Lymphedema is swelling generally in the arms or legs due to a blockage in your lymphatic system. It’s estimated that about one-third of women who undergo axillary lymph node dissection during breast cancer treatment will develop lymphedema. Identifying and treating lymphedema early helps ensure faster and better outcomes, but even treatment later on, during the chronic stages of the disease, can still help.
To determine if you have lymphedema, check with your physician or physical therapist immediately if you have swelling in one of your limbs and you have cancer or have been treated for cancer, or you have a cardiac, kidney, or liver condition.
Your Physical Therapist will serve as an important member of your health care team and will work closely with you to design a treatment program to help control the swelling and meet your goals for returning to your activities.
In the early stages of lymphedema, when the swelling is mild, it can often be managed by compression garments, exercise, and elevation of the affected limb to encourage lymph flow. For more severe swelling, the physical therapist may use a treatment called “complete decongestive therapy.” The initial step often includes manual lymphatic drainage, which feels like a light form of massage and helps improve the flow of lymph from your arm or leg. This is followed by compression bandaging that helps to reduce the swelling. Your therapist will carefully monitor the size of the limb throughout your treatment sessions.
Once the limb has decreased to the desired size, your physical therapist will help you begin to take over your own care by:
- Developing a safe and sensible exercise program that will increase your physical fitness without unnecessarily straining your affected arm or leg.
- Updating your compression garments to ensure proper fitting, working with you to find the type of garment that best meets your needs.
- Educating you about the proper diet to decrease fluid buildup in your tissues and skin-care to reduce the risk of infection.
About CardioFlex Physical Therapy South Miami
As leaders in the physical therapy & occupational therapy industry, we believe that part of our mission is to help injured patients who cannot help themselves.
CardioFlex’s Physical therapists (PTs) are highly-educated, licensed health care professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility. CardioFlex provides services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and our PTs work side by side with patients to develop calculated and tailored programs that yield results like no tomorrow.
We offer free injury & conditioning advice. To set up an appointment please contact us at (954) 693-9090 – we are open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 7 PM.
For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com
About the Author Terry Abrams is the President & Director of Physical Therapy for CardioFlex Therapy, a start-up company founded in 2005 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Delivering both Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy, CardioFlex Therapy’s Outpatient Clinic is centrally located in Davie, FL serving the towns of Cooper City, Weston, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Southwest Ranches, Hollywood, Miramar, Sunrise, & Fort Lauderdale. For Home Physical Therapy, CardioFlex sends its therapists to homes located in Broward, Dade, & Palm Beach counties.