Has anyone had AC joint shoulder surgery on the side with lymphedema?

Question

I have severe AC join degeneration in my shoulder. My ortho doc is recommending surgery to shorten the collar bone where it extends into the joint. I am concerned about having surgery on the shoulder where my left arm is affected by lymphedema, from breast cancer surgery 10 years ago.

Answer 1

Hi Jo

I can't answer your question as I have not had surgery on my arm but I have had members that have had all kinds of surgeries, I run Lymphland Online Support Group, http://www.lymphland.com, on the front page is the url for the Yahoo group, if you'd like to join, we'd welcome you and you could post your question, I'm sure someone along the way will be able to help with an answer.

I think it could go either way, surgery can worsen lymphedema from the trauma, then scar tissue, but on the other hand it could be the degeration is helping to block flow too so it could improve.

We have a chat coming up Saturday at 1pm Eastern, if you are interested you could pop in and ask questions then. The link is on the Lymphland website and also on the Yahoo group site, on the website you'd go to the directory top right, click on it, it brings up an alphabetized menu, click on CHAT, and it will bring up a page, then down further is enter, click on enter, type your name and you are in.

Maybe we'll see you there. Take care.

Tina