Lymphostasis of the hand after removal of the breast: causes, symptoms and treatment

At present, the level of cancer is quite high. This can be explained by various conditions: bad ecology, unhealthy lifestyle, a large number of chemical additives in food. Among all cancer diseases, one of the leading places is breast cancer in women.

To my great regret, it often happens that we ask for help late, so we have to remove the chest, and this entails other problems, for example, lymphostasis of the hand after a mastectomy. With this disease, we will try to understand our article.

What is lymphostasis?

Surgery to remove the breast is already in extreme cases, when doctors are sure that other methods of treatment will not give the proper effect. The most common complication after surgery is an edema of the upper limb, which develops due to the appearance of lymphostasis.

If after the operation there is a violation of the outflow of the lymphatic fluid, it is said that the lymphostasis of the hand developed after the removal of the mammary gland. In this case, the affected organ increases. If this problem is not eliminated, the process is transferred to neighboring tissues, microcirculation of blood and lymph is disturbed there. From such a state is very close to fibrosis and trophic ulcers.

If you add to this and erysipelas, then to sepsis at hand. When the operation results in the removal of large lymph nodes, the drainage function is disrupted, which leads to swelling of the hand.

Causes of the disease

With lymphostasis, persistent edema is observed, which occurs due to a violation of the outflow of tissue fluid. If you are diagnosed with lymphostasis of the hand, the reasons can be as follows:

1. Operations with the removal of lymph nodes, which is exactly the case for mastectomy.
2. Erysipelas inflammations.
3. Chronic problems with lymphatic and venous system.

Regardless of the cause, this disease requires immediate treatment to prevent serious complications. There are cases when the lymph nodes and muscle tissue are completely removed, and lymphostasis does not develop, and in some cases, even with the slightest intervention, a severe complication begins.

Types of lymphostasis

Doctors distinguish several stages in the development of lymphostasis:

1. Early edema.
2. Late.

The first variety usually develops immediately after the removal of the breast, as there is damage to the lymph nodes and the flow of lymph. This swelling is also called soft.

Late lymphostasis of the hand after removal of the breast can develop and after a rather long time after the operation. Most often, such complications affect women who were exposed before or after the operation. They can also be provoked by scarring, which prevents the restoration of normal lymph drainage.

It is not necessary to take measures independently to eliminate this problem, it is necessary to consult a doctor, because often late edema can signal a relapse of an oncological disease. If this is not confirmed, then it is possible to begin treatment of lymphostasis of the hand after a mastectomy.

Diagnosis of the disease

Usually, after the operation, a woman will stay in the hospital for about three weeks under the supervision of doctors, so when examined, the doctor can detect problems with the lymphatic system in time.

If the edema begins to develop at later stages, then it will be necessary to consult a gynecologist, who will definitely ask:

• What kind of operation was carried out and how many were there.
• Whether there were complications at early stages after removal of a breast.
• The time when lymphostasis appeared after the removal of the breast.
• How the disease proceeds.
• What drugs have you already taken.
• The presence of other chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease.

Since you do not need a gynecologist to treat lymphostasis, he will recommend that you contact a specialist for an adequate solution to this problem.

Lymphostasis of the hands: symptoms

If the disease proceeds in mild form, it can be noted the appearance of the swelling of the hand, which usually increases during the day, and after a night rest passes. To increase edema can cause physical stress or, conversely, a long motionless position.

At this stage, irreversible changes in connective tissue are completely absent, therefore, if you contact the lymphologist in time, the prescribed treatment will allow you to get rid of this problem.

The average degree of the disease is characterized by swelling, which does not disappear after rest. At the same time, the connective tissue grows, the skin stretches and becomes denser, thus it is possible to feel painful sensations. With persistent lymphostasis, there is increased fatigue, convulsions.

If lymphostasis passes to the last stage, which is considered severe, there are already irreversible changes in the lymphatic system. You can observe fibro-cystic lesions and elephantiasis. These changes lead to the fact that the contours of the hand change and its functioning is disturbed.

The most serious is the serious complication of this period - sepsis, which can lead to the death of a person.

Treatment of lymphostasis

Therapy of this disease includes two stages:

1. Ambulatory treatment. Appoints a doctor-lymphologist. At this stage, the treatment of hand lymphostasis after mastectomy is reduced to the following procedures:

• Wearing special compression jersey.
• Massage the hands.
• Magnetic therapy.
• Drug treatment.
• Laser therapy.
• Observe a certain diet.
• Physiotherapy.

2. Surgical treatment, if lymphostasis of the hand in breast cancer failed to be defeated by conservative methods. The operation is also indicated in cases when the disease progresses rapidly.

Medication Therapy

If lymphostasis of the hand develops, treatment should be prescribed only by a doctor. Along with all physiotherapeutic methods, drug therapy is used, in which it is prescribed:

• Angioprotectors.
• Phlebotics.
• Immunostimulants.
• Enzymes.
• Antibiotics if erysipelas are attached.

All these groups of drugs in conjunction with the procedures make it possible to restore the normal outflow of lymph and strengthen the walls of the vessels.

Therapeutic exercise with lymphostasis

Effective will not only massage with lymphostasis of the hand, but also a set of physical exercises, which you will recommend a doctor. All the complexes are aimed at improving the outflow of lymph. You can begin the classes from 7-10 days after the operation.

After removing the breast, the woman feels some stiffness in her hand and shoulder girdle, from this she begins to stoop, press her hand to the body. This leads to additional problems in the form of headaches, spasms that disrupt the movement of the lymphatic fluid.

Massage and exercise therapy will help to avoid such consequences or get rid of them, if any. The effect will depend on the time when the lessons begin - the sooner, the better.

Perform the proposed exercises can be sitting on the bed, squaring his shoulders. Each exercise should be repeated 4 to 10 times. Do not push yourself to exhaustion, with the appearance of unpleasant or painful sensations you need to rest.

1. Hands straighten and put on your knees palms down. It is necessary to turn the brushes, but without straining at the same time.
2. The position is the same, fingers alternately squeeze into a fist and unclench.
3. Hands should be bent at the elbows, while the palms rest on the shoulders. Slowly raise and lower hands.
4. Bend to the side where the operation was performed, lower the hand and make small movements back and forth.
5. It is necessary to lift the hand from the operated side upwards and to hold it in this position for several seconds.
6. Breathe - raise your hand in front of you, hold your breath and move your hand to the side. Exhale - we lower the hand.
7. Perform circular motions in the shoulder joint.
8. Connect your fingers behind your back and straighten your arms. Try to raise your hands in this position.
9. Connect your hands behind your back to the "lock" and press them with the back of your hands to your waist.

Do all the exercises slowly, take your time. In this case, the speed of execution is not important, but regularity.

Healing massage

The attending physician will recommend you not only to engage in physiotherapy exercises, but also massage your arm from the operated side. Massage can be done independently, but you can ask your loved ones to make it to you.

Before the woman is discharged from the hospital, the doctor will necessarily hold a conversation with her about the regime of the day, those sets of exercises that need to be done, and also will show and tell about the technique of the massage.

Here are a few recommendations for carrying out this procedure with lymphostasis:

1. It is necessary to lift up the swollen arm and to rest on the vertical surface, and the second while doing stroking movements from the fingers to the shoulder and from the elbow to the shoulder. You can use special ointments or creams.
2. Massage movements must be done from all sides. They should be gentle, calm and unhurried. During this procedure, you should not feel pain and discomfort.
3. The duration of one massage session is several minutes. Depending on the stage of the disease, it can be carried out several times a day.

Folk healers against lymphostasis

Do not panic if you are diagnosed with lymphostasis of the hand after a mastectomy. Treatment with folk remedies in conjunction with other therapies will yield good results.

First of all, folk medicine advises to take diuretic infusions and decoctions, which will not contribute to fluid retention in the body. A good effect is given by a diuretic tea, here is the recipe for its preparation:

1. Collect, dry and grind the leaves of black currant.
2. Combine them with the same number of rose hips.
3. Brew 1 teaspoon of a mixture of 200 ml of boiling water.
4. Take before meals 4 times a day for 100 ml after the tea is infused.

If you ask folk healers about how to treat lymphostasis of the hand, then they will give you a lot of recipes. Here are some of them:

1. Compress from cottage cheese and potatoes. Cottage cheese should be dry, potatoes grated and without juice. You can put them together on a sick hand or in turn: today is cottage cheese, and tomorrow potatoes.
2. Simultaneously with packs of potatoes and cottage cheese, you need to take tincture of the fruits of Sophora. It helps to strengthen connective tissue, removes the inflammatory process. To make it, you need to take 50 grams of fruit, pour them 0.5 liters of vodka and insist for three weeks, periodically mixing. Take should be 30 drops 3 times a day on an empty stomach.
3. You can prepare a collection of equal parts of the medicinal drone, blackhead, black elderberry, willow bark and dandelion root. Take 1.5 tbsp. L. Mixture pour 0.5 liters of water and boil for a few minutes. Leave to insist. Take 100 ml three times daily before meals.
4. You can use a compress that removes swelling: brew dough from rye flour, add the same volume of kefir, preferably home. All well mix and soak a piece of gauze. Apply the compress on the hand and fix it, leave it to dry. You can repeat it several times a day.
5. Lymphostasis of the hand can be treated with natural beet juice, which should be drunk at 250 ml per day.

If you combine traditional recipes with physiotherapy, medication, then you will be able to get rid of lymphostasis.

Mode of nutrition with lymphostasis

For your weight should always be watched, since extra pounds do not add to our health, and in case of problems with the lymphatic system - the more so. Nutrition for lymphostasis of the hand should be rational and within reasonable limits, in the end we eat to live, and not live to eat.

Any food can become a medicine, this was said by ancient philosophers. You can give the following recommendations for a diet during lymphostasis:

• Reduce the number of foods containing animal fats.
• Remove from the diet of smoked meat, sausage.
• Increase the consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits.
• Do not give up whole grains in the form of cereals.
• In the diet should be sour-milk products.
• Butter is not recommended to be completely excluded, but most of it is replaced by vegetable oil.
• The food should be boiled, stewed, and not fried.
• In addition, you can add the reception of multivitamins.

To get up from the table is necessary with a slight sense of hunger. This will not only be good for your health, but will also give more strength.

Particular attention should be paid to the amount of fluid that you consume throughout the day. It should not exceed 1.5 liters per day. It is desirable to drink this amount until 16-17 hours. Before going to bed it is better not to use liquid, if you want, then you can afford a glass of yogurt or fruit.

Disease regimen

After any operation, a person needs to be restored, and there is no need to talk about breast removal. This is not only a physical trauma, but also a great psychological stress for any woman.

First of all, to quickly recover from surgery, and even more so if you have lymphostasis of the hand after removal of the breast, a special role is given to the regime of the day. To restore the body needs rest, so night sleep should be at least 7-8 hours. Do not sit up in front of the TV until midnight, preferably sleep at 22.00 or 22.30.

To sleep was strong and healthy, you must take a warm shower, paying special attention to water massage of sick places. Many doctors do not recommend taking a bath. For a sick hand, you can prepare a second, higher pillow if you have lymphostasis of the hand. The photo just shows that such a situation is more convenient.

While there are problems with the lymphatic system, it is not recommended to sleep on the sore side, especially putting your hand under your head. After a morning awakening, you need to pay attention to the morning toilet, a small charge and take a light breakfast.

If you do not have to hurry to work, then you can walk around the park. At home, you can remove the bra with a prosthesis, so that the body rests. During the day, a daytime sleep is recommended, it will help to quickly restore your strength after the operation.

Many women almost immediately after returning from the hospital rush into battle and begin to clean up, wash, clean. This is strictly prohibited, your household should take this into account, and they will have to take most of the worries on themselves if they want to see their mother and wife healthy.

After a mastectomy, the body will restore its lymphatic system for a long time. How successful this can be can be judged by the presence of edema on the arm. A good indicator can be a ring on the finger: if it is dressed as easily as before the operation, then everything goes well.

Those who have a homestead plot or their own house with a plot of land, the amount of work there should also be significantly reduced. If this can not be avoided, then prepare a bench for work. As soon as you feel a little fatigue, you need to rest.

Do not forget not only about the area of operation, but also about healthy breasts. Try not to allow injuries, shocks, especially in crowded transport.

How to prevent the development of lymphostasis

If you have not managed to avoid a diagnosis like hand lymphostasis, treatment will still be needed to prevent more serious complications. But you can take some measures to minimize the risk of the appearance of such a disease or even prevent it:

• It is necessary to remove from your wardrobe things with tight elastic bands and cuffs to prevent the transmission of lymphatic and blood vessels.
• Use a healthy hand for physical work, carrying bags and so on.
• Measure blood pressure on a healthy hand.
• Every day, try to exercise.
• Once you notice some changes in your arm, be it redness, swelling, pain, you should immediately go to a doctor.
• In the first year after the operation, the hand from the side of the removed breast can lift weights not more than 1 kg.
• Do not allow work that requires you to have a long position with the body tilted forward and hands down.
• The hand must be protected from all injuries and injuries, even injections can not be made into it.
• Sleep on your back or healthy side.

If you follow these simple recommendations, then you will manage to avoid such complications as lymphostasis of the hand after the operation.