Lymphedema

Featured Articles

• Lymphedema Program - Fall 2009
• Breast Health-Preventative and Lymphedema - Spring 2008
• Lymphedema - Spring 2007

Do you have lymphedema? If you have any of these problems, maybe you do:
discomfort or pain in affected limb feeling of fullness in the limb tight-feeling skin decreased flexibility in the affected joint difficulty fitting into clothing in one specific area ring, bracelet, wristwatch, shoe or sock tightness	fatigue breast pain fibromyalgia infertility painful periods constipation/IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) chronic fatigue syndrome

Left leg before & after physical therapy

What is lymphedema?

Lymphedema is a persistent swelling of a body part due to a blockage in lymphatic flow when nodes or vessels are damaged or abnormal. The swelling may result in pain, decreased range of motion, and/or weakness.

Types of lymphedema:

PRIMARY - from birth or developed later in life

• Birth - developmental abnormality of the lymphatic system
• women more prone than men, legs affected more than arms
• lymphatic vessels are impaired or missing
• Praecox - appears in puberty and occurs mostly in females; typically one leg is affected
• Tarda - appears later in life, can be male or female, sudden onset swelling with no apparent cause

SECONDARY - lymph nodes were removed or lymph vessels damaged due to one or more of the following

• Surgery and/or radiation treatment of breast, gynecological, head, neck, prostate, testicular; bladder, colon CA or melanomas
• Trauma, injury, or accident resulting in blocked/damaged lymph system
• Infections - interrupt normal lymph pathway function

Lymphedema may be caused by:

• infections such as chronic cellulitis
• trauma
• tumors
• certain surgeries (for cancers such as breast or testicular); blood vessel repair
• radiation treatment

How do we treat lymphedema?

• One-on-one, hands-on, lasts 45-75 min in comfortable private treatment rooms
• Soft Tissue Mobilization, lymphatic drainage, scar mobilization
• Modalities, including ultrasound, electrical stimulation
• Therapeutic exercises, including range of motion, stretching, and strengthening
• Patient education to maintain decreased edema, posture re-education, body mechanics, skin care
• Compression bandaging and garments

Goals:

• Increased range of motion/flexibility
• Decreased swelling
• Decreased pain
• Increased strength
• Restore function and improve quality of life

PT Treatment Sessions Orthopedics Pelvic Pain & Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Women's Health Lymphedema Men's Health Pediatrics Pilates Program

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