Swelling...it's driving me insane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Hey gang, I get such great comfort from reading everyone's stories.

Everyone is so extremely helpful and caring. I really enjoy these

postings. Now, having said that, I am 5 days post op, and there is

still a considerable amount of swelling. It is literally driving me

crazy. Not much pain, more numbness then anything else. How can I

get rid of the swelling. I have been using an icepack. I started

on a heating pack, but I am confused as to which one would do the

job. please HELP!!!!!

thanks

Kim

[Guest guest]

congrats on your surgery! .. Ice,ice,ice and more ice is the key.

heat is to relax the muscles and make them feel better, but ice

really should be used more than heat.. i was told not to even use

heat..just ice, as much as i could stand it. have a good day!

amanda

> Hey gang, I get such great comfort from reading everyone's

stories.

> Everyone is so extremely helpful and caring. I really enjoy these

> postings. Now, having said that, I am 5 days post op, and there is

> still a considerable amount of swelling. It is literally driving

me

> crazy. Not much pain, more numbness then anything else. How can I

> get rid of the swelling. I have been using an icepack. I started

> on a heating pack, but I am confused as to which one would do the

> job. please HELP!!!!!

>

> thanks

> Kim

[Guest guest]

Kim, the swelling is surgical swelling, a little different than if

you say, sprained your ankle or something along those lines. Ice

helps, heat helps, but really, it's just TIME that helps. However,

have you considered Manual Lymph Drainage therapy? You could go to

your Primary Care doc, or your os, depending on insurance, and ask

for a referral, (again, depending on insurance) to see a physical

therapist who specializes in it. I am doing so now, and boy, has

that ever helped the swelling for me! Good luck, and don't worry, in

a few weeks you'll look really different! Alix

> Hey gang, I get such great comfort from reading everyone's

stories.

> Everyone is so extremely helpful and caring. I really enjoy these

> postings. Now, having said that, I am 5 days post op, and there

is

> still a considerable amount of swelling. It is literally driving

me

> crazy. Not much pain, more numbness then anything else. How can

I

> get rid of the swelling. I have been using an icepack. I started

> on a heating pack, but I am confused as to which one would do the

> job. please HELP!!!!!

>

> thanks

> Kim

[Guest guest]

Kim,

The best " cure " for swelling is " time " - and lots of it. It sounds like you're

doing well actually. Your swelling should start to go down now. It usually

peaks at day 3 or 4. But you must remember that it can actually take 6 months

or more for the swelling to be completely gone. Some have found that their

swelling was actually at a minimal after only two weeks. I can still see

swelling and I'm going on week 15, but it's not that noticeable to others

(except, of course, to my doctors and my family).

Make sure you're not sleeping flat - if you have a recliner, that will do

wonders, if not, stack a bunch of pillows behind you when you sleep. Sleep at

at least a 45 degree angle.

Some suggest MLD therapy. I still haven't tried it, but others swear by it.

But most important, drink lots and lots of water. Many just say liquids, but I

find that my swelling went down at a faster rate when I drank more water.

Hope this helps...hang in there.

Smooches

Swelling...it's driving me

insane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey gang, I get such great comfort from reading everyone's stories.

Everyone is so extremely helpful and caring. I really enjoy these

postings. Now, having said that, I am 5 days post op, and there is

still a considerable amount of swelling. It is literally driving me

crazy. Not much pain, more numbness then anything else. How can I

get rid of the swelling. I have been using an icepack. I started

on a heating pack, but I am confused as to which one would do the

job. please HELP!!!!!

thanks

Kim

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