Lymphedema Therapy

Lymphedema causes soft tissues to swell as protein rich fluid collects in the tissues. It is most commonly seen in hands and feet but can also occur in the abdomen, genitalia, head and neck. Lymphedema therapy seeks to treat this disease and help patients control their lymphedema.

There are two kinds of lymphedema which are primary lymphedema which is caused by inadequate lymphatic vessels and secondary lymphedema which may be caused by a blockage of the lymphatic vessels. This can be caused by treatment for cancer, especially cancers in the pelvic area, lymphomas and melanomas.

As treatment for cancer is becoming more and more common there is a great need for lymphedema therapy. One of the treatments for this disease is complex lymphedema therapy which involves the use of compression bandaging, specific physical therapy exercises, lymphatic drainage and skin care.

Lymphatic drainage can be done by using specific exercises which put pressure on to the afflicted areas forcing the fluid back into the vessels. These exercises are very gentle as they are not meant to be about getting fit or burning calories. Compression bandaging has to be done correctly in order to drive the liquid out of the gaps in the body tissues. The bandaging process starts at the fingertips or the toes, and this area is bandaged the most tightly with the compression easing further up the limb.

A massage is also used in lymphedema therapy which is called the manual lymph drainage massage. This is different from ordinary massages as it uses very specific hand movements to encourage the fluid to drain back into the vessels. Therapists have to be careful about using this massage on their patients as it is unsuitable for patients who have heart problems or who are suffering from any skin infections, or those who are being treated for cancer.

This kind of treatment has been used for many years in Europe and Australia but has only recently come to the United States. It requires specific training to become certified in lymphedema therapy, but the results are much better than conventional treatment which would involve massage, surgery and compression pumps.

Lymphedema therapy is a very safe method of treating this disease and is very non-invasive. A very important part of this therapy is learning to take care of your health.

Discuss It!