Lymphedema is a painful, chronic swollen condition that will worsen with time. If you are living with lymphedema, you’re well aware of how tough it may be to handle various symptoms as they arise. This condition can also be the catalyst for various other painful health problems.
Although there is currently no cure for lymphedema, AxisPro Physical Therapy & Lymphedema Clinic can assist you with managing your symptoms effectively and safely, as well as reducing the impact it has on your lifestyle.
Physical therapy can help with the pain and discomfort that lymphedema causes daily. The purpose of physical therapy at our clinic is to help you enjoy the activities you thrive in without being restricted by your medical condition.
Call AxisPro Physical Therapy & Lymphedema Clinic today to learn more about how to treat lymphedema symptoms and schedule an appointment!
The importance of treating lymphedema
The lymphatic system is an integral element of your immune and circulatory systems. It is made up of vessels that transport lymph fluid (i.e., lymph is made of white blood cells, proteins, and fats) to the core of the body. If it malfunctions, excessive swelling in the upper or lower extremities can occur. This swelling is due to the build-up of lymph fluid.
If left untreated, improper drainage causes a build-up of lymph fluid in your arms and legs, which can be dangerous to your health. Lymphedema can also cause other health complications as well, such as cardiovascular issues and cellulitis.
Cardiovascular issues
Lymphatic vessels are located throughout the body. They drain lymph fluid from tissues and return it to the cardiovascular system through two collecting ducts. The collecting ducts flow into the two subclavian veins beneath the collarbones and lead to the heart.
The lymph fluid is then pushed through the lymph vessels by muscle contractions as you move through your day. Lymphedema occurs when the lymph vessels cannot adequately drain lymph fluid.
Congestive heart failure is a serious medical condition where the heart struggles to pump blood throughout the body. As the condition worsens, the blood backs up in the veins and leads to edema in the extremities. This, in turn, affects the lymph drainage and may lead to serious health consequences.
The close relationship between the cardiovascular system and the lymphatic system makes it challenging to treat both conditions. It is essential to treat congestive heart failure before lymphedema because the treatments for lymphedema could interfere with the functioning of the heart.
For example, bandaging can increase the strain on the heart. Manual lymph drainage could also increase strain on the heart because of the volume of circulating blood. Compression stockings are often used in CHF treatment. However, these stockings do not have the same compression strength as the stockings used to treat lymphedema.
Regular, low-intensity exercise is one therapeutic recommendation to improve cardio health and lymphatic drainage.
Cellulitis
Patients with lymphedema are more vulnerable to developing a painful skin condition known as cellulitis, due to the fact that their lymphatic system is injured or overworked and they are unable to fight infection effectively.
Cellulitis is a non-contagious, rapidly growing skin infection. It causes redness, swelling and tenderness. Patients also report experiencing fevers, nausea and/or vomiting, and an overall feeling of being sick.
The infection may enter through a scratch, insect bite, wound, ulcer, or other break in the skin. However, identifying the cause may not always be easy, and an attack may occur without warning.
Cellulitis treatment is critical in lymphedema patients for two reasons. First, it can cause the patient to grow very ill, and second, because lymph their drainage channels may be severely compromised. This can make swelling worse and also lead to long-term skin abnormalities, such as tissue thickening.
Physical therapy can help
Physical therapy is widely regarded as the safest and most cost-effective treatment option for lymphedema symptoms. The treatment we offer at AxisPro Physical Therapy & Lymphedema Clinic to reduce and/or improve pain symptoms while also increasing existing function.
Treatment of lymphedema typically involves techniques to reduce lymph fluid build-up. People with mild lymphedema may benefit from manual lymphatic drainage techniques where the limb is elevated and massaged. Special limb exercises and compression stockings can also reduce the swelling.
People who are more severely affected may wear intermittent pneumatic compression stockings every day for several hours to reduce the swelling. Once the swelling reduces, the person must wear graduated elastic stockings every day from when they wake up until bed at night.
Because this illness can result in a significant reduction in a person’s independence and quality of life, there is a great emphasis placed on functional improvement during physical therapy. Even the most basic duties, such as clothing oneself, walking and moving about comfortably, and vocational tasks, might be challenging. Physical therapy can make these types of tasks easier to manage.
Physical therapists at AxisPro Physical Therapy & Lymphedema Clinic help patients overcome the limitations of their symptoms by teaching them how to adapt and modify their behavior to improve their functional performance and safety.
Call us today
If you are struggling to manage lymphedema symptoms on your own, know that you are not alone. Physical therapy is a safe and effective way to regain control over your life without relying on medications. Call AxisPro Physical Therapy & Lymphedema Clinic today to schedule an appointment with one of our skilled physical therapists to learn more about the benefits of lymphedema treatment.
Sources:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8353-lymphedema
Tags: Health, Wellness, physicaltherapy, PT, physicaltherapist, healthandwellness, naturalpainrelief, healthytips, achesandpains
