LYMPHEDEMA IN LEG? DO YOU BICYCLE?

If your gut feeling is to not do the CLND of the groin, then don't. I didn't and I'm glad I didn't… and I had 3 positive lymph nodes from my SLNB. I get swelling in my leg and ankle anyway, not as much as would be with lymphedema, but I can only imagine how uncomfortable that would be. When I traveled to visit my family this past summer, my ankle got so swollen is was difficult to hike for long when we went camping. Had to wear compression socks and lots of elevating it. Go with your gut, only you can really make this decision.

If your gut feeling is to not do the CLND of the groin, then don't. I didn't and I'm glad I didn't… and I had 3 positive lymph nodes from my SLNB. I get swelling in my leg and ankle anyway, not as much as would be with lymphedema, but I can only imagine how uncomfortable that would be. When I traveled to visit my family this past summer, my ankle got so swollen is was difficult to hike for long when we went camping. Had to wear compression socks and lots of elevating it. Go with your gut, only you can really make this decision.

If your gut feeling is to not do the CLND of the groin, then don't. I didn't and I'm glad I didn't… and I had 3 positive lymph nodes from my SLNB. I get swelling in my leg and ankle anyway, not as much as would be with lymphedema, but I can only imagine how uncomfortable that would be. When I traveled to visit my family this past summer, my ankle got so swollen is was difficult to hike for long when we went camping. Had to wear compression socks and lots of elevating it. Go with your gut, only you can really make this decision.

I’m 6 years out from CLND in groin area.
I ride my horse competitively and practice
4 times a week (about 1 1/2
hours at a time).
I bike twice a week for a few hours, and hike every couple weeks all while wearing a graduated compression stocking.
The lymphedema has improved over time – no more ankle swelling, but still increases after workout then decreases over night &
try to keep my feet raised.
I bought a lymphedema pump soon after my surgery but find I don’t need it much now.
Staying slim and fit really
helps.

I’m 6 years out from CLND in groin area.
I ride my horse competitively and practice
4 times a week (about 1 1/2
hours at a time).
I bike twice a week for a few hours, and hike every couple weeks all while wearing a graduated compression stocking.
The lymphedema has improved over time – no more ankle swelling, but still increases after workout then decreases over night &
try to keep my feet raised.
I bought a lymphedema pump soon after my surgery but find I don’t need it much now.
Staying slim and fit really
helps.

I’m 6 years out from CLND in groin area.
I ride my horse competitively and practice
4 times a week (about 1 1/2
hours at a time).
I bike twice a week for a few hours, and hike every couple weeks all while wearing a graduated compression stocking.
The lymphedema has improved over time – no more ankle swelling, but still increases after workout then decreases over night &
try to keep my feet raised.
I bought a lymphedema pump soon after my surgery but find I don’t need it much now.
Staying slim and fit really
helps.

I had groin 2 lymph nodes removed  in early Dec. and still have these pockets of fluid. A few weeks ago I had them drained and these are smaller. Even when these were larger I still rode my bike. I've been wearing bicycle pants daily under my regular clothes especially for hiking/walking and riding the bike in order to keep the pain lower.

I had groin 2 lymph nodes removed  in early Dec. and still have these pockets of fluid. A few weeks ago I had them drained and these are smaller. Even when these were larger I still rode my bike. I've been wearing bicycle pants daily under my regular clothes especially for hiking/walking and riding the bike in order to keep the pain lower.

I had groin 2 lymph nodes removed  in early Dec. and still have these pockets of fluid. A few weeks ago I had them drained and these are smaller. Even when these were larger I still rode my bike. I've been wearing bicycle pants daily under my regular clothes especially for hiking/walking and riding the bike in order to keep the pain lower.

I think keeping the legs active should prevent or reduce swelling. 

I think keeping the legs active should prevent or reduce swelling. 

I think keeping the legs active should prevent or reduce swelling. 

I have been suffering from lymphedema in a leg for 18 months and recently discovered it is due to to metastases in my lymph nodes (so its different than surgically caused). During that time I was very active, including biking, hiking and some running. I even trained for and completed the 204 mile Seattle to Portland bike ride last summer while suffering from the lymphedema. I have found, for me, that cycling and hiking does not seem to make it any worse. In fact, I think the exercise seemed to help move the lymph. I have a feeling that running did make mine worse. But I don't enjoy running so it did not take me too long to conclude that running exacerbated my lymphedema 🙂

I have been suffering from lymphedema in a leg for 18 months and recently discovered it is due to to metastases in my lymph nodes (so its different than surgically caused). During that time I was very active, including biking, hiking and some running. I even trained for and completed the 204 mile Seattle to Portland bike ride last summer while suffering from the lymphedema. I have found, for me, that cycling and hiking does not seem to make it any worse. In fact, I think the exercise seemed to help move the lymph. I have a feeling that running did make mine worse. But I don't enjoy running so it did not take me too long to conclude that running exacerbated my lymphedema 🙂

I have been suffering from lymphedema in a leg for 18 months and recently discovered it is due to to metastases in my lymph nodes (so its different than surgically caused). During that time I was very active, including biking, hiking and some running. I even trained for and completed the 204 mile Seattle to Portland bike ride last summer while suffering from the lymphedema. I have found, for me, that cycling and hiking does not seem to make it any worse. In fact, I think the exercise seemed to help move the lymph. I have a feeling that running did make mine worse. But I don't enjoy running so it did not take me too long to conclude that running exacerbated my lymphedema 🙂

I had the radical dissection inmy left groin seven years ago. It was in to the second year when I developed stage one lymphedema after finishing and recovering from my year of Interferon A. In the beginning I used sports compression and spanks with elevation but as I am in nursing staying off my feet was not an option. After visiting and discussing with the Lymphedema nurse and my oncologist I chose a newer outlook based on newer research stating that slow but persistant exercise including weights, combined with compression would help to gain control over the lynphedema which it did. I do Zumba 4-5 times a week, work out with TRX resistant straps as well as work on my feet. I have flare up when I get sick, accidently injure my leg, get a flue shot, anything that initiates a prolonged immune response but the flare ups are consistantly fewer and do not last as long. I basically wear my "spanks" and preform my exercises for a few days and my leg is back within normal limits. I have by no means found it to be a life altering complication. I am actually more active now than when I began my journey