helpful to me
Well, yes, my IBS kicks in whenever I am shedding excess fluid. Is that what you mean?
I hadnt put two and two together until you posted that but it is the same for me the IBD is really bad when my legs are swollen…I will have to be more aware next time so I can tell for sure they might be related, but the same thig happens to me…and I thought it was the Metformin but I take that with no ill effects so it must be the lymphedema…