Swelling in leg post prostate surgery

My husband had a biopsy at the end of July and was diagnosed just days before he turned 46 in early August. We were told he had an aggressive cancer of the prostate with his gleason score being a 9. Surgery went forward on the 11th of September and he came home from hospital after not quite 3 days in hospital. He had temps and chills whilst in hospital but was not put on any pain management or other meds for temperature. After a couple of days he went back to the Doctors with a suspected chest infection and was finally out on antiobiotics. In the second week post surgery, his right leg began swelling and he was experiencing tightening and difficuly in walking and had extreme pain to his right groin area. After a couple of attempts to get some help from the Doctor, he finally fronted up to emergency and lay on the floor until he was seen by someone. A CTwas ordered for the following day when his catheter was to be removed and they found he had a fluid build up in his groin, which they drained over 200mls. Apparently they told us that his veins were blocked and the fluid was not passing through. We thought all would be well but again the pain came on and then the swelling went down to the lower part of his leg and so back to the hospital. They decided not to drain as any fluid would take up to 2 weeks to build up again. My husband had been having temps post surgery and chills, which he started to have again whilst in emergency. They ran tests and took bloods for an infection but all came back clear. So home again but still the pain and the tightness in the leg persisted, especially when he moved around too much and his temp went up to 38.9....It has been now a month since surgery and the swelling has gone down alot but the pain is there if he is walking too much. A simple trip to the shed is enough for him. What I need is answers from others who may have had similar post surgery complications as this is frustraing to my husband who was told that he would pretty much get back on his feet quickly given his age and fitness. He had his lymph nodes removed and all his nerves, so is battling emotionally with not having any function at all and we were not told of the possible complication of his leg. Many I have spoken to want to be "Doctors" and I have researched as well possibles of what he may have that the Doctors and specilaists are not telling us. We are going back on the 8th for another CT and drainage....and hopefully better answers to what is happening!!

Hello Bernimaree,

I did not have surgery but did have a "full pelvic" radiation to target the lymph nodes. I was told that there was a chance of swelling in my lower extremities as a result of this. The swelling is caused by the build up of lymphatic fuid. I did have one episode of swelling just behind my knee with a moderate bit of pain. I would suspect that since your husband had  his nodes removed that this is the source of the swelling. I do  not know if it gets better with time but I have had only the one episode in more than 18 months.

Best of luck to the both of you.

Don

Thankyou so much for your reply. Unfortunately no one has told us what we want to hear in regards to what my husband is suffering from post surgery. What I have read from your post makes sense. I have been researching possibles but do not want to self diagnose. The frustration here is that the GP (not our normal one) who sent Adam for his blood test failed to act on things when the swelling started. All Adam (husband) was told was that it was something that he had seen before and that Adam would have to deal with long term. (I am thinking, and only thinking mind) that he may have thought Adam had lymphedema. We did get told possible vein blockage, with one Doctor even saying a clot....but no clear answers as yet.. We are going back on the 8th for possible more drainage and hopefully clear answers as to what the cause and appropriate management could be. Adam is feeling better each day but still needs to rest so as not to start the tightness and pain in his leg again. Today he has also had blood in his urine, which before today was clear. he felt like he passed something the size of a grain of rice before the urine ran cloudy....Not sure what this means???

Again thankyou for your reply and support to my post.

Bernie

Thanks Tony for your reply....My husband is a very unique person and a positive one. He was having a lot of trouble with his right leg, especailly when it came to moving it or trying to lift it. At times, because of the swelling he had to use both hands just to lift the leg. Each day the leg is feeling better, again if he does not do too much. It will be a month since surgery on the 11th Oct, so I guess it is still only early days. But trying to keep a man quiet who is usually climbing up and down a ladder, or out bush walking is some what difficult. And as we are heading into the warmer months down here, I can only hope that recovery is alot quicker for him. I have recently joined the prostate awareness group here in our home town and have met some really lovely people. I am hoping to become alot more involved in the research of all cancer further down the track, as besides Adam being diagnosed I have also lost two (2) sisters to the disease, so I have been on the cancer track before....

Thanks for your post again and maybe one day, a visit to down under won't be that far away!

Bernie

My first sister, Clare was diagnosed at 34 of bowel cancer in 1995, with my other sister Teresa being diagnosed with lung cancer in early 1996. Unfortunately Teresa only lived for ten weeks after being diagnosed, and died on the 13th March, 1996. Clare went on to live until 13th March 2000. Both died on the same day, four years apart, with us celebrating the life of both and still grieving the loss of both on the same day.

We have come a long way in cancer research and I know Adam will be around for a long while to come yet....who else would be able to put up with me!!

Bernie