Introduction to therapy
An introduction and explanation of options for lymphoedema therapy
The two prerequisites for lymphoedema control.
- awareness you have a condition you would like controlled.
- be ready to take positive action to do something about it.
To be successful all lymphoedema therapy must stimulate lymphatic drainage to reinstate protein levels of interstitial (body) tissue fluids to within the normal range.
Once this is achieved lymphoedema swelling and associated problems will reduce and in some cases disappear. The most effective options to do this are outlined and described below.
An overview pertaining to the relationship of protein and lymphoedema swelling is explained at ‘answers to why the lymphatic system causes lymphoedema’
A review of the most effective treatment options
Many people have heard the saying ‘prevention is better than cure’.
The
following information explains how this is best performed.
- Eat the right foods.
Some foods strengthen the blood circulation. By doing this you prevent leakage of excessive protein from blood vessels into the swollen body tissues. This in turn helps slow and prevent lymphoedema. It is inexpensive, easy and simple to do.
Other similar foods can strengthen and improve lymphatic function to reduce lymphatic overload. When these are combined with the foods for improving blood circulation, a 'double whammy' preventative measure is administered.
Research evidence suggests the foods you choose to consume will make a big difference to how well you control your lymphoedema swelling.
- Do small regular amounts of physical
activity.
Incidental exercise, such as parking your car further away from the shops and walking, or taking another look around the shopping centre (walking) before going home are easy and enjoyable exercises you can easily do anytime/all the time.
When you begin to perspire from exercising - take a rest. This is enough to do in one session if you have lymphoedma.
The lymphatic system functions best when you are cooler.
Have a rest between activities and stay active without overdoing it. The movement within body tissues caused by exercise creates varying tissue pressure. This is a prerequisite for lymphatic function and reduced swelling.
For lymphoedema of the legs walking in a swimming pool a couple of time a week with water up to chest height for 30-40 mins is the most effective activity
For lymphoedema of the arms aqua-therapy can be most effective. Contact your local support group to find the nearest centre for you.
- Perform self massage at least once a
week.
Books outlining this activity are available on the ‘a list of reference materials’ page
- Use herbs
with potential to help with circulation and apply anti bacterial skin
creams that contain sufficient plant ingredients to properly moisturise
your skin.
- Apply compression
bandaging at home for a concentrated effort to reduce your swelling
(1-2 weeks). Then wear well fitted compression garments once the swelling is
well reduced. How to do it books are on the 'how to
guides' page.
- Laser
Therapy
If possible purchase your own laser and use at home. If this is not possible, then obtain regular laser therapy (if available) from your local hospital or lymphoedema clinic.
- Lymphatic drainage
massage
Have professional or Carer assisted lymphatic drainage massage on a regular basis and as often as possible to meet your needs.
A guide for effective skin care
- Be aware and alert to invading bacteria.
Take care of your skin by using an anti-bacterial and skin moisturising cream. This will help keep your skin supple and looking in good condition.
Apply anti bacterial cream morning and night for best effect.
- About bacterial infection
Invading bacterial infection in many cases starts by accessing your body via small fissures in the skin to penetrate your defence barriers.
By looking after your skin you decrease the possibility of infection which could save a hospital visit for an intravenous antibiotic drip to control infection.
A history and review of lymphoedema treatment
Lymphoedema has been documented in ancient history for many centuries past. The description for lymphoedema has always been 'the affliction of chronic swelling'.
In countries close to the equator, parasitic worm eggs
carried by the mosquito can be injected into the lymphatic system. Once
these eggs have hatched and the worms' life cycle has ended, the lymphatic
system becomes blocked and lymphoedema occurs.
This condition is known
as Filarial lymphoedema, and is also as
elephantiasis.
In western society the majority of medically acknowledged lymphoedema is caused from surgical and radiation intervention from cancer therapy or other trauma. This type of lymphoedema is termed Secondary lymphoedema.
Another form of lymphoedema quite overlooked and
often medically undiagnosed with many people that have weight and
oedema/swelling problems is 'Primary lymphoedema'.
Primary lymphoedema is often thought to be obesity,
yet in many cases it is undiagnosed lymphoedema that does not respond to
conventional weight loss treatment.
It would appear a genetic
disposition for impaired lymphatic function; lack of sufficient number of
lymphatic vessels comparative to body mass and/or insufficiency of
lymphatic vessels causes lymphatic overload with primary lymphoedema.
This consequently leads to undiagnosed lymphoedema
swelling.
All of these conditions outlined above impair
lymphatic function to cause increased protein levels in body tissue fluids. The
end result of this situation is chronic oedema or lymphoedema swelling.
Chinese and Indian folk remedies have for centuries used herbal preparations as part of their solution to chronic oedema. This on its own is not enough to solve the swelling of lymphoedema; however, modern western analytic technique has proved the correctness of their thinking insofar as the molecules in herbs and foods are very important in lymphatic and vascular health to help the control of lymphoedema.
Other methods exhibiting success for lymphoedema control use manual hands on lymphatic drainage techniques. They have been documented as being successful for many years. Unfortunately this knowledge and therapy seems to get lost over time or goes out of favour with changing medical attitudes to treatment.
Today cutting edge technology is working to grow new lymphatic vessels to replace insufficient or damaged ones; this could hold a solution to lymphoedema control. This therapy is not yet available and looks to be many years away to be available to people needing help and assistance now.
What options do you have for lymphoedema therapy now? The most researched effective therapy option has proved to be a combination therapy of manual lymphatic drainage, self massage, a component of bandaging to quickly reduce swelling in 2-3 weeks, then wearing compression garments to maintain the reduced size.
Other therapies proving extremely successful are; laser, diet changes, herbal concentrates and good skin care. These therapies all help with lymphoedema control. They can help to effectively reduce treatment times and positively influence treatment outcomes, especially when combined with massage, bandaging and compression garments.
Where do you go next? Based on historical evidence a good place to start your treatment is by doing things you can do for yourself to control your condition. Without preventative positive action by you, lymphoedema swelling only has only a potential to increase in size. Try dietary changes and skin care to start, then next add self massage and bandaging.
By incorporating a few small steps into your daily routines for lymphoedema control, you will surprise yourself how easy and non invasive lymphoedema therapy can be
Lymphoedema is a long term condition and the sooner you begin and undertake treatment the easier it is to control.
Even though a permanent cure is not yet readily available, it is proven that positive action with self help can reduce and control the condition of lymphoedema to improve your lifestyle with less swelling.
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