Mercy Cancer Services
Lymphedema Therapy
How Lymphedema Therapy Works
While most of us know that our body constantly
circulates blood through our arteries and veins, we are often not aware
that our circulatory system also includes our lymphatic system.
And without lymph nodes and a lymphatic system that
stretches from head to toes and to the extremities, our body can’t rid
itself of toxins and other waste products. It’s vital to our health.
When someone undergoes radiation or has lymph nodes
removed, it can put the lymphatic system out of whack, creating swelling
and pain. Instead of continuous and consistent flow, the lymphatic fluid
begins to pool, or bottleneck, in areas affected by surgery or
radiation.
“As therapists, we have to reroute the flow so
patients don’t end up with a swamp in one area of their body,” says
Diane Pennington, a certified lymphedema therapist. ”Lymphedema therapy
is often mistaken for massage but it’s not. Massage implies deep tissue
work; what we do is a gentle skin stretch to help get the fluids moving
again because lymphedema takes place in the area just under the skin. We
help the body move liquids from the affected area to healthier areas.”
Patients normally undergo an hour-long lymphedema
therapy session three to five times a week for a month, depending on the
severity. Therapists also teach patients how to perform the skin
stretch, also called manual lymphatic drainage/complete decongestive
therapy, on themselves. In addition, patients are evaluated to see if
they will need to manage lymphedema with elastic arm or leg sleeves or
bandages, all of which reduce swelling.
And while for many people, bandages and arm sleeves
are a bother, the consequences of not following a daily regimen far
outweighs the inconvenience.
“And as in anything, attitude is everything,” says
Diane. “The lymphedema patients who are motivated and take charge of
their bodies do very well.”
Diane even had one patient who was an avid hunter.
“I called her my renaissance woman because she
continued to live her life to the fullest. She put on her elastic sleeve
and went hunting as she always had. She shot her deer and cleaned it
herself, all with a bandaged arm.”
Avoid these Activities that can
Aggravate Lymphedema
Anything that involves heavy lifting or repetitive
motion can trigger lymphedema. Some common activities that set off the
disorder include:
Additional triggers:
-
Air travel
-
Prolonged car travel
-
Pregnancy
-
Obesity
-
Warm weather
-
Menstrual period
-
Salty foods
-
Constrictive
clothing
The Neverland of Lymphedema
Because of an increased risk of infection for
lymphedema patients, they must never have the following in the affected
limb, be it an arm or leg:
-
No blood tests
-
No blood pressure checks
-
No IV’s
-
No
injections
Even a small paper cut can be deadly to someone with
lymphedema. “One of our patients had a finger paper cut in her
affected arm at 8 a.m. and by noon, she had raging cellulitis—an
infection that requires antibiotics and can be life threatening very
quickly if not treated,” says Diane Pennington, a certified Mercy
lymphedema therapist.
|
