The other main things to watch for are working your arm to fatigue; and getting an infection. You need to get your arm back in shape, which doesn’t mean never using it! Yes, carry groceries, drive your car, exercise, use your arm the way you’ve normally used it, the way you use your other arm. BUT: don’t work it to exhaustion. Don’t lift the very heaviest grocery bag with your affected arm, or bowl three strings 3 months after surgery. Don’t kayak 5 miles upstream if you’ve never been in a kayak before! (Which is what I did, and which I’m sure caused my lymphedema). Be sensible; use it, exercise, but don’t strain it.
The other thing you MUST do is prevent infection in your affected arm. Which means avoiding the following:
• Cuts, no matter how minor;
• Scratches (watch out for animals);
• Bug bites, as much as you can avoid them without simply staying indoors all the time;
• Burns, including sunburn;
Anything that breaks or injures the skin puts you at risk. Sure, you can still garden; but wear gloves. Use an electric razor, if you’re prone to “nicks.” Keep your hands soft, to avoid cracked skin or torn cuticles. See where we’re going here? Protect your skin at all costs; because if you don’t, the cost may be weeks of lymphedema treatment.
