Lymphedema is definitely not a new disease, but it wasn’t until fairly recently that clinicians started to focus on how to effectively treat it. If you have been suffering with lymphedema, a treatment known as lymphatic compression therapy may be able to help return your life to normal. While there is currently no cure, you can minimize many of the symptoms by considering your treatment options.
Visit Commonwealth Vein Center in Colonial Heights if you are interested in managing lymphedema. Lymphatic compression therapy can reduce many of the symptoms associated with the disease so you can get your life back. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!
What is Lymphedema?
Many individuals end up with this disease following certain types of cancer or cancer treatment. Lymphedema occurs when the lymph nodes have been damaged or removed, and this causes lymph fluid to build up rather than drain like it normally would. Symptoms of this disease include:
- Swelling of the extremities
- A heavy or tight feeling
- Restricted range of motion
- Frequent infections
- Skin that becomes hard or thick
The swelling from lymphedema can be hardly noticeable, or it may be so extreme that it is difficult to move that limb.
How Does Compression Therapy Help?
The main symptom of lymphedema that causes all of the other symptoms is the build up of lymph fluid in the body. Doctors have found that one of the most effective ways to get the lymph fluid to travel back into the bloodstream is with compression. Lymphatic compression therapy gently reduces swelling and pushes lymph fluid back through the body.
What to Expect
There are many different things you can do at home to help circulate the lymph fluid, including massaging the affected limbs. Our professionals can help find you the perfect fit for your compression garments to provide the best results. Compression garments should be the tightest at the end of the limb, such as at the fingers and toes, and loosest as it gets closer to the torso. We can teach you how to safely put on and remove the compression garments, as this can be difficult to do if you don’t know the right techniques.
Contact Us
To gain a better understanding of lymphatic compression therapy, feel free to get in touch with our team at Commonwealth Vein Center. Our practice is conveniently located in Colonial Heights, and our main goal is to help you improve your quality of life to the fullest extent. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!
