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Living with Neuropathy - Welcome to the group
Neuropathy | Last Active: 6 days ago | Replies (5972)Comment receiving replies
Thank you John. I have not had any tests done to confirm the diagnosis of lymphedema. A vein doctor told me just by looking at it. After some conversation I am having a CAT scan done on Friday, June 21. I hear you saying you have nothing wrong with your lymph nodes, but you are diagnosed with lymphedema? Do you have severe pain in the foot and leg affected? You are also wearing the compression stocking to bed? I cannot get the 20-30 mg on yet. Sometimes the compression hurts more and them I am told it is because of the neuropathy.
Replies to "Thank you John. I have not had any tests done to confirm the diagnosis of lymphedema...."
I take the compression socks off at night. I think the explanation the doctor gave me is that the lymph system has an easier time pushing the fluids out of your body when you are laying down vs when standing or sitting. I only have numbness in my feet and just above the ankles but that is from my idiopathic small fiber peripheral neuropathy. I can tell you I definitely don't like wearing the socks but they are doing the job. The lymphoscintigram is a test that takes quite a long time. My layman's words on how they did the test -- They inject you with some radioactive dye between the toes (if I remember correctly - it wasn't painful). Then they run you through an x-ray machine after the injection to get a base line. Then you walk around for 20 minutes and come back and they do another scan to see how far the radioactive fluid has traveled in the lymph system. Then you walk around for about 2 hours and they run another scan to check the fluid progress. The scans are compared and they can look for any blockage in the lymph system.
I can see where the compression socks would cause more pain. I'm definitely ready to take them off when I go to bed.
Here's some basic info on the test:
-- https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=lympho
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Yes compression can hurt. They also recommend using the legging that inflates and deflates such as is used after surgery. They are expensive and hard to get at home. That is why if possible, to have your legs elevated is a good choice.