Quote:
Originally Posted by glenntaj
--there'd be a complete pooh-pooing of the possibility of developing edema of the extremities with peripheral neuropathy; since proper circulation is mediated to a great extent by the autonomic nervous system, anything that might compromise those (primarily) small fibers might predispose to edema.
People with small fiber syndromes often report some degree of autonomic dysfunction in the areas of blood pressure, fluid retention, sweating, and the like--though thankfully in the majority of cases it seems to be fairly minor and often subclinical. There are, of course, people with full blown dysautonomia.
Then, too, edema is a common enough side effect of many of the medications used for neuropathy--especially the anti-epileptics--that it may be difficult to distinguish that side effect from edema related to the neuropathy.
Nevertheless, as you've shown, there are strategies for self-help for this symptom. The simplest is the "raising feet above heart level" approach. But I'm not that surprised that active mechanical pressure to the area (to tolerance) helped somewhat--it does help to get things "flowing" more efficiently. I think most of us could use more foot massages (or massages of any kind).
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Hi. I have a question about edema and PN and what I just saw in an advertisement and I'm wondering. "Would this help people with PN??"
It's called a lymphodema pump. I just googled that and found many links.
Here's one!!!
http://www.spectrumhealthcare.net/pr...FYFo4Aod6l8jHQ
And I have no idea if this is covered by insurance if one does NOT have a diagnosis of Lymphodema but one DOES have a diagnoses of edema (which Alan often has). He is on a water pill and we watch his salt intake but sometimes his ankles swell up and only when he lies down and elevates his legs, well they go down.
So here's my thoughts on this. And a long time ago, I had gotten Alan one of those CHEAP inflatable things that you put on the legs, and plug it in and they inflate and deflate but Alan said "Not strong enough", so we returned them. That was 10 years ago. I gather that these lymphodema pumps are STRONGER??
So here's my question. If one has PN and doesn't have Lymphodema and one puts on these inflatable things while they are sitting and watching tv and sets it to inflate and deflate, that would bring the blood down to the feet and that would then take the pain away???
Sounds like a dumb question but to me it makes sense. Alan is always shaking his legs saying "It brings the blood into my feet".
Wouldn't these lymphdema pumps do the same thing? Are they dangerous if one does NOT have lymphodema?
I mean, what if it's set on a lower inflatable pressure and just gently compresses??
Anyone have a thought on this.
Thanks much
Melody