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I Had A Surgery To Remove A Lipoma On My
Question: I had a surgery to remove a lipoma on my inner elbow 2 weeks ago. During the surgery at one point, I felt a sharp pain all the way on the upper arm.
My forearm has been swollen down to my wrist. When I bent my wrist or stretch my arm, I feel the sensation of something is pulled in my forearms and a bit of pain.
Is this something expected or is there possibly of nerve or ligament injury?.
My forearm has been swollen down to my wrist. When I bent my wrist or stretch my arm, I feel the sensation of something is pulled in my forearms and a bit of pain.
Is this something expected or is there possibly of nerve or ligament injury?.
Brief Answer:
Most probably dependent edema
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Noted the history well and understood the concerns.
My thoughts on the basis of the history you have provided are as follows:
Lipoma is usually a subcutaneous mass and hence the surgery as well as the post-op is usually uneventful.
In some cases when the lipoma is extended into the muscles as can occur in cases when it is on joints or on pressure points. Then obviously the dissection does deep down and thus can cause edema of the limb. This looks to be your case as bending the wrist or stretching the arm gives you sensation of something pulled in forearm.
Secondly, the forearm is a dependent area, not allowing the edema to subside.
This can be corrected by elevating the affected limb on pillows and hanging by side wall - above the heart level in laying down position. The edema drains the best way.
Addition of some anti-inflammatory medications helps further.
Giving rest to the affected limb helps further and is a standard treatment.
Another reason can be internal infection. May present with pain, swelling, redness, painful movements, may be some pointing of pus through wound or skin.
Sharp pain all the way on the upper arm during the surgery might have been due to handling of some nerve.
Although, the swelling should have settled earlier. But the injury to the ligament or nerve would have caused permanent disability, which does not look to be your case.
If so there is nothing to worry.
I hope this answer helps you.
Please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
Please give feedback once you get an opinion of the operating Surgeon.
With Regards.
Dr T Chandrakant
General Surgeon.
Most probably dependent edema
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Noted the history well and understood the concerns.
My thoughts on the basis of the history you have provided are as follows:
Lipoma is usually a subcutaneous mass and hence the surgery as well as the post-op is usually uneventful.
In some cases when the lipoma is extended into the muscles as can occur in cases when it is on joints or on pressure points. Then obviously the dissection does deep down and thus can cause edema of the limb. This looks to be your case as bending the wrist or stretching the arm gives you sensation of something pulled in forearm.
Secondly, the forearm is a dependent area, not allowing the edema to subside.
This can be corrected by elevating the affected limb on pillows and hanging by side wall - above the heart level in laying down position. The edema drains the best way.
Addition of some anti-inflammatory medications helps further.
Giving rest to the affected limb helps further and is a standard treatment.
Another reason can be internal infection. May present with pain, swelling, redness, painful movements, may be some pointing of pus through wound or skin.
Sharp pain all the way on the upper arm during the surgery might have been due to handling of some nerve.
Although, the swelling should have settled earlier. But the injury to the ligament or nerve would have caused permanent disability, which does not look to be your case.
If so there is nothing to worry.
I hope this answer helps you.
Please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
Please give feedback once you get an opinion of the operating Surgeon.
With Regards.
Dr T Chandrakant
General Surgeon.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Dr T Chandrakant,
Thank you so much for your input. I really appreciate it.
As you requested, I am writing feedback from today's visit to the surgeon.
There is no sign of infection or internal bleeding. She was quite happy with how the wound from the surgery is recovering.
According to her, the swelling in my forearm is due to the lymph fluid's build-up.
She instructed me to elevate my forearms on the pillow when I sleep and massage my forearms to enhance the lymphatic drainage.
She also asked me if I have been icing.. I am a bit confused though.
Icing seems to have a completely opposite effect from massaging.
Am I misunderstanding something here? Doesn't heating rather enhance the lymphatic drainage?
Sorry... I should have asked during my visit. I did not think about it.
Thank you.
Miho
Thank you so much for your input. I really appreciate it.
As you requested, I am writing feedback from today's visit to the surgeon.
There is no sign of infection or internal bleeding. She was quite happy with how the wound from the surgery is recovering.
According to her, the swelling in my forearm is due to the lymph fluid's build-up.
She instructed me to elevate my forearms on the pillow when I sleep and massage my forearms to enhance the lymphatic drainage.
She also asked me if I have been icing.. I am a bit confused though.
Icing seems to have a completely opposite effect from massaging.
Am I misunderstanding something here? Doesn't heating rather enhance the lymphatic drainage?
Sorry... I should have asked during my visit. I did not think about it.
Thank you.
Miho
Brief Answer:
Elevation of affected limb above heart level is the key.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your feedback and happy to know that there is no evidence of any infection, good recovery of wound from surgery.
Elevation of the affected part above the heart level in laying down position is the best way to reduce the swelling.
After so many days of surgery neither the cold nor the hot fomentations help.
Massage done very lightly may help.
Do not allow the hand hang by side of body, use sling when you are moving around. This will help further.
I hope this answer helps you further.
Take care and get well soon.
Dr T Chandrakant.
Elevation of affected limb above heart level is the key.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your feedback and happy to know that there is no evidence of any infection, good recovery of wound from surgery.
Elevation of the affected part above the heart level in laying down position is the best way to reduce the swelling.
After so many days of surgery neither the cold nor the hot fomentations help.
Massage done very lightly may help.
Do not allow the hand hang by side of body, use sling when you are moving around. This will help further.
I hope this answer helps you further.
Take care and get well soon.
Dr T Chandrakant.
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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